Flexible packaging — especially the pouch — is still the fastest growing segment globally. Over the last decade, its share of total packaging in the U.S. increased from 16 percent to its current 19 percent. No matter the global discussion of plastic pollution in waterways or landfill waste, both brands and consumers alike love them. The easy-to-use, on-the-go smaller size packs have been popular for snacks, beverages, dishwasher and laundry detergent pods as well as bite-size candy such as M&M’s, Reese’s and Kit Kat.
The Flexible Packaging Association’s (FPA) report, “A Holistic View of the Role of Flexible Packaging in a Sustainable World,” highlights the sustainability benefits of flexible packaging. FPA commissioned PTIS LLC to provide a holistic view on the sustainability benefits that flexible packaging offers; provide foresight into future sustainability implications for flexible packaging; and develop six life-cycle assessment (LCA) case studies comparing flexible packaging to other packaging formats across a range of products.