Page 41 - Packaging News Magazine Sep-Oct 2019

TOTAL PACKAGING BY PACK TYPE OVERVIEW
TRENDS & TECHNOLOGY
On-the-go packaging, smaller and more portable pack sizes for food, and sustainability are three top trends shaping the future of global packaging.
Three trends drive the future of global packaging
this category, and the development of recycled PET bottles in developed markets is expected to further fuel growth of this pack type.
“Beer ranked second in terms of packaging in 2017 globally. Glass bottles remain the most popular pack type in the category, due to tradition, returnability, and premiumisation. At the same time, metal cans are witnessing healthy growth thanks to the growing popularity of craft beer,” the report says.
While flexible plastic and PET bottles dominate in daily use items like bottled water and sugar confectionery, glass bottles still lead in alcoholic beverages, with 218.9 billion beer bottles, 33.2 billion spirits bottles, and 30.2 million wine bottles sold worldwide in 2017. In total, plastic (including flexibles and PET bottles) are forecast to add 251.1 billion units from 2017-22, and glass bottles will add 24.4 billion.
The report singled out the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa regions as the next
frontiers for growth in the packaging industry. Asia-Pacific (excluding China)
saw 836 billion units of packaging sold in 2017, followed by Western Europe
at 648 billion; China alone accounted for 621 billion.
The full Global Packaging Trends: Global Growth Markets for Packaging 2019 report is available to all APPMA
members. Contact the APPMA on appma@appma.com.au 
MAIN: Top ten pack types across the globe.
LEFT: Ecolean’s lightweight, convenient pouches are gaining popularity in China.
In the new Global Packaging Trends: Global Growth Markets for Packaging 2019 report, conducted by Euromonitor and sponsored by APPMA alongside PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in the US, global packaging data from 2017 across 80 countries is used to forecast what the market will look like up to 2022.
According to the report, customers are increasingly demanding packaging suitable for on-the-go consumption.
“Growing desire for convenience is one trend that is seen across packaging industries as consumers are increasingly demanding products that fit into their hectic urban lifestyles. Pack types suitable for on-the-go consumption, prominently in categories such as packaged food and soft drinks, were increasingly preferred by consumers globally,” the report said.
A need for portion control and portability is driving a shift to smaller food packaging sizes as well, according to Euromonitor.
“Smaller pack sizes in food packaging continue to be valued by consumers, who are becoming increasingly health-conscious and are opting for smaller portions when looking for indulgence.
“This is particularly evident in soft drinks and juices where consumers are concerned about their sugar intake. In confectionery, smaller pack sizes supported on-the-go impulse consumption across regions,” the report says.
Two key themes of innovation are emerging: sustainability and recyclability.
“Players have started introducing eco-friendly materials for green and sustainable packaging across various categories. In China, for example, an innovation in plastic pouches from Ecolean is gaining popularity. The Ecolean pouch is lightweight, eco-friendly, and has a convenient shape for portability.
“Similarly, recyclable PET is also gaining momentum in North America due to heightened concerns about the environment,” the report says.
The convenience trend is driving growth of
packaging such as flexible plastics and PET bottles, which achieved the highest shares of the 3446 billion total units sold in 2017 at 25.3 per cent and 17.6 per cent respectively. Similarly, bottled water and beer were the top two packaging categories worldwide that year.
“Bottled water accounted for the largest packaging volume share globally in
2017 and is likely to lead in 2017-2022. PET bottles are the most preferred pack type in
WWW.PACKAGINGNEWS.COM.AU SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2019 041