Paper and Board Have Key Roles in The Future Of Packaging

Paper and paperboard will continue to play a vital role in the evolving global packaging market according to the latest exclusive research from Smithers Pira (smitherspira.com). Overall growth in dollar value terms for packaging was depressed for the years spanning the middle of the decade– although this is largely attributable to relative strength of the dollar against other currencies across that period. Still in 2017, value reached $851.1 billion, a 2.8% growth compared to 2016 at constant prices. This steady expansion is forecast to continue across the next five years – rising slightly to 2.9% year-on-year across this period – to reach $980.4 billion in 2017.

Regional perspectives

The continuing trend towards large-scale mergers and acquisitions – for example the creation of WestRock from MeadWestVaco and RockTenn – is testament to the relative maturity of the packaging industry in developed world regions, like North America and Western Europe. The analysis in the new Smithers Pira report, “The Future of Global Packaging to 2022,” indicates that emerging and developing economies will contribute just over 70% of world packaging consumption growth during 2017–2022.

Asia is the largest market accounting for 42.1% of world packaging consumption in 2016. North America is in second place accounting for 24.3% of world packaging consumption, ahead of Western Europe with 18.4%. The emerging and developing regions of Eastern Europe, South & Central America, the Middle East and Africa account for the remaining 15.2% of world packaging consumption.

Asia is forecast to grow packaging consumption at the fastest rate, led by China and India. This is largely attributable to growing populations, rising disposable incomes, and a transition from traditional markets to the purchasing of packaged consumerist goods, especially in the food segment. China alone is forecast to represent almost 48% of world packaging consumption growth through to 2022 with India accounting for a further 8.5%.

Material segments

Board and paperboard (corrugated, folding carton stock and liquid paperboard) is the largest packaging material type covered in the Smithers study. It accounted for 35.7% of world packaging consumption in 2016, followed by flexible packaging (plastic, paper and foil) with 23.3%, rigid plastic packaging with 18.2% and metal with 12.2%.

Pulp and paper is represented in the two largest packaging material segments – board and flexibles – in 2017. Flexible packaging is forecast to grow consumption at the fastest rate through to 2022, driven by advantages in lightweight, demand for smaller more convenient packaging and improvements in design. Growth will be strongest for flexible plastics which are already two third of the market, but flexible papers will perform only slightly less well across the five-year forecast, with aluminum seeing the smallest boost, as pricing and improvements in competing barrier materials squeeze its share.

Food markets dominate flexible packaging consumption accounting for three-quarters of global consumption in 2016. Meat, fish and poultry; confectionery; dried food; and savory snacks are the largest food markets for flexible packaging. Pharmaceuticals, medical, cosmetics and toiletries are the largest non-food markets for flexible packaging.

Flexible papers

While flexible paper packaging has been under threat from flexible plastics in some applications, it will remain an important constituent of the flexible packaging market for the foreseeable future. This is due to a combination of factors, its low cost, its perceived good environmental credentials, its use in laminations (often as a light barrier), and because consumers enjoy the tactile effect. A number of plastic films have been modified to mimic the feel and look of paper, while offering the benefits of moisture barriers inherent with plastic films. Matte finish BOPP is an example of such a film.

Corrugated board

Growing environmental concern is benefitting the corrugated board market due to the perceived and real environmental benefits of cellulose-based packaging. However, lightweighting of board constructions is hampering volume growth slightly, although the impact on value is less pronounced.

Corrugated packaging companies are putting increased emphasis on shelf-ready packaging that significantly reduces the workload for unpacking and displaying products. This trend is now deepening with the rise of discount retailers – such as Aldi and Lidl in Europe – and convenience store selling, which are more likely to use less labor intensive shelving options and have fewer of their own branding priorities. This presents an opportunity for the brand to determine how their product is presented in store and gives an opportunity for them to invest in printed graphics for on-shelf differentiation.

This trend dovetails neatly with the wider availability of inkjet printers for corrugated board, giving brand greatly expanded options for versioned packaging, including bespoke designs of corrugated formats for short run promotions. Flatbed inkjet systems have been available for corrugated for several years, but productivity and cost have limited these; often to point-of-sale displays, rather than packaging. Across 2017-2022 this situation will change as a new generation of high productivity inkjet presses – like the HP T1100S – especially designed for volume corrugated print are already seeing their first commercial installations.

E-commerce

The unspectacular, if steady, rise in demand for packaging in retail outlets contrasts with that in the e-commerce segment. The value of packaging demand into this sales channel was $28 billion in 2017, and will more than double by 2023. Over 75% of this is for corrugated formats, causing a surge in demand for fanfold for fit to packing applications, new designs for returnability, and lighter weight flutings that minimize the size of postal shipments.

From a packaging designer’s perspective with a customer encountering their goods away from a shop, serving staff and, other prompts such as point-of-sale displays; packaging is taking on an increasing important role as the primary touch point for brand identity. This is generating interest in new designs that create an opening or ‘unboxing’ experience.

Pack printing is also a key medium in this new arena with many e-commerce retailers and brands investing in high-quality graphics on the exterior and especially the interior of the package, for decorative impact. This in turn is creating a spur for new linerboards that can carry improved imagery.

The position of folding cartons within global packaging will face competition in the future from new more streamlined pack formats – like resealable stand-up pouches – that do not require secondary cartons. Additional competition will also be seen from upright flexible packaging, e.g. shrink film for multi-packs of beverages, and corrugated boxes. Future demand will also be affected by factors such as falling sales of tobacco and cigarettes, and an increase in offshore production of toys and sports products that are shipped pre-packed.

Folding cartons demand is predicted to grow in four main end-use segments. More spending is expected on luxury items, while the on-the-go eating trend will drive demand for retail carryout cartons. A larger ageing population and health enfranchisement worldwide will also increase demand for cartons in the pharmaceuticals category. Environmental factors and lightweighting is also expected to underpin faster than average growth in use of beverage cartons.