Shelf-life, sustainability and substitution to drive aseptic packaging growth – report

Extended shelf-life and sustainability properties of aseptic packaging will drive demand for food and beverage applications to nearly $2.5bn by 2020, an industry report has predicted.

According to the Freedonia study, Aseptic Packaging to 2015, aseptic packaging is expected to experience yearly growth of around 7% for both the food and beverage industry – partially through its increasing use as a replacement for metal cans.

Aseptic packaging, which is the process in which product and packaging are sterilised separately before being combined and sealed under sterilised conditions, will also benefit from its increasing use in the dairy sector the report added.

Can and jar replacement

“Gains will be driven by expanding applications with liquid, low-particulate and pumpable foods, often via the replacement of metal cans and glass jars.”

“Advantages such as extended shelf life without refrigeration for perishable foods will propel gains, especially for products sold for foodservice and food processing uses.”

Cartons, which are the leading aseptic container for beverages, account for nearly half of the beverage market demand in 2010 - plastic bottles followed, the report added.

“Through 2015, plastic bottles will experience the fastest gains, the result of increased opportunities in dairy beverages and other ready-to-drink beverages such as vitamin fortified teas and waters.”

The report expects food-based aseptic packaging application demand to increase by 7.1% yearly, taking total demand for the packaging to $725m in 2015 and $980m in 2020.

“Above average growth is also anticipated for dairy products based on the growing presence of aseptic bottle and portion cups for dairy and non-dairy creamers.”

Aseptic beverage applications are expected to increase 7.2% per annum to over $1bn by 2015 and nearly $1.5bn by 2020.

“Growth will be based on beverage consumption trends coupled with expanding applications resulting from cost and sustainability benefits of aseptic packaging, especially in terms of offering the ability for dairy and other perishable beverages to be moved through unrefrigerated trucks and stored at ambient temperatures,” the report said.

Dairy demand

Dairy beverage and dairy product demand are both expected to reach $345m by 2020, according to the report.

“Dairy products and processer fruits and vegetables were the leading food uses for aseptic packaging in 2010, accounting for a combined 64% of demand.”

“Aseptic packaging of foods such as dairy products and processed fruits and vegetable is advantageous for foodservice and food processing users as it enables products to be shipped and stored without refrigeration until they are opened.”