Demand for active and intelligent packaging in the US is projected to climb 13% annually to $1.1 billion in 2011.
A study conducted by the Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industry market research firm, says growth will be fuelled by the development of new generations of products with improved performance at more cost-competitive prices, resulting in greater market acceptance for many product types.
The majority of active and intelligent packaging technologies are still specialty niches in the broad US packaging sector due to the relatively high cost of many product types.
Intelligent packaging
Significant advances are anticipated in the intelligent packaging segment, where demand will expand more than 30% per annum to $165 million in 2011.
Gains will be based on the emergence of lower cost time-temperature indicator (TTI) labels as well as the growing awareness of these products as critical tools in improving food safety and reducing losses in perishables from temperature abuse in the supply chain.
Increasing cost-competitiveness will support strong opportunities for other intelligent packaging, such as compliance monitoring packaging for pharmaceuticals, active pharmaceutical reminders, ripeness detecting labels and thermochromic labels.
Active packaging
Active packaging is projected to advance over 11% per year to $975 million in 2011.
Growth factors include a robust increase for gas scavengers based on changes in the food product mix and rising cost-competitiveness that is expanding applications for oxygen scavengers.
Moisture control packaging demand will rise more slowly due to the presence of mature products such as desiccants and purge control pads for meat.
Food and beverage sector
Food and beverages are the two largest markets for active and intelligent packaging, accounting for 72% of demand in 2006.
The pharmaceuticals and beverages industries are expected to grow at the fastest rate, with food uses also logging solid advances.
Growth in food applications will be driven by the need to maintain a longer shelf life for processed foods and packaged fresh foods.
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