Analysis of brand-new growth opportunities in the flexible packaging market

Pira International of the UK, one of the founders of the research institute association, recently released the latest issue of its survey report, which states that in 2011 global flexible

packaging consumption will reach 18.1 million tonnes and output value will reach $58.3 billion. The report predicts that over the next five years, global flexible

packaging market output value will maintain growth at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1%, and by 2016 consumption is expected to reach 22.5 million tonnes with output value reaching $71.3 billion. This Pira International survey report, titled "Global Flexible Packaging Market Forecast to 2016", shows that as traditional packaging formats such as metal cans, glass and plastic bottles are gradually eliminated by the market, flexible

packaging will usher in brand-new growth opportunities.

The report states that global flexible

packaging market is so booming mainly thanks to new products developed by brand owners to maintain market competitiveness. Because retailers hope to extend product shelf life as much as possible, high-barrier flexible

packaging such as BOPET, EVOH and PA will have even broader development prospects, and its market position will also rise rapidly.

Adam Page, the person in charge of this report, said that brand owners highly value flexible

packaging's versatility, low cost and innovation potential. At the same time, it is also a lightweight packaging that can reduce

its impact on the environment and help packaging companies achieve low-carbon production.

At present, the flexible packaging markets in developed countries such as North America and Western Europe are already mature and have limited growth potential in the future, while the flexible packaging markets in developing countries are poised for growth.

Asia is the largest regional market, accounting for about 29.1% of global flexible packaging sales, followed by Western Europe and North America. Of course, Asia is also a flexible

packaging consumption market with the fastest growth; it is expected that from 2011 to 2016 its CAGR will reach 7.9%, and it will account for 55% of the total growth in global flexible packaging consumption. According to Pira International, India and China are the fastest-growing countries in flexible packaging consumption, and during 2011-2016 these two countries will account for 44% of the total growth in global flexible packaging consumption.

From the perspective of application areas, food accounted for almost three quarters of total global flexible packaging consumption in 2011; meat, fish and poultry are the foods that use the most flexible packaging, followed by candy and baked goods.

The outer layer materials of flexible packaging often have to undergo a series of processing steps, such as printing, lamination, coating and extrusion, and may involve different substrates, such as plastic film, paper and metal foil. The types of flexible packaging are also quite diverse, including plastic bags,

film and lidding film, paper bags and

, aluminum-plastic laminated tape, aluminum foil seals, blister packaging and foil pouches.

Flexible packaging materials can be used alone or in combination according to the product's application (retail food packaging and non-food packaging, such as pet food, tobacco, cosmetics and personal care products, household detergents, pharmaceuticals and medical products), while flexible packaging films can be made from soft plastics (PE, PP, polyester or PA), aluminum foil and flexible paper, or can have their physical properties improved through coating and lamination.

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