The Future of Flexible Packaging

Flexible packaging accounts for 19 percent of the overall packaging market and is expected to grow at a rate of 3.9 percent CAGR by 2023, according to the 2019 Flexible Packaging Marketing Assessment by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. Convenient packaging, excellent barrier properties, sustainable materials and growing customer base for fast-moving consumer products and consumer durables in emerging countries are driving this expansion. Food is the largest end-use industry for flexible packaging, accounting for nearly half of all flexible packaging used. The food industry was an early adopter of flexible packaging and has seen continued, strong growth due to a rise in convenient packaging for ready-to-eat foods, snacks, frozen meals and cake mixes. Two segments—processed fruits and vegetables and baby food—are expected to outperform the overall food market for flexible packaging, achieving over two percent growth through 2023. Global demand fo...