News

Trends Driving Popularity of Flexible Packaging
Majority of Brands Using Flexible Packaging on Some SKUs

Sustainable development gains momentum

Sustainable development is not predicted to take a back seat anytime soon. Indeed, its influx in the automobile, aviation, energy, and manufacturing sectors has prompted packaging behemoths to slay plastics and other harmful materials used in packaging. More and more brands are now turning to bio-based and compostable flexible packaging that offers sustainable, cost-effective, and user-friendly options.

According to the European Supermarket Magazine, recently, the Spanish food firm Ebro Foods has become a part of CEFLEX, to fabricate more sustainable packaging formats. Reportedly, Ebro Foods has also pledged that 100 percent of its packaging will be reusable or recyclable by 2030, and it has established associations with other businesses in the value chain to attain this objective.

Packaging Strategies also cites a recent instance where Grass Run Farms, an alliance of family farms in the heartland of America that produces 100 percent grass-fed beef, debuted its first individually quick frozen fully natural ground beef patties in two sorts of sustainable packaging, resealable pouch and multi-use recyclable carton. As consumers’ lives are getting busier than ever before, the product offers a level of ease to customers by allowing them to seal back the pack after consuming the desired portion.

Giant leap in e-commerce space

The domain of e-commerce has not been left untouched by the rising trend of flexible packaging. In this industry, flexible packaging allows for lighter weight packaging along with specifically designed packages for the rigors of small package transport. Flexible packaging has been positioned to eradicate costs linked with manufacturing, waste, replacement parts, damage, returns, and shipping by allowing to transport more products with less. According to the Flexible Packaging Association, one truckload of flexible packaging is equal to 26x truckloads of glass containers. Hence, e-commerce retailers considerably benefit from enhanced shelf-life, amplified shelf space, reduced weight/size of package, eased logistical challenges, and increased overall revenue.
 

Enhances Cosmetics’ Appeal

Flexible packaging helps enhance the look of cosmetic products. Cosmetic manufacturers are increasingly adopting this practice driven by a host of benefits such as ease of decorating, money savings, space saving, and reduction in carbon emissions. Undoubtedly, flexible packaging delivers unmatched product freshness, purity, and quality making it easier for sellers to woo buyers. Also, consumer preferences are changing at a faster pace than ever, triggering a surge in versioning, personalization, customization, and convenient packaging formats.

In the present backdrop, it will not be wrong to say that sustainability has become a pivotal frontier for businesses actively chasing down environmental impact. Beyond doubt, flexible packaging is the best possible solution to meet this goal in a highly profitable manner. According to the Flexible Packaging Association, the biggest market for flexible packaging is food (institutional and retail), constituting about 60 percent of shipments. Other markets are retail non-food, consumer products, pharmaceutical and medical, industrial applications, and institutional non-food.