6 Reasons Flexible Packaging Market Will Reach $202 Billion within Five Years

New research into the flexible packaging industry shows dramatic growth is still ahead. According to Persistence Market Research, Pvt. Ltd., whose press release was listed at PR Newswire, the global market is projected to experience a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 6.7 percent between 2017 and 2022. That is based on an industry analysis period that ran from 2012 to 2016.

The flexible packaging industry is not just hot in America; it is growing around the world. From sachet and pouches to bags, films, and wraps, flexible materials have come a long way since the advent of gum wrappers and sugar bags.

Here are six reasons behind the recent surge in popularity and its projected growth over the next five years.

#1: Flexible Packaging is Cost-Effective

Perhaps the most often cited reason manufacturers prefer flexible packaging is the cost. It requires fewer raw materials than rigid packaging options and the materials cost less. Manufacturing is quick, there is minimal waste, both during production and after use, and it costs less to produce. Over a million Americans work in the flexible packaging industry, so supporting it helps keep jobs stateside.

#2: There Is Growing Variety in Flexible Film Materials

Do you manufacture an unusual or uncommon product that requires a custom packaging shape, size, and transfer resistance? There is a film for that. Check with your packaging partner to learn what is available. If you gradually incorporate flexible materials into your packaging repertoire, you can monitor its performance and measure it against the rigid containers to which you are accustomed. Flexible packaging films range from general use to high-tech. There is also vapor barrier film and specialty materials that make packaging UN-compliant.

#3: It Helps Prevent Contamination and Extends Product Shelf Life

The threat of food contamination not only puts your business at risk, it also endangers the health and well-being of the end user. Flexible packaging films can block UV rays, air, water vapor, and oil transfer. Packaging seals are strong and machined in a continuous seam. They are inspected regularly, and cutting-edge equipment adds data collection to the mix. If there is ever a problem, you can track it to the moment it happened and make a course-correction. Food stays fresher, even on a shelf with no refrigeration.

Flexible packaging has something good for everyone in the supply chain.

#4: Flexible Materials are Lighter, Smaller, and Easier to Store

Glass packaging is notoriously heavy. Metal is not much better and in some cases, it is worse. Flexible packaging weighs a fraction of what rigid containers do for the same storage capacity. That is partly because you can store more in a smaller container without sacrificing durability, and it is partly because flexible films weigh less than the same volume of metal, glass, or rigid plastics.

#5: It Is One of the Most Versatile Packaging Choices on the Market

If your product changes or you decide to store more or less product than before, switching to a new rigid container could take weeks or months of change orders and manufacturing. That is not the case with flexible packaging. The films used in manufacturing are light, thin, and easy to manipulate. By reprogramming with new dimensions, you can change the size and shape of your packaging without significant downtime.

#6: Manufacturers, Retailers, and Consumers Prefer it

There is a lot to be said for making people happy. Flexible packaging does just that. It is the packaging of choice for consumers and retailers for many of the same reasons manufacturers prefer it. Transportation partners also appreciate the benefits. Smaller containers mean more product fits in one shipment than with traditional rigid packaging. Because flexible films are quite durable, there is much less risk of breakage, product loss, and messes to clean up.

The packaging industry is experiencing a revolution. Flexible materials have been around for generations, but modern flexible films take it to places it has never been. With projected growth over the next five years approaching seven percent annually, who knows what possibilities might arrive in the future? There is only one way to find out. Contact us for a free sample and download our corporate brochure and learn why the market is taking off like a rocket.