Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, essential goods, like food and personal care products, have seen a surge in consumer spending. As brands and converters continue to explore new avenues to better reach consumers, flexible packaging remains one of the most intriguing areas.

Flexible packaging provides multiple advantages throughout the supply chain, from lower shipping costs to easier portability for consumers. These benefits have seen suppliers invest in R&D designed to optimize these products.

Avery Dennison has continually seen growing demand for flexible packaging. The company’s R&D has centered on new technologies for sustainable packaging, new opportunities such as stand-up pouches and, secure, safe single-use packaging.

“Flexible packaging will continue to grow and has a very positive CAGR projected thru 2025,” states Cindy Collins, flexible packaging product manager at Avery Dennison. “Sustainable packaging will continue to be a big focus. Formats continue to expand and added functionality features for ease of use, as well as safety and security, will expand, too There is a lot of work being done in the manufacturing of components to be used in flexible packaging, and these will provide barrier and other protective features in packaging.”

Research from the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) shows that in 2018, flexible packaging was valued at $31.8 billion in sales. This packaging type accounted for 19% of the total US packaging industry, which was valued at $170 billion. The 10-year CAGR, evaluating the period from 2008-2018, was approximately 2%.

Avery Dennison’s product development in this area includes the Rapid-Roll portfolio. In 2020, the company introduced a high strength stand-up pouch, which provides puncture resistance and safety.

Meanwhile, Avery Dennison recently unveiled two sustainable flexible packaging products, including a recyclable clear stand-up pouch and a sustainable cosmetic web, which includes PCR and bio-based resins.

“Our strong breadth of products includes Chemcontrol offerings, which provide excellent chemical resistance, as well as our base offerings, including stick packs, cosmetic webs, snackwebs and paper laminations, which continue to bring product stability and excellent quality to our converters,” says Collins. “Avery Dennison is a solutions provider for our customers. As business moves from one technology to another, we bring total solutions to the business providing growth and expansion opportunities for our converter base.  Short runs, personalization, breadth of offerings and speed to market allow customers to grow in flexible packaging with access to our flexible packaging experts to aid in the process.”

According to Collins, food accounts for more than half of the flexible packaging applications being utilized today. Personal care, pet foods and treats, and beverages have also emerged as popular end-use applications for flexible packaging.

The popularity of flexible packaging in food and personal care applications make it one to monitor as the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. Collins believes flexible packaging has already proven to be advantageous during these times.

“COVID-19 has certainly had its effect on flexible packaging,” she notes. “The food demand alone saw substantial growth with people eating at home versus restaurants, which also contributed to high growth in e-commerce for all types of products. Security and safety of food, personal care and other products are key to consumers’ buying power and for a short time. The push for sustainability declined as safety concerns and single-use took the lead. This is expected to be short term, but brands will still be expected to provide safe packaging in the future.”

To read an in-depth feature on the flexible packaging market, click here.