With the continuous improvement of materials and processing technology, flexible packaging is playing an increasingly important role in many areas. By 2002, the sales of flexible packaging in the food industry will exceed 56% of the US$9.7 billion in sales of the packaging and processing industry. The rest will be the consumer goods industry market. Sales are evenly distributed on perishable foods and dried foods. In perishable foods, bagged foods and crustaceans are the two fastest-growing parts, including meat products, agricultural products, and other frozen foods. These foods are usually packed in large-volume vacuum film and placed at the periphery of the supermarket.
By 2002, bagged meat products had become the fastest growing segment at a rate of 20% per year. The main raw materials used will include clean, anti-fog packaging materials, high barrier films, and widely used shrink films. By 2002, more than 30% of 7 billion pieces of fresh meat will be bagged. However, the market characteristics, size, and complexity of packaging requirements will result in diversification of packaging materials over a period of time. With the popularity of banqueting and smoked sausages for breakfast, its packaging film will be the fastest growing segment at a rate of 9% per year. Metallocene metal is gradually replacing ionomer or ethylene vinyl acetate as a sealing material.
Despite the fact that sales of fresh calves have slumped due to their high fat and the reduction in the number of people eating it at breakfast, new flavors and low-fat varieties still help boost demand for packaging films. For many markets, especially the fast food and candy markets, novel patterns are necessary, and it can often trigger people's desire to buy. Many food products require high moisture resistance. O le s tra, an alternative to fat, added $400 million in sales to ftito Lay, which may have a significant positive impact on the packaging film market. Other markets include cereals, pet foods and coffee. The fastest growing 6% is a product that sells for more than $5.
Most foods are often prominently placed in the middle of supermarkets. There may be individual foods placed in collection offices or convenience stores to stimulate consumers' desire to purchase. Confectionery is the most profitable part and continues to grow at about 5%. The amount of sweets purchased by consumers on impulse was over 70% of total sales. Therefore, packaging manufacturers use high-quality packaging patterns—especially metallized patterns. Low-fat candy market opportunities also help to promote the development of the packaging industry. Premium pet food uses more expensive packaging materials. With an increasing share in the market, these foods contain higher-priced, oxygen-sensitive ingredients that require better packaging protection.
Industrial products sales and sales are the largest areas. The growth rate of health-care packaging products was the fastest, and the sales rate of 6% increased. Packaging processors sell value-added packaging materials at a price of $7.60 per pound. Products that use these materials include soaps, cosmetics, disposable paper products, and other retail products. In short, flexible packaging has penetrated into every part of the manufacturing field. The flexible packaging transformed from hard packaging will continue to develop, but the speed will slow down because many of the most easily converted jobs have been completed. It is expected that the total development speed of flexible packaging will be slightly faster than the development speed of the total national product.