Page 44 - Plastics News September 2023

FEATURE

by requiring material to produce the are exciting trends and innovations have opened up new possibilities
same amount of packaging compared happening in this field currently: for customizing packaging allow-
to alternative materials. Lastly, flexible  Advanced Coatings: One of the ing brands to design visually ap-
packaging paper is beneficial for the developments in the flexible pealing and distinctive patterns
environment as it can be recycled and packaging paper sector is the on flexible packaging materials.
is biodegradable. adoption of innovative coatings,  Smart Packaging: Smart features
In addition to these advantages flex- including liquids and perishables. like QR codes and NFC tags are
ible packaging paper offers levels of These coatings play a role, in en- being integrated to enhance con-
customization. It can be printed with hancing packaging performance sumer engagement and provide
top notch graphics and designs mak- by boosting its resistance to product information. According
ing it an excellent choice for branding moisture and other environmen- to reports about 58% of people
and marketing purposes. Its flexibility tal elements. Moreover, they also have scanned QR codes on food
enables it to adapt to shapes and sizes contribute to printing surfaces products to obtain specific details
effectively making it suitable, for a resulting in visually appealing about the product.
wide range of products. graphics and improved branding To engage consumers effectively in-
Applications of flexible packaging for various products. corporating QR codes and other
paper  Development of new materials: interactive elements can provide in-
Flexible packaging paper is a versa- Manufacturers are continuously formation on aspects such as product
tile material that finds its use in vari- seeking methods to enhance the origins, sustainability and instructions,
ous applications, including from food sustainability and eco friendliness for proper disposal.
packaging and medical supplies. of their packaging materials. As a Market opportunities in flexible pack-
Flexible packaging paper is widely uti- result, they have made progress aging paper
lized in the food industry to package in creating materials, like biode- The market for packaging paper of-
items like snacks, bakery products gradable films and laminates de- fers many opportunities for growth
and frozen foods. Its lightweight na- rived from renewable resources. and innovation. One area with poten-
ture These innovative materials not con- tial is the increasing demand for sus-
facilitates transportation while its tribute to reducing environmental tainable packaging solutions.
barrier properties play a vital role in harm but also deliver enhanced func- Consumers are becoming more aware
preserving the freshness of food and tionality and durability when com- of their impact making it important
preventing contamination. Similarly, in pared to conventional packaging op- for companies to provide eco-friendly
the sector flexible packaging paper is tions. options if they want to thrive. Anoth-
employed to package bandages, surgi-  E-commerce and Convenience er opportunity arises from the rise of
cal instruments and medical devices. Packaging: The surge in online e commerce where there is a need
Its ability to ensure sterility and pro- shopping has created a need for for lightweight packaging as goods are
tect against moisture and other impu- packaging that is both conveni- shipped directly to consumers.
rities is crucial for maintaining safety. ent and lightweight making flex- To support these arguments, industry
Moreover, the consumer goods in- ible packaging paper an excellent reports and case studies can offer in-
dustry also relies on packaging paper choice. sights. For instance, a recent report
for products such as cosmetics, toilet- With forecasts predicting that by Research Nester predicts that the
ries and pet food. Its cost effective- 20.1% of transactions will occur global flexible packaging paper market
ness and eco friendliness make it an online by 2023 it comes as no will reach a revenue of USD 60 Billion
appealing choice, for companies aim- surprise that e-commerce sales by 2033 growing at a rate of 5% be-
ing to reduce their impact. are projected to experience sig- tween 2023 and 2033. Furthermore,
Current trends in flexible packag- nificant growth as well with an in 2022 this market generated USD
ing paper anticipated increase of 11%, in 45 Billion in revenue.
the same year.
Flexible packaging paper is constantly Companies such, as Amazon have
evolving due to advancements. There  Digital Printing: Digital printing also been exploring packaging ma-

44 PLASTICS NEWSASTICS NEWS September 2023
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