This report explores key trends driving development and innovation in primary packaging, such as, increasing awareness of health and wellness, growing concerns of environmental impact, as well as rising disposable incomes, while seeking to identify hot spots for packaging growth in all regions throughout the world. Consumer focus on wellness, environmental impact and macroeconomic factors such as the growth of the middle class creating more disposable income are shaping the global packaging market.

These trends are impacting the types of machinery sourced by consumer packaged goods companies. Centre stage is global consumer demand for healthier foods as the impetus towards fresher food, clean labelling and organic products.

Flexible packaging is also growing due to recyclability, affordability, lightweight and growth in packaged foods overall. This increase is especially evident in regions such as Asia Pacific, Western Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The increased focus on sustainability drives the growing demand for more energy-efficient machines. With the growth of flexible packaging, we are seeing additional demand for filling and closing machines able to handle this type of packaging material.

One of the major macroeconomic trends that is impacting our industry is the growth of the middle class and a rise in disposable income. In developed regions, increased travel, busy lifestyles and growing health consciousness have increased demand for indulgent yet healthy foods, convenience foods, different portion sizes, different packaging designs and completely new foods.

Consumer purchasing preferences are also changing. On-line food sales are growing rapidly, a trend reinforced by the growing use of mobile phones and shopping applications. Consumers welcome additional choices and are willing to pay more for products that are locally sourced, produced with quality ingredients and resonate as authentic. This trend toward more customisation and increased premiumisation, has fuelled the need for increasingly flexible equipment that can handle shorter runs and more frequent changeovers.

The 2017 Global Packaging Trends Report was produced by Euromonitor and sponsored by leading packaging associations PMMI, Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association, Italian Manufacturers of Automatic Packing and Packaging Machinery, and the Processing & Packaging Machinery Trade Association UK.

Should you wish to access the Executive Summary of the report simply email the APPMA on appma@appma.com.au and request a copy today.