Page 24 - Print21 May-June 2020

Business Intelligence
Carton ticking the boxes
The carton market is set to surge, and digital inkjet is offering packaging print growth opportunities, says the latest Smithers market report.
The slew of digital packaging print systems set to be on show at the next drupa offers print businesses entry into the
nascent market of digital corrugated. Folding carton packaging in
particular shows strong growth potential, thanks to its increasing uptake, the distaste for plastic packaging in a climate-aware world, and the ability of the new breed of digital print systems to produce vibrant colour and variable data in short runs.
In 2019 the total value of folding carton packaging reach US$115.4bn, with some 47.5 million tonnes of material converted. New expert forecasting for the market study – The Future of Folding Cartons to 2024 – shows that this value will rise by 30 per cent to US$146bn and 59.3 million tonnes in 2024. This
is equivalent to a global compound
24 Print21 MAY/JUNE 2020
Above
New solutions emerge: Digital and conventional developers, such as Koenig & Bauer and Durst, join forces
annual growth rate (CAGR) of
5.8 per cent by value and 5.3 per
cent by volume, which reflects an acceleration of demand compared to the preceding five years.
This is positive news for the whole supply chain. To capitalise fully will require cartonboard manufacturers and converters to explore and exploit the following five key opportunities.
1. Sustainability
in packaging
Fibre-based packaging, such as
folding cartons, enjoys superior green credentials over many alternative packaging materials – principally plastics. This is increasing opportunities for cartonboard to replace or reduce the use of plastic packs in many end-use sectors. These include:
• Replacing thermoformed foamed
polystyrene (PS) clamshells, and
similar formats in foodservice
applications
• Replacing other rigid polymers in
retail food packaging
• Replacing plastic blister packs and
interior retaining structures for pharmaceuticals, such as pills and medical devices.
Sustainability is also having an
internal influence on the material construction of carton stock. Brands and retailers keen to promote themselves as green businesses are calling for grades with more recycled pulp. In particular, coated recycled carton grades will see the fastest rise in demand across the five-year Smithers forecast period.
2. Recyclable barriers
As noted above, food packs are the largest opportunity, but the green credentials of cartonboard can be compromised, as many current