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What lies ahead for high-barrier pouches?

2016-03-30

Latest company news about What lies ahead for high-barrier pouches?

By Anne Marie Mohan, Senior Editor, Packaging World

According to a new report, global high-barrier pouch packaging totals approximately 49 billion units and consumed approximately 352,000 tons of polymer materials in 2015. Global high-barrier pouch consumption is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.1% to 2020, reaching 69 billion units and a market value of almost $3 billion. The report, from Smithers Pira, is titled, “The Future of High Barrier Pouches to 2020.” 

As the report explains, all flexible packaging films have some level of permeability to oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. It is rarely economical to use a single film as a barrier because of the large wall thickness and higher cost that would be required. Where a barrier is required, multilayer film structures are commonly used, which typically incorporate a base film—which itself could provide some barrier protection—plus either a higher barrier polymer or a barrier coating.

 

There is rapidly increasing demand for packaging materials that give even greater protection to their contents, says Smithers Pira. This is especially noticeable in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. As plastics have become more and more common, concerns have arisen about their ability to allow the exchange of gases and vapors that can compromise the quality and safety of packaged products.

 

High-barrier pouch demand is being driven by several factors, the study notes, including the ability to incorporate value-added features such as resealable zippers and sliders, spouts, and handles. Technology improvements such as faster machinery speeds and reduced heating times in retort applications are also playing a role. Finally, there are ongoing improvements in materials such as higher-barrier film substrates and coatings with increased heat tolerance and strength.

Food packaging opportunities

Food markets (retort and non-retort) are forecast to show the highest growth rates during the period 2015 to 2020 for high-barrier pouches. Non-food markets are expected to develop from a low base level, with drinks and petfood markets growing at the slowest pace.

Non-retort food pouch applications include fresh and processed meat, dried food, breakfast cereals, snack food and confectionery, dairy products, baby food, powdered instant drinks, hot drinks, fruit compote, ketchup, and mayonnaise. Non-retort food markets for high-barrier pouches have been established for a longer period of time than retort high-barrier pouches. Non-retort high-barrier pouches are nevertheless predicted to grow during the forecast period at a rate above the high-barrier pouch market average rate. Fresh and processed meat, snack food and confectionery, and dairy products offer good growth potential for non-retort high-barrier pouches.

New applications

Juice drinks is the largest area of application for high-barrier pouches in the beverages category, followed by wine. The highest growth has been in fruit compotes and frozen alcoholic cocktails. There has been a slower than expected uptake in flexible pouches by soft drinks producers over the five-year period to 2014. Beverage producers believe it is difficult to convey a premium image with a pouch container that is becoming ubiquitous across many different product categories.

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