Active and intelligent packaging demand

Demand for active and intelligent packaging in the US is projected to climb 8.3% annually to US$1.9 billion in 2013, well above the overall packaging industry. Rapid advances will be fuelled by the availability of products with more reasonable price points and those offering improved performance compared to earlier generation counterparts.

Moreover, increased concerns over food safety and the need to minimise losses in perishables will spur requirements for more sophisticated packaging to extend the shelf life or enhance traceability of food, beverages, pharmaceuticals and other packaged goods.

Growth for intelligent packaging will be significantly faster and will be propelled by robust gains for time-temperature indicators (TTIs) and the emergence of other smart packaging systems offering product differentiation, traceability or various interactive features at more cost-competitive prices. These and other trends are presented in Active & Intelligent Packaging, a new study from The Freedonia Group.

Active packaging demand is forecast to advance 7.1% per year to $1.7 billion in 2013, paced by faster gains for gas scavengers, the result of expanded applications for oxygen scavengers in food, beverage and pharmaceutical packaging.

Solid growth for oxygen scavenger bottles will be based on heightened demand for less costly monolayer oxygen scavenger systems, which will drive usage with single-serving bottles for beverages such as hot-fill juices and teas. Some degree of conversion from glass to PET in oxygen-sensitive beverages like wine is also anticipated as part of efforts to make packaging more green. Moisture control and corrosion control packaging demand will increase more slowly based on the presence of more mature product types and applications.

Food and beverages were the two largest markets for active and intelligent packaging in 2008, accounting for slightly over half of total demand. Fastest gains are anticipated in the pharmaceutical market, with double-digit increases also expected in the food and beverage markets. Pharmaceutical advances will be spurred by favourable demographics, along with the need to improve compliance and adherence rates.

Growth in the food market will be driven by rising demand for prepared and other fresh foods, along with the need for longer shelf life and the prevention of losses in perishables.