Special edition: Flexible Packaging

European Flexible Packaging market to rise to 19.2m tonnes by 2021

By Jenny Eagle

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Flexible packaging Polyethylene terephthalate Western europe

Flexible Packaging, Ceresana, Europe, 2021
The European market for flexible packaging is expected to reach a market volume of approximately 19.2 million tonnes in 2021, according to Ceresana international market institute.

The firm analyzed packaging made from plastics, paper and aluminium, including shrink and stretch films, paper labels, carrier bags, sacks for heavy loads, and flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBC) as part of its Market Study: Flexible Packaging - Europe November 2014.

Desire for convenience

It claims the industry has to react to changes in consumer demand which is; lack of time, a desire for convenience, easy and practical use, attractive and innovative products.

Oliver Kutsch, CEO, Ceresana said after demand fell in 2008 and 2009, consumption of heavy duty and transport packaging is on the rise again and firms can capitalize on the increasing volume of products traded via the internet.

Stand-up pouches are also in demand and using composite films allows for further reduction of weight, saving resources and transport costs.

Modern filling techniques in combination with sterilizable bags guarantee an ever increase quality of products and rising filling speed​,” he said.

These reasons also make disposable sachets more popular: Small bags are no longer used only for mustard, coffee, ready-made sauces and other foodstuffs, but pharmaceutical drugs, for example​.

In Western industrialized countries, it is hard to imagine unpackaged goods with the exception of very few sectors. The amount of packaging used for protection, transport or presentation of the products can be enormous​.

Flexible packaging offers impressive options for ever more demanding consumer requirements. As a result, they are replacing rigid packaging in many segments​.”

Choice of materials

Kutsch added the choice of materials and material layers is determined by the specific properties and demand that a packaging needs to fulfil for a specific good.

In many segments, flexible packaging made from biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) or PET (BOPET) has become much more important in the past. Especially in Western Europe the market for BOPP films performed weakly in recent years​,” he said.

But, demand is projected to recover in the future. Thanks to its positive properties, consumption of flexible BOPET packaging will continue its dynamic development, especially across large areas in Eastern Europe​.”

The study lists demand for flexible packaging (in tonnes) in Europe as a whole and in 23 countries, split by packaging types. It depicts demand in these countries split by the materials polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), other plastics, paper, and aluminium.

It focuses on eight of the largest markets in Germany, France, UK, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain and Turkey and the aggregate of all remaining countries is split by the applications; Food (and beverages), Consumer non-food, Heavy duty & transport, and Carrier bags.

Chapter 5 of the report provides profiles of the largest manufacturers of flexible packaging, arranged according to contact details, turnover, profit, product range, production sites, profile summary, products, and applications.

Profiles are provided for 80 producers including; Alesco & Co, Ampac Flexibles; Bemis Europe Flexible Packaging; Graphic Packaging Holding Company; Leipa Georg Leinfelder; Mitsubishi Polyester Film; Papier-Mettler; Polifilm ; RKW; Sappi Europe; Südpack Verpackungen & Co, Taghleef Industries and Treofan Group.

Ceresana is an international market research and consultancy company for the industrial sector with offices in Constance, Vienna and Hong Kong.

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