Ceepackaging

Analysis

Demand for active and intelligent packaging very strong

Rapid advances will be fueled by the availability of products with more reasonable price points
and those offering improved performance compared to earlier generation counterparts.
Moreover, increased concerns over food safety and the need to minimize losses in
perishables will spur requirements for more sophisticated packaging to extend the shelf
life or enhance traceability of food, beverages, pharmaceuticals and other packaged
goods. Growth for intelligent packaging will be significantly faster and will be propelled
by robust gains for time-temperature indicators (TTIs) and the emergence of other smart
packaging systems offering product differentiation, traceability or various interactive
features at more cost-competitive prices. These and other trends are presented in
Active & Intelligent Packaging, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a
Cleveland-based industry research firm.
Active packaging demand is forecast to advance 7.1 percent per year to $1.7
billion in 2013, paced by faster gains for gas scavengers, the result of expanded
applications for oxygen scavengers in food, beverage and pharmaceutical packaging.
Solid growth for oxygen scavenger bottles will be based on heightened demand for less
costly monolayer oxygen scavenger systems, which will drive usage with single-serving
bottles for beverages such as hot-fill juices and teas. Some degree of conversion from
glass to PET in oxygen-sensitive beverages like wine is also anticipated as part of
efforts to make packaging more green. Moisture control and corrosion control
packaging demand will increase more slowly based on the presence of more mature
product types and applications.
Food and beverages were the two largest markets for active and intelligent
packaging in 2008, accounting for slightly over half of total demand. Fastest gains are
anticipated in the pharmaceutical market, with double digit increases also expected in
the food and beverage markets. Pharmaceutical advances will be spurred by favorable
demographics, along with the need to improve compliance and adherence rates.
Growth in the food market will be driven by rising demand for prepared and other fresh
foods, along with the need for longer shelf life and the prevention of losses in
perishables.