GLOBAL – Plastics will continue by far to be the leading protective packaging material, accounting for 71% of the US$33.2-billion global protective packaging industry, according to a recent study by the Freedonia Group, a division of MarketResearch.com.
Global protective packaging demand is projected to advance 4.0% per year through 2027 to reach US$40.4 billion.
The Global Protective Packaging study said the fastest-growing market for protective packaging will be supported by the expanding use of protective mailers, air pillows, and other flexible products in e-commerce order fulfillment.
Also contributing to growth is increasing e-commerce shipment of delicate and fragile items, such as electronics, which require greater protection to avoid damage during transit.
Plastic’s cheap pricing, easy availability and outstanding protective packaging characteristics are factors that make it the most widely use material for manufacturing protective packaging solutions.
Increasing recyclability options in plastics and improving recycling plant facilities all across the globe are projected to further raise the demand for plastic to manufacture diverse protective packaging solutions.
According to the study report paper will see moderate growth as sustainability trends — including bans on EPS foam products – will encourage the substitution of plastic with paper.
Paper fill is seeing more use in e-commerce applications for shipping less-delicate items — such as books and clothing — because of ongoing efforts of major e-commerce vendors to address consumer concerns about packaging sustainability.
However, in certain manufacturing applications, a lack of suitable alternatives to plastic will support demand for foams, such as molded EPS.
Molded fiber demand will experience robust growth, with increased use in nondurable goods packaging.
Molded fiber is replacing expanded polystyrene in some manufacturing applications as a result of its more environmentally friendly profile in terms of recyclability and degradability.
Sustainability trends also will drive fast growth for biodegradable and compostable materials, such as cornstarch, hemp, soy, and mushrooms.
However, these bio-based materials’ high cost and inferior performance will limit their use in some niche applications.
E-commerce fuels growth of flexible protective packaging
E-commerce has been the fastest-growing market for protective packaging over the past decade, as online purchases continue to make up a larger share of retail sales, especially in the United States and China.
In addition, e-commerce is rapidly rising in lower-income countries as internet access and smartphone penetration grow.
Flexible protective packaging will continue to benefit the most from e-commerce expansion, the study said.
A focus on right-sizing and source reduction by online retailers will drive demand for protective mailers.
Also, the widespread use of corrugated boxes for e-commerce shipping will support demand for protective packaging that is often used in conjunction with boxes, such as bubble wrap, air pillows, and paper fill.
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