Page 68 - Plastics News Issue September2025
P. 68
IN THE NEWS
is essential in high speed packaging gantries. flexible packaging, food packaging, and medical
The brands would require conducting pilot trials device packaging is only going to grow in the
and making proper investments in acquiring new future. Be it to maintain integrity of life-saving
equipment that would be compatible with eco- drugs, minimize food wastage, leave an im-
designed barrier films. proved brand perception via smart packaging,
the use of barrier films now appears inescapable.
Another factor is cost. Barrier films of high per-
formance attract higher prices than the tradi- Regulatory push, consumer awareness and sus-
tional packaging materials. However, compared tainability pressures together will create addi-
to less waste of food, improved patient safety, tional progress in eco-designed barrier films and
and extended shelf life, the ROI does speak. biodegradable barrier packs. And with increas-
ingly advanced manufacturing processes in
Consumer Expectations: Driving the Need for place in the production of plastics, be prepared
Smarter Packaging with new mixing of materials, strategies in layer-
ing and even designs informed by AI.
Consumers today do not want to be safe but
want a convenience, environmental-responsi- Plastic packaging is an essential reality that in-
ble and clear situation. They insist on their di- dustry players such as food brands, pharma-
etary aids in resealable packets, their ready to ceutical giants, or packaging converters cannot
eat foods in microwavable containers and their pose ignorance of aware of or not invest in the
medications in tamper-evident blister packs. concept of barrier properties. It opens up to rel-
evance of the market, efficiency in business op-
Without scrimping either shelf life or image.
erations and future preparedness.
Brands can fulfill such requirements in an elegant Enhanced barrier plastic films are not packaged
way with the help of high barrier plastic films.
Actually, some of the most used food packaging after all, in the era when product security spells
trust of brand, high barrier plastic films are not
films presently are invisible to the food user but
play a crucial role in providing the experience an option. They are a strategy requirement.
he/ she seeks. After all, in a world where product protection
defines brand trust, high barrier plastic films are
The change in consumer preference is also re-
defining the thinking process of the R&D depart- not just a packaging choice. They are a strategic
imperative.
ments with regard to packaging design. Packag-
ing innovations are no longer a backend decision Source – Plastics Technology
as it is front and center of product strategy.
Final Thoughts: High Barrier Films as Industry
Catalysts
The importance of high barrier plastic films for
68 PLASTICS NEWS September 2025
