Market Trends of BOPP Films Industry
Industrial Vertical Expected to Drive Growth
- BOPP films play a crucial role in the industrial sector due to their versatile properties and applications. They are required in the industrial sector for several things, such as packaging, lamination, labeling, adhesives, and capacitors. These films are used as a lamination material to enhance the appearance, strength, and durability of printed materials such as posters, catalogs, brochures, and packaging boxes.
- In January 2024, Cosmo Films, an international leader in specialty films for packaging, synthetic paper, and labeling, in addition to lamination applications, launched metalized electrical evaluation BOPP films for capacitor application. These films are mainly used to produce numerous types of AC and DC capacitors. These capacitors have varied industrial applications, ranging from automobiles, electric vehicles, electronics, power electronics, and renewable power systems.
- BOPP film is a fragment of the broader polyolefin chemical family. It denotes that it can be laminated with polyethylene film and still be extensively accepted in the reprocessing waste stream. In numerous applications, the consumption of BOPP film has furthered from the sustainability boost at the expense of other polymers. When organoclay and nanocomposite materials are combined with BOPP, their barrier properties are improved. PVA (poly(vinyl alcohol)) and MA (maleic anhydride) are the most appropriate materials for minimizing the oxygen penetrability of the films.
- Continuous innovations in manufacturing processes have led to the development of advanced BOPP films with enhanced properties, such as improved seal strength, higher barrier performance, and better clarity, expanding their applicability in industrial settings. According to MOSPI, the industrial production index for the manufacturing sector across India in the financial year of 2023 stood at 137.1. This was a growth of 4.7% as compared to the previous financial year.
- Because of the high development rate in India's economy, the country's BOPP market is observing a high development rate because of the increasing development of the retail, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic businesses apart from the food and beverage industries. The e-commerce sector has one of the significant applications of BOPP self-adhesive tapes in the country, as it offers superior mechanical and optical features.
- In India, on account of the small cost of production, the players are increasing their production volumes to meet the snowballing demand for BOPP. For instance, Cosmo Films has announced an upsurge in its production capacity of BOPP to 0.035 million megatons, which is anticipated to be commercialized. Similarly, Jindal Polyfilms is anticipated to increase its production capacity to 0.044 million megatons.
North America Accounts for Significant Market Share
- Many vendors of BOPP films in North America are changing their product portfolios to handle the increasing requirement for packaging solutions in the region. BOPP films that provide transparency in product packaging help customers quickly examine the product and have been an important factor in driving its adoption and aiding the market’s growth in the area.
- The rising demand for packaged food in the region has driven the market’s growth, owing to the need for the increased shelf-life of food products, non-toxicity during sealing, and the need to maintain product quality and sustainability during packaging processes. According to the Organic Trade Association, the US consumption of organic packaged food amounted to USD 23.20 billion in 2023, and it is forecasted to reach over USD 25 billion by 2025.
- Retail outlets are North America's most significant revenue-generating medium for food products. Flexible packaging products, such as BOPP films, offer consumers a convenient shopping experience, as they are lightweight and minimize the effort required to carry the products. They emerged as the preferred form of packaging in the region due to their versatility, custom qualities, efficiency in conserving resources, and sustainability. According to the US Census Bureau, in 2023, sales of food and beverage stores in the United States amounted to approximately USD 985 billion. Sales of food services and drinking places were slightly higher, at around USD 1.1 trillion.
- The region is also a significant exporter and consumer of meat products. The vast availability of pork and meat products across the nation's widespread and intense retail chains bolstered the market. With the demand for a more considerable stable-shelf time, the demand for BOPP films is expected to increase. BOPP films are instrumental in improving the packaging films' thermal resistance and barrier properties, like oxygen transmission and water vapor transmission rates.
- In the United States, increasing awareness among consumers and favorable government regulations are anticipated to drive the demand for sustainable, biodegradable packaging during the forecast period. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States generates almost 80 million metric tons of packaging waste annually. About half of the packaging waste comes from food and beverage products. The agency mentioned that food corporations like Nestle and Unilever generate most plastic waste.
- The biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) films market trend strongly highlights sustainable packaging solutions. With increasing consumer awareness and regulatory pressure, there is a shift toward recyclable and eco-friendly. Brands focus on transparent labeling to convey product information, catering to environmentally conscious consumers.