Pouches to lead US flexible packaging growth

Pouches will continue to lead growth in the US converted flexible packaging market, which is expected to see demand reach US$18.2 billion by 2015 according to a new study by industry research firm Freedonia Group.
 
Demand for converted flexible packaging is projected to increase 3.8 per cent annually from 2010 to 2015, by which time the market will be worth in excess of US$18 billion.  Pouches will see annual growth of 4.6 per cent over the same period and account for US$8 billion of the total figure in 2015.  Bags will account for a further US$8.8 billion of the 2015 total and other flexible packaging US$1.4 billion.

The Converted Flexible Packaging report notes this will be down to continued growth in the stand-up pouch segment and gains for flat pouches.  Machinery upgrades will benefit pouches too as aging rigid packaging equipment makes way for pouch packaging equipment.

Annual gains between 2010 and 2015 for pouches (4.6 per cent) will actually be lower than between 2005 and 2010, when 5.5 per cent yearly growth was reported.  This will be as the growth rate for bags increases from 2.6 to 3.1 per cent annually and overall yearly growth slows by 0.1 per cent across the 2010-2015 period.
 
Overall, converted flexible packaging’s source reduction capabilities will be increasingly advantageous in light of initiatives by major retailers and packaged goods firms to evaluate their packaging in terms of eco-friendliness and cost reduction, the report states.