Trends for flexible plastic packaging in the post-pandemic

The pandemic has had a profound impact on society’s lifestyle. In some spheres, this impact will be long lasting, such as on consumption habits. With social isolation, restrictions, trade closures, and lockdowns, online shopping has grown explosively in all sectors and shows no signs of slowing down. The consumption of food at home has also increased.

For the plastics industry, this change in purchasing dynamics has brought about a new relationship with the consumer, who now has a new perception regarding packaging.

The Flexible Packaging Association pointed out in the report Flexible Plastic Packaging Market, that more than 60% of North American consumers are willing to pay more for products with functional packaging, which offers better product protection and ease of shipping, among other factors.

This new relationship, coupled with the increased demand for manufacturers that use flexible plastic packaging, such as the food industry, leads to a projected growth in the plastic industry of nearly US$ 40 billion by 2025.

The report also indicates trends for the plastics industry in the post pandemic world, which take into account the impacts and knowledge gleaned from this period.

New consumer habits

The restrictions imposed as a result of the pandemic caused virtual purchases to skyrocket. With this came the new perception regarding plastics mentioned above. In addition to this is the consumer’s engagement with environmental causes, and a new willingness to pay more for sustainable packaging options.

Industry management focused on innovation

To maintain productivity and profitability in the face of the challenging pandemic scenario, with high demand and rising price of raw materials, innovation and process optimization are necessary. Finding ways to reduce waste, automate processes and equipment, improve energy efficiency, traceability, among other measures, all make a difference and contribute to the reestablishment of the industry.

Sustainability

The plastic industry has been going through important transformations, mainly focused on sustainability. This trend is confirmed and becomes even more necessary in the current context, with increasingly demanding consumers, and the more latent climate change issues.

Sustainability and innovation at Valgroup

Sustainability has always been part of Valgroup. With a portfolio of sustainable innovations, Valgroup offers solutions with accelerated biodegradability, simplified structures, among others, designed to support the development of a circular economy, in which plastics never become waste.

In more than 45 years in the market, Valgroup is the largest plastic recycler in Latin America. In addition, through Bottle-to-Bottle technology, it was the first company in the country to have the PET PCR Resin – Post-Consumer Recycled registered at ANVISA, approved for contact with food. It also relies on a recycler of industrial trimmings of flexible, and low density flexible products.

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