Recyclable Flexible Package Trend in 2024

In 2020 to 2022, the epidemic has repeatedly rebounded, causing many variables in the market: supermarkets, cinemas, catering, tourism, bars and other industries are sluggish, and related retail fast-moving consumer goods such as leisure food, beverages, beer have greatly declined, indirectly affecting the orders of packaging companies.

But in the field of pharmaceutical packaging, including flexible packaging enterprises related to nucleic acid testing, epidemic prevention, cold and fever drugs, etc., the business situation is very good; And orders for high-temperature steaming and packaging products are also showing an upward trend, due to the booming demand in the pre packaged food market.

Through incomplete statistics and calculations from multiple sources, the production of composite film flexible packaging in 2022 is expected to be about 50 million tons, which is the same as in 2021. The industry’s main business income is about 140 billion USD, and there are more than 90 enterprises with main business income exceeding 100 million USD. The total main business income of enterprises with main business income exceeding 100 million USD is about 45 billion USD, accounting for about 31% of the main business income of enterprises above designated size, and the industrial concentration has increased

In the commonly used film products in our flexible packaging field, the production capacity, operating rate, and market application of biaxially oriented packaging films such as BOPP, BOPET, BOPA, BOPI, BOPE, BOPLA, etc. will also show some new changes in 2022, including cast film, blow molded packaging film, aluminum plated film, etc. Overall, composite flexible packaging films will inevitably develop towards green and environmentally friendly directions such as functionalization, reduction, and recyclability. However, biodegradable plastics and related thin BOPLA, PBAT, etc. are showing a development situation of overheated investment and overcapacity, and should be cautious

For recyclable flexible packaging, the growth is very fast since many of the countries are asking for 100% recyclable mono-material pouches in 2025. That’s why many of the companies are transfer in 200 to 2023. This will see a huge increase in 2024 and 2025.

What development trends will the composite flexible packaging industry present in 2024?

Longdapac who is one of the leading 100% recyclable mono-material PE pouches factory believes that:

1. The difficulty in recruiting workers in the soft packaging industry will inevitably lead to an increasing demand for automation, multifunctionality, humanized design, simplified operation, digitization, intelligence and other aspects of machines.
2. The substrate film is developing towards green and environmentally friendly directions such as functionalization, reduction, and recyclability.
3. The process of solvent-free composite in functional fields such as high barrier materials, medium resistant materials, and high-temperature cooking is mature, cross disciplinary expansion, and digital upgrading.
4. Due to approaching of 2025, 100% recyclable mono material packaging is expected to be achieve explosive industrial development. Especially the high barrier recyclable pouches.