Report Reveals Opportunities in Folding Carton Market

"The Future of Folding Cartons to 2018," a new report from Smithers Pira, outlines the shape of the industry globally by end-use sector, region and country, through extensive primary research. With strategic forecasts to 2018, plus details of key market drivers and opportunities, it analyses major drivers and trends shaping the industry, and provides exclusive exploration of end-use markets and current and future worldwide demand.

Three key technologies that will result in added value in the folding carton market between 2013 and 2018, are retail-ready packs (mainly in microflute), anti-counterfeit systems and barrier coating technologies. Retail-ready packaging is a growing trend amongst retailers striving to reduce their costs and comes in the form of corrugated/microflute systems, rigid plastic and some rigid board products. Anti-counterfeit technology used in folding carton applications is expected to almost double with high growth expected, especially in the health care sector. Developments in water-based coatings, nano-materials, bio-polymers and antimicrobial compounds are leading the growth for barrier coatings.

According to Smithers Pira, a global trend towards smaller packs will be offset by an increase in demand for single serve portion packs. Smaller packs tend to use more total packaging material than the larger packs they replace, for the same volume of packed product.

The need for continual brand differentiation in the crowded marketplace is the impetus of growing demand for innovation in printing methods, with an increase in such technologies as QR codes, holographic images, Fresnel lenses and other 3D devices. The technological developments in printed electronics are bringing the development of smart packaging closer to fruition as costs are decreasing.