How flexible packaging is changing the face of the packaging sector

The packaging industry is made up of a wide range of marketers, brand managers, designers, engineers and technologists whose job it is to react to trends, and to find improved and more cost effective ways to contain and present products.

Millennials want different things from their packaging

A key target market for the packaging sector is the millennials – that is people born between 1981 and 2001 who are coming into adulthood in the 21^st century. This new breed of consumer wants different things from their packaging than the generations before them – two key factors being sustainability and convenience.

For this reason, according to the Flexible Packaging Association, one of the fastest growing segments of the packaging industry is flexible packaging, which “combines the best qualities of plastic, film, paper and aluminium foil to deliver a broad range of protective properties while employing a minimum of material”.

Environmental credentials and reduced costs

Representing a move away from rigid packaging and typically taking the shape of a bag, pouch, liner, or overwrap, the association defines flexible packaging as “any package or any part of a package whose shape can be readily changed”.

Package industry analysts Smithers Pira says flexible packaging is popular with millennials because of its environmental credentials, as it requires less resources and energy to produce than other forms of packaging.

Smithers Pira add: “It provides significant reductions in packaging costs, materials use and transport costs as well as certain performance advantages over rigid packaging. It not only takes up less space when empty than rigid packaging, but can also be constructed on the spot from roll materials at the filling location, thereby minimising transportation of ready-formed empty packaging.”

This move towards flexible packaging is also reflected in the European plastics industry where there is a general trend towards ongoing consolidation between the rigid and flexible plastics sectors.

Appeals to all consumers

And it would appear that flexible packaging is not just popular with environmentally aware millennials. Omega Plastics says older consumers like the lighter packs and easy openings while it also appeals to small households who are attracted to re-sealable packaging or single-use containers.

It would appear then that will see a growing amount of flexible packaging solutions in the future.