Limitations posed by the inadequacy of microwavable food packages considerably restricted applications of the oven to merely heating and reheating of chilled foods and beverages. Microwave food packaging represents an all-important aspect of microwavable food product development. Initially, aluminum-foil containers were widely used but generated genuine practical problems such as arcing, triggering microwave fires, magnetron destruction and blocking penetration of microwaves into food. A major breakthrough occurred with the development of a singular susceptor technology based microwavable popcorn packaging. Presently, there exists a new breed of combination ovens that provide twin benefits of microwave energy and infrared radiant/forced-convection air heating to eliminate heating drawbacks encountered with an exclusive microwave only oven. Although microwave ovens have long existed as an effective cooking device, its emergence into the mainstream of the food delivery system is fairly recent and is solely propped up by advancements in packaging technology.

Future microwave packaging solutions will use powerful sensors, fuzzy logic, digital displays and other automatic features aimed at improving the microwave cooking experience. Product packages of the next generation will be built to intelligently communicate to the consumer when to stir, uncover, add salt, etc. Besides of the convenience factor, growth in demand is also expected to be driven by urbanization, changing lifestyles, rising GDP, increasing awareness about the benefits of nutrient retaining packaging, scarcity of time, and smaller family sizes. Another important driver is growing disposable incomes as a result of rapid economic expansion in the underpenetrated large emerging markets of Asia-Pacific and Latin America. The huge proportion of microwavable foods that are sold in the developing and underpenetrated Asian countries offers significant opportunities for growth.

As stated by the new market research report on Microwave Packaging, Europe represents the largest regional market worldwide. Asia-Pacific ranks as the fastest growing market with a CAGR of 11% over the analysis period. Key growth drivers in the region include improving standards of living, increasing health consciousness, hectic pace of modern life, ubiquity of microwave ovens, rising number of working women, growing demand for premium packaging, environment-friendly packaging regulations, and increasing consumer interest in lifestyle products and processed foods, among others.

Key players covered in the report include American Packaging Corporation, Ampac Packaging LLC, Amcor Limited, Bemis Company Inc., Berry Plastics Corporation, Coveris, DNP America, Graphic Packaging Holding Company, Huhtamaki Oyj, Inline Packaging LLC, Mullinix Packages, Inc., Packaging Concepts Inc., Printpack Inc., Rock-Tenn Company, Rexam Plc., SC Johnson & Son Inc., Sealed Air Corporation, Sirane Ltd., Silgan Holdings Inc., and Sonoco Products Company, among others.

The research report titled "Microwave Packaging: A Global Strategic Business Report" announced by Global Industry Analysts Inc. (strategyr.com), provides a comprehensive review of the microwave packaging market, industry overview, trends, growth drivers and issues, and recent industry activity. The report provides market estimates and projections for microwave packaging in US dollars for the global and major geographic markets including the US, Canada, Japan, Europe (France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, India, South Korea and Rest of Asia-Pacific), Middle East, and Latin America (Brazil, Mexico and Rest of Latin America). Key applications analyzed in the report include Fresh Food, Frozen Food, Shelf-Stable Meals, and Others.