last word
The last
WORD
Innovative Plastic Packaging Set For Growth
By Neil Farmer
Neil Farmer is a leading Packaging Professional with over 30 years industry expe- rience. He is a Fellow of The Institute of Packaging, a Board Member of IOP: The Packaging Society /Institute of Materials, Packaging. For more information call 01789 41577 or visit www.neiljfarmer.co.uk.
THE MARKET
A recent survey of Senior Brand Managers found that clever pack- aging is rated amongst the best weapons in a marketer`s arsenal. This helps create standout products on the shelf and attracts consumers to spend. Research found that over- whelmingly brand managers believe packaging is central to success. More than 8 in 10 think packaging is a quick way for brands to inno- vate. 83% agreed that packaging was an invaluable part of their suc- cess. However almost 30% thought it was difficult to assess the return on investment (ROI), delivered by Innovative Packaging. Nevertheless, there are exciting innovations which are coming to fruition, as we make the first steps of the recovery from the recession.
POUCH PACKS
Some innovations, like Pouch Packs, have already proved their worth. The Freedonia Group recently forecast that the demand for Pouch Packs would continue to increase by 6% per year. The global market for stand-up pouch- es was put at over 30billion units and these packs were considered to be one of the most important innovations to affect the flexible packaging market in recent years.
SMART PACKAGING
The same organisation also forecast that the demand for Smart Packaging would grow by 13% per annum until 2011. Growth was being driven by the advancement
26 Packaging Gazette
of new products with improved performance and lower costs. Substantial growth in intelligent packaging, over 30%, was also happening, due to the emergence of lower-cost time-temperature indicators. Active packaging, pack- aging which can actively reduce levels of oxygen or even microbial count in the pack, was identified as an exciting area of development.
BIOPLASTICS
When assessing the benefits of bioplastics, we know they are not going to be able to fulfil all pur- poses; nevertheless they have an important role in the future. The bioplastics market is small, around 0.1% of the total European plas- tics market. However in fresh food packaging bioplastics can enhance the product`s lifespan compared to using petrochemical plastics. We are entering a new era of bioplas- tics .Exciting developments such as Nature Flex NK from Innovia Films, which is not only biode- gradeable and compostable, but is said by the company to have the highest moisture barrier of any biopolymer film recently available, must have a promising future.
PET MARKET
In the rigid plastic market the increased application of PET now revolves around barrier improve- ments and longer shelf-life .Barrier bottles are now proving successful. Coatings are seen as an option only for those bottlers who use huge quantities and have resources to
install one (or indeed) several coat- ing machines. Multilayer will still continue to be used for those prod- ucts where nothing else will provide the required shelf-life e.g beer in smaller containers. Having estab- lished barrier technologies across a broad spectrum of beverage products, (including those that are hot filled), leading companies are now placing special emphasis on applying oxygen scavenger tech- nologies to shelf-stable hot-fill products. Market dynamics are favourable to the conversion to PET of brands currently in glass or other plastics, such as pasta, sauces, table sauces, jams and jellies. Food pro- ducers are interested in shelf-life and protection of flavour, nutrition- al content and visual appeal.
THE FUTURE
The speed of take up of new developments will depend on cost constraints and post-recession economic factors .Of course, sustainability and environmental issues will impact in a large way. The whole packaging arena, particularly in the food sector, is a battlefield. Consumers want pack- aging which keeps products in good condition. They want packaging which keeps products clean and untouched by others .For foodstuffs, they want products which are fresh and ready to be eaten. Ultimately they want longer shelf-life, product security and value for money. These are the challenges facing innovative companies as we move out of the recession into a fragile recovery.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28