Green packaging is likely to grow rapidly

The demand for green packaging in US is projected to rise 3.4 % annually to $43.9 billion in 2013, using 59 billion pounds of material. The market is comprised of recycled content, biodegradable and reusable packaging. This growth will outpace the overall packaging but will remain modest due to the maturity of several products and the fact that recycled content packaging has huge presence in metal and paperboard packaging.

The most rapid rise is likely to be seen for plastic recycled content packaging and biodegradable plastic packaging. 13% growth is expected for biodegradable plastic packaging through 2013. It will be driven by increased price competitiveness with conventional resins, lower pricing volatility than petroleum-based plastic packaging materials, and rapidly expanding capacity.

More sophisticated polymerizaton and blending techniques, efforts by brand owners to improve the environmental footprint of their packaging; and legislative bans on polystyrene foam food service disposables in some parts of the country would enhance the performance. These and other trends are presented in Green Packaging, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

Along with the overall green packaging, the demand of recycled content packaging is likely to rise. Robust growth for plastic recycled content packaging will be forced by more concerted efforts to boost collection volume, further sustainability initiatives by plastic processors and brand owners, and an increased focus on the development of food-contact approved resin grades. Slow growth for paper recycled content packaging, which is dominated by the large but mature corrugated and paperboard box segment, will moderate the gains.

Reusable packaging is forecast to expand more slowly, held back by marginal growth for drums, which face competition from larger formats such as intermediate bulk containers (IBCs). More favorable prospects are anticipated for reusable plastic containers, IBCs and other reusable packaging types. In general, value gains will decelerate sharply from the 2003-2008 pace due to an expected moderation in raw material prices, especially for plastic and steel. The relatively long service life of most reusable packaging also limits the need for replacements, a factor that restricts growth in demand for new units.

The Greener Flavor in Packaging Supplies

'Turn Green' is the mantra that seems to be enveloping the world, at present.
This fact is clearly evident by the fact that now even packaging supplies are turning green. A host of various green packaging supplies and environmental friendly products have flooded the markets. Also referred as “eco friendly packaging supplies” or “Eco Products”, various packaging application goes into making these successful packaging supplies. Recently many packaging manufacturers have shown great interest in turning the packaging industry green with more environment friendly products. Even the government of countries all over the world are getting pro actively involved to to replace all non eco friendly options sooner rather than later.

The eco industry is growing rapidly and there is a huge demand to reduce the hazard environmental impact through by providing safe and natural alternatives in order to deliver materials, processes and technology solutions. According to ETAP (Environmental Technologies Action Plan), “The global eco-industry is fore casted to be worth some €700 billion by 2010”. Following the suit, the packaging industry and manufacturers have come up with various green packaging solutions to reduce environmental jeopardy. Almost everyday, a new idea is created. Some of the recently innovated measures taken for checking harmful packaging supplies, following are some of the green characteristics that are generally adopted by the manufacturers.

• Made from recycled materials (100% or varying lesser percentages)



• Made from annually sustainable materials (ex: bamboo farms, corn, soya, cotton)



• Made from organic farmed materials (ex: organic bamboo, organic corn)



• Biodegradable materials (ex: clam shells, unbleached paper)



• Recyclable material (ex: cardboard papers, corrugated paper, glass)



• Reusable products (ex: glass bottles)



• Energy efficiency, such as achieved by reduction in packaging processes, packaging systems, manufacturing process or distribution savings (ex: using plastic bottles instead of glass bottles because of reduced carbon output in the shipping of a lighter product).

The most efficient markets for the implementation of the green methodology are the cardboard boxes, compostable food containers and biodegradable products like biodegradable bags, biodegradable trash bags, biodegradable garbage bags, biodegradable plastics, biodegradable paper, biodegradable films and biodegradable green materials.

Today, business realize that materials, systems, and processes need to be greener as the choice of caring about the impact for the environment is not only the ethical but also the future of the packaging industry. It is being realized that all the business that do not have any alternatives for greener packaging supplies and also do not incorporate environmental friendly products in their line of manufacturing, tend to lose their market share to environment friendly business that aims to create a new generation of eco friendly alternatives and solutions.

In present scenario, the packaging supplies have been evolved in a manner that can be reused by the consumer rather than just being tossed. Upscale, longer lasting packaging like thick wall boxes, handled containers, rope handle bags, etc. can be used over and over by many consumers thus allowing a longer life span for a brand. These are some of the reasons that have earned huge recognition for greener packaging supplies in the packaging industry.