The global transparent barrier packaging films market in the food industry is witnessing a steady growth from the last few years, and this growth is expected to continue in the forecast period 2017-2021, according to Technavio (technavio.com). Increased consumption of processed food items and ready-to-eat food products is the major stimulator from the end-user side. Rapid urbanization along with increasing disposable income is changing the food preference of consumers. As consumers find ready-to-eat food items both time and energy saving, they are ready to spend extra. This will boost the demand for the transparent barrier packaging films market in the food industry.

The top three emerging trends driving the global transparent barrier packaging films market in the food industry according to Technavio transportation and logistics research analysts are:

• Innovation in transparent barrier films
• Recycling of transparent barrier films
• Growing bio-degradable film market

“The growing environmental concern is bringing a lot of innovation in transparent barrier films market for the last few years. Many manufacturers are adding additive agents in polymers to get more moisture and vapor resistance. By doing so, they can replace the requirement of aluminum foil to some extent, which can bring some percentage of sustainability in their business divisions,” says Shakti Jakhar, a lead analyst at Technavio for research on packaging.

New product innovation is also emerging in the transparent film market by eliminating chlorine content. The presence of chlorine content in transparent film increases carbon emission and energy consumption while manufacturing and generates non-degradable waste after disposal. By rectifying this problem, some vendors are bringing innovative products that can solve all these issues mentioned above.

“Initiation of new regional regulations for plastic reduction paves the way for complete recycling of transparent barrier films. Many waste handling organizations have utilized these opportunities by introducing innovative recycling techniques for complete recycling of both aluminum and chlorine-added plastic films,” adds Shakti.

Enval, a UK-based waste handling organization, has come up with a process called pyrolysis. In this process, the transparent film is allowed to burn in a chamber; the char from this residue consists of 79% liquid carbon and 21% carbon gas. Carbon dioxide is not generated in this process because the chamber contains no oxygen. The liquid carbon and gaseous carbon produced in this process can be transported to different locations for fulfilling the requirements of fuel and energy needs.

Polyhydroxybutyrate Valerate (PHBV) is one of the earliest-found bio-degradable packaging films; it is a bacterially grown polyester with similar properties of PP. Followed by this, the market consists of other bio-degradable films such as protein-based plastics, polysaccharides, polyoxyethylene, polyvinylalchohol and others.