Smithers forecasts global functional additive sales for plastic packaging to increase to $2.3 billion and global barrier coatings to $2.4 billion
May 16, 2020Global functional additive sales for plastic packaging are forecast to grow during 2020–25 at an annual average rate of 5.3% to approximately $2.3 billion from $1.7 billion in 2019. Whilst global barrier coating sales for plastic packaging are forecast to grow during 2020–25 at an annual average rate of 4.9% to $2.4 billion to $1.8 billion.
Functional additives and barrier coatings are used across a wide range of food, beverages and non-food packaging markets. Food is by far the largest end-use sector for functional additives and barrier coatings in plastic packaging.
With rapidly increasing demand for packaging materials that give even greater protection to their contents, a variety of barrier technologies have been commercialised that preserve, protect and optimise product shelf life, reduce the need for preservatives, provide transparency and gloss, and serve as a printing substrate. Without barrier packaging, perishable goods such as food, beverages and pharmaceuticals would be susceptible to a wide range of deterioration processes.
Barrier coatings are continuing to evolve and complement emerging resins and manufacturing processes. One advantage of coatings is that small quantities of material can produce the required performance, which cuts costs and resource use and may improve recycling. A disadvantage is that coating application is an extra manufacturing step and may require a high initial capital investment.
Smithers’ analysis for ‘The Future of Functional Additives & Barrier Coatings for Plastics Packaging to 2025’ identifies the following key trends and drivers for the industry over the next five years:
- Economic influences – the
outlook for functional additives and barrier coatings demand for plastic
packaging will be influenced by global economic growth trends over the
forecast period
- Demographic & lifestyle influences – recent changes across consumer lifestyles are influencing consumer decisions, from growing urbanisation, growing middle class, greater increase in health and wellness, ‘on-the-go’ consumption and more
- Convenience – time-pressured
consumers want convenience products and packaging such as microwavable
ready meals and pre-cut vegetables
- Sustainable Packaging –
brand owners are responding to consumers’ environmental concerns in
several ways; these include package lightweighting by reducing material
usage without impairing pack performance, using recycled plastic and
adopting bioplastic packaging
- Modern retailing – a shift
towards a more centralised structure of grocery retailing has inevitably
led to higher levels of packaging, particularly for fresh foods, chilled
foods and baked products
- Consumer concern on food
waste and food safety – there is growing use of active packaging
technologies such as ethylene and oxygen scavenging, antimicrobial,
antioxidant and antifungal additives
- Regulatory developments – the European Union has introduced regulations in relation to food contact, recycling of packaging waste and greater use of recycled plastics in product packaging.