The 2017 version of the Global Packaging Trends Report, a market research study highlighting future packaging demand, product categories and global opportunities for growth is now available.

Released by the Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) in partnership with PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies,

and other leading international machinery associations, the report explores key trends driving development and innovation in primary packaging.

This includes increasing awareness of health and wellness, growing concerns of environmental impact, as well as rising disposable incomes.

The report seeks to identify hot spots for packaging growth in 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.

Demand for energy efficient machines

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. Online food sales are growing rapidly, a trend reinforced by the growing use of mobile phones and shopping applications.

Need for flexible equipment

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 customisation 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.

It is 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.

To request a copy of the Executive Summary email: [email protected]