The Flexible Packaging Association recently commissioned a Flexible Packaging Transition Advantages Study to better quantify the impact of switching from non-flexible packaging to flexible packaging. The study integrates insights from brand owners surveyed online in September 2016 by Packaging World and insights from consumers surveyed online in September 2016 by Harris Poll. To help communicate the study’s findings, FPA developed the Operational Efficiency and Consumer Appeal eBook to summarize and highlight key take-aways from the study.

Key Findings of the Brand Owner Study

• Continued growth in flexible packaging is projected.
  • Many brand owners are already using some form of flexible packaging (83%).
  • More respondents overall expect to transition to a higher mix of flexible packaging in the next five years (31%).
  • 58% of respondents who have already transitioned to a higher mix of flexible packaging intend to use more in the future.
• Brand owners who transitioned to more flexible packaging cited operational benefits and ability to meet consumer needs as reasons for the shift. (See Chart 1.)
  • Among those who increased use of flexible packaging, reasons cited most frequently for the shift were reduced production cost (49%) and shipping/transportation efficiencies (45%).
  • Brand owners also said convenience (45%) and fitting consumer lifestyle trends (39%) are benefits that influenced them to transition to flexible packaging.
• Brand owners who switched to using more flexible packaging in the last five years saw strong business results.
  • Among those who increased use of flexible packaging in some way, 57% were able to lower costs of production.
  • 55% of those who increased their use of flexible packaging reported a sales improvement.

Key Findings of the Consumer Study

(See Chart 2.)

• Consumers favor flexible packaging over non-flexible packaging.
  • When consumers were asked to choose between flexible and non-flexible packaging for a product they were considering purchasing (assuming the product was exactly the same and only the packaging differed), 71% of consumers said they would prefer flexible packaging over non-flexible packaging.
  • 79% of consumers believe there are benefits to having food products stored in flexible packaging versus non-flexible packaging.
• Consumers are willing to pay more for food stored in flexible packaging.
  • 46% of consumers are willing to pay more for food products stored in flexible packaging than they would for food products stored in non-flexible packaging.

For More Information

To download the Operational Efficiency and Consumer Appeal eBook, or for more information on Flexible Packaging Transition Advantages Study, please visit www.flexpack.org or contact FPA at fpa@flexpack.org or 410-694-0800.