The market for flexible packaging has grown steadily over the last decade, and it is not showing signs of slowing down. The use of plastic in packaging overall has grown 8% since 2012, and bags and pouches have grown 3.5%, according to the "Food Packaging Trends and Advances 2016" report from PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.[1] This growth is driven by a variety of factors including converters’ desire to downgauge, high-performance films that increase shelf life, consumer demands for convenience and a surge in environmentally-friendly packaging. Flexible packaging professionals can connect with other industry professionals and explore these solutions at PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2017 (Sept. 25-27; Las Vegas Convention Center).
A combination of environmental pressures and high polymer prices have compelled converters to produce plastics that are thinner than ever before, contributing to downgauging’s continued status as a flexible packaging trend.