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Rigid to Flexible Packaging: A Sustainable Approach Backing Industrial Operations

Chemicals and Material

15, April 2021

In a product’s lifecycle, packaging is a crucial step as it helps enhance the overall quality of packaged goods. Nowadays, there is a change in the way consumers are interacting with packaged products. Also, the growing environmental concerns have compelled brands to opt for innovative and flexible packaging options.

Interestingly, flexible packaging technology has resulted in lower consumption of water and electricity, in addition to reduced levels of greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, flexible packaging has multiple benefits over rigid packaging. To illustrate, in traditional packaging, rigid plastics are more likely to get damaged during transit or storage. On the other hand, flexible packaging is more resilient, helping to protect the contents within the packaging.


An Industrial Shift towards Flexible Packaging

As mentioned above, the negative impact of several packaging types on the environment has influenced manufacturers to rethink their packaging decisions. In such a scenario, investors in the flexible packaging market are concentrating on distinct materials to expand their operations, such as bio-based materials and biodegradable plastics

Sectors supporting the shift from rigid to flexible packaging are as follows:

  • Food & Beverage :
  • The most enjoyable and exciting part of Halloween celebrations include the joy of rushing out to get candies. With some communities canceling trick-or-treating, carrying out trick-or-treat in different rooms, or virtually can be a simple alternative. In case venturing out, the use of hand sanitizer is beneficial, owing to their easy accessibility. Traveling in small groups and throwing away unwrapped treats after arriving home is also essential to avoid germs transmission.

  • Pharmaceuticals:
  • Packaging usually undergo meticulous aseptic or sterilization processing, requiring high barriers to avoid damage. This has led hospitals and clinics to increasingly adopt antimicrobial and re-usable flexible packaging for medical devices, injections, and surgical equipment. This not only ensures the efficiency of medical products, but also decreases environmental straining.

While flexible packaging solutions offer high durability and cost-effectiveness, their employment in the cosmetic industry to enhance packaging aesthetics surges their adoption rate. Additionally, the use of thin plastic films produced from green tea extracts is also fueling the flexible packaging segment in the cosmetic and other sectors.


Initiatives towards Sustainable Packaging

For manufacturers, packaging not only helps protect and preserve products, but also acts as a powerful marketing tool ensuring an efficient flow of business. While several companies have incorporated flexible packaging solutions, many are introducing new initiatives to promote sustainable steps in the production process.

Some of the Sustainable Initiatives Undertaken by Renowned Companies are:

  • Dell:
  • The technology solutions provider has participated in the NextWave program to produce the first-ever ocean-bound plastics supply chain. Here, the company is engaged in sourcing plastics from coastal areas to recycle them into new packaging, reducing plastic wastage in oceans.

  • The Lego Group:
  • It commenced utilizing recyclable paper-pulp trays over plastic trays for packaging. Additionally, the leading toymaker company has joined RE100, a global program of companies dedicated to using 100% renewable energy.

  • Frito-Lay:
  • By increasing rPET and bioplastic use, the company is moving towards offering next-generation flexible packaging for snacks. Besides, it has collaborated with Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging of Europe to discover new solutions for flexible packaging.


Packing Up:

Based on Triton Market Research’s report, the flexible packaging market is expected to witness tremendous revenue growth at a CAGR of 4.22%. The report also states that the Asia-Pacific is likely to experience the fastest growth rate in the flexible packaging market over the coming years.

With growing technological advancements, including AI and machine learning, the production processes in industries are becoming faster and efficient each day. Such technologies are supporting innovations in packaging design, opening new avenues for flexible packaging solution providers.

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