The technology & market intelligence study on “Reduction of Virgin Plastic Consumption in Flexible Packaging” covers a holistic overview of the key technologies and approaches implemented in the market which facilitate approaches and alternative solutions to reduce consumption of virgin plastic during flexible packaging.

Plastics are a material of choice in packaging applications because of their performance, cost-effectiveness, and durability. It is applicable across a range of applications including healthcare, food & beverages, consumer packaged goods, domestic purpose packaging, etc. The release of a substantial volume of plastic leaks into the oceans every year is causing untold damage to marine life, biodiversity and human health. Most plastics do not biodegrade. This environmental situation demands the need to develop different solutions/approaches to reduce the plastic content in packaging industries.

Various approaches highlighted in the report include the use of lightweight material other than plastic (aluminum, bioplastic, etc.), right-sizing of packaging to reduce plastic waste, cycling plastic, using alternate packaging material, developing multipurpose use packaging, etc. Alongside, in-depth analysis of the key players implementing innovative approaches to reduce virgin plastic consumption during packaging has been covered in the report. For instance, Paptic offers reusable multiuse carrier bags that are highly reusable, versatile, recyclable, biodegradable under industrial composting, water-resistant, etc.

The study also provides key market trends & dynamics showcasing the market driving forces, restraints, challenges and opportunities. For instance, stringent regulatory concerns have led to shifting the focus of packaging companies to adopt sustainable packaging material such as recycled plastic and biodegradable plastic. The study will give insights on shifting market dynamics towards a sustainable business model adopted by few packaging companies in the industry.

The study will also provide insights on the application and geographical overview of the flexible packaging industry along with material, application and geographical insights on alternative packaging materials such as recycled plastic and bio-based plastic material in the industry. It will showcase the addressable market potential for the alternative packaging materials which can be achieved by key packaging companies in the industry ecosystem in the coming years.

In the alternative packaging materials market, recycled plastic holds a major chunk of the total industry size. Furthermore, the bio-based plastic packaging material is bifurcated into biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials, of which biodegradable material segment holds more than 80% of the total bio-based plastic market size in 2020.

In the application segment, the food & beverage industry held a substantial share of the overall flexible packaging market size in 2020. Several initiatives are being taken by key companies in the industry to develop environment-friendly packaging solutions to replace conventional plastic which is degrading the environment quality owing to its disposable properties.

Geographic Scope: Global

Regionally, Europe is expected to witness promising gains in terms of reducing virgin plastic consumption in flexible packaging. This is majorly attributed to stringent environment norms imposed by the European Commission against the use of conventional plastic such as PE, PP, etc. for packaging applications. The region is highly focused on the ban of single-use plastic by imposing several regulations. Furthermore, the region is shifting focus towards alternative packaging solutions that are environment-friendly to contribute to the environment and attain a sustainable business model.

Critical Questions the Report Answers:

1. What are the various approaches followed by key packaging companies to reduce virgin plastic use in their packaging materials?
2. What are the key technology trends for the development of alternative packaging materials in the last few years and across various geographies?
3. What is the addressable market potential for alternative/environment-friendly packaging materials for flexible packaging?
4. What are the key market trends for recycled plastic and bio-based plastic packaging materials?
5. Who are the top players engaged in adopting alternative packaging material in the market?
6. Which are the key strategic initiatives taken by leading companies in this market?