Flexible Packaging Market Size, Share, Opportunities, COVID 19 Impact, And Trends By Type (Pouch, Bag, Films, Others), By Material (Plastic, Paper, Aluminum), By End User (Food & Beverage, Personal Care, Pharmaceutical, Others), And By Geography - Forecasts From 2022 To 2027

The flexible packaging market was evaluated at US$202.691 billion for the year 2020 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.04%, reaching a market size of US$267.397 billion by the year 2027. Any box or element of packaging whose structure may be easily changed is considered flexible packaging. It is used to safeguard the market products and distribute a wide range of items in consumer and industrial sectors. Lightweight bags or pouches are sealed using heat or pressure in flexible packaging. Flexible packaging is typically used to assist increase the shelf life of food products or meet other marketing trends like high-quality graphics.

Preference for convenient products such as convenience food in small or single-size servings or other products has increased as a result of busy lifestyles, increasing demand for flexible packs. Flexible plastic packaging uses fewer materials and effort to package; as a result, flexible packs are less expensive and take up 35% less retail storage space, making them more cost-effective than other types of packaging. Customers are increasingly ready to pay a higher price for unique product features made possible by flexible packaging. As per the Flexible Packaging Association, more than 60% of North American customers are willing to pay more for functional and tangible packaging benefits like product protection, transportation friendliness, and supply chain efficiency, among other things.

Many companies throughout the world are adopting a trend of using mono materials to construct PE-based containers. Borealis and Borouge collaborated on a series of innovative and entirely recyclable mono-material pouches for PE and PP-based materials in October 2019. AR Packaging also announced the launch of Ecoflex in July 2021, a recyclable mono polyethene film for thermoforming solutions that, according to the company, provides a replacement for PA-based materials while completely satisfying OPRL criteria. 

Plastic packaging waste recycling is a complex process that necessitates cutting-edge infrastructure. It's a lengthy procedure that requires staff knowledge. Furthermore, some portions of the world lack recycling facilities. The United Nations Environment Programme estimates that the world generates 330 million tonnes of plastic waste per year. Only 9% of all plastic garbage produced has been recycled to date, and only 14% is currently collected for recycling.   Most recycling plants are outdated and unable to adapt to changing waste loads. Even while the amount of paper trash has decreased and the amount of plastic waste has increased, present gear is inadequate to handle such shifts in packaging trends. As a result, the aforementioned constraints may limit market expansion.

The pouches category is estimated to be the leading market for flexible packaging in terms of type. The segment's leading market position can be attributed to rising demand for this category across various applications in the food & beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, and cosmetic industries. The rise in demand for light and efficient packaging solutions can be ascribed to the rise in demand for pouches.

Plastic is predicted to have a large market share by material since it offers secure packing and clear visibility of the goods. Plastic has been employed as the most environmentally friendly packaging material in several industries, including food and beverage, medicines, cosmetics, tobacco products, and personal care. The growing adoption of plastics due to their distinct qualities such as adaptability, resilience, lightweight, highly economical, and can be used by all industries regardless of their scale and scope; ease of reuse and recyclability will drive the growth of the plastic packaging market.

During the projected timeframe, the food & beverage industry is expected to have the largest proportion of the market. Food and beverage products can be transported more easily and successfully with proper packaging. Furthermore, increased demand for advanced packaging in emerging countries is fueling the rise of flexible packaging in the F&B industry, owing to the rising consumption of packaged foods and rising health and nutrition concerns. In addition, the growing usage of automated food processing plants necessitates the employment of advanced packaging methods for barrier-free packaging of finished goods, increasing market growth.

Significant market growth is expected in the Asia Pacific. Beyond convenience, other factors like sustainability, transparency, food safety, and food waste reduction influence the flexible packaging choice for meats, seafood, and poultry in the food business. According to China's Ministry of Business and Information Technology & National Bureau of Statistics, the country's food industry made total profits of CNY 620.66 billion in 2020. Additionally, the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, Japan, estimates that generics accounted for roughly 78.3 percent of the Japanese prescription medicine market in 2020. Over 35% of the country's prescription medicines are imported from the US, and this demand is expected to grow as the country's increasingly ageing population demands new treatments for linked diseases. As a result, such developments are likely to contribute to market growth positively.

Recent Development

In June 2020, leading packaging company Amcor teamed up with Espoma Organic to develop more eco-friendly packaging. It introduced a new bio-based polymer package in response to the brand's mission to develop the finest organic gardening products.  The PE film contains a 25% bio-based substance, which is obtained from sugar cane in this case.

Berry Global Group, Inc. announced in May 2020 that it would collaborate with long-time customer Mondelez International to deliver Philadelphia, the world's most popular cream cheese, using packaging made from recycled plastic. Berry's agreement with SABIC, announced earlier, resulted in plastic debris being recycled using advanced recycling technology.

Amcor decided to join the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council in February 2020, a group of peers from the healthcare, recycling, as well as waste management industries. With its expertise in package design for medical systems and applications in health facilities and other treatment settings, the business will assist the alliance. From packaging to collection methods and end markets, the industry group intends to address all aspects of the packaging production chain.

COVID-19 Impact on Flexible Packaging Market:

During the projected period, the worldwide flexible packaging market is expected to remain stable. Initially, the packaging industry saw a major drop due to production halts. However, there appeared to be a surge in demand for adaptable packaging for food & beverage & pharmaceutical applications. Fearing lockdowns, people turn to panic shopping and mass stocking. The demand for flexible packaging increased as more individuals ordered daily essentials and fresh food via online channels.

Flexible Packaging Market Scope:

Report Metric	Details
Market size value in 2020	US$202.691 billion
Market size value in 2027	US$267.397 billion
Growth Rate	CAGR of 4.04% from 2020 to 2027
Base year	2020
Forecast period	2022–2027
Forecast Unit (Value)	USD Billion
Segments covered	Type, Material, End-User, And Geography
Regions covered	North America, South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific
Companies covered	Amcor plc, Bemis Company, Inc., Constantia Flexibles Group GmbH, Sealed Air Corporation, Berry Global, Inc., Coveris Holdings S.A., Sonoco Products Company, Mondi Group, HuhtamäkiOyj, FlexPak Services LLC
Customization scope	Free report customization with purchase

 

Segmentation

• By Type
  • Pouch
  • Bags
  • Film
  • Others
• By Material
  • Plastic
  • Paper
  • Aluminum
• By End-User
  • Food & Beverage
  • Personal care
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Others
• By Geography
  • North America
    • USA
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • United Kingdom
    • Germany
    • France
    • Spain
    • Italy
    • Others
  • Middle East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • UAE
    • Israel
    • Others
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Indonesia
    • Thailand
    • Taiwan
    • Others

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What will be the flexible packaging market size by 2027?
A1. The global flexible packaging market is projected to reach a total market size of US$267.397 billion in 2027.

Q2. What are the growth prospects for the global flexible packaging market?
A2. The flexible packaging market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.04% during the forecast.

Q3. What is the size of the global flexible packaging market?
A3. Flexible Packaging Market was valued at US$202.691 billion in 2020. 

Q4. Which region holds the largest market share in the flexible packaging market?
A4. The Asia Pacific market is expected to have a significant share in the flexible packaging market owing to the large consumer base for FMCG products in the region.

Q5. What factors are anticipated to drive the flexible packaging market growth?
A5. Preference for convenient products such as convenience food in small or single-size servings or other products has increased as a result of busy lifestyles, increasing demand for flexible packaging.

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