Market Trends of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Flexible Packaging Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the EMEA Flexible Packaging Market according to our research experts:
Polyethylene Expected to Witness Significant Market Share
- The market players operating in the segment manufacture thermoplastics, such as polyethylene(PE). Major companies include Chevron Phillips Chemical, Dow, DuPont, BASF (Germany), and LyondellBasell Industries (the Netherlands), amongst others.
- Ample supplies of oil and gas are aiding the growth of several European chemical companies that can effectively regulate energy and feedstock costs. This is further driving the overall demand of PE resin as its abundance and ease of procurement is relatively higher in the studied region.
- Over the forecast period the PE resin demand for packaging is anticipated to surge in the EMEA region, mainly attributable to Intelligent value chain. Industry 4.0 and Internet of Things (IoT) are transforming industrial production and creating new opportunities in the PE value chain. The increased traceability offered by Industry 4.0, from package production to the final product being placed on the retail shelf, is expected to play an important role in ensuring that the package composition can be tracked, especially when recycled content is included.
- Reducing food waste through improved plastic packaging and rising adoption of recyclable flexible films are some of the trends in the region, which are expected to accentuate the demand for polyethylene. For instance, in January 2020, German multinational Beiersdorf, specializing in skin care products, launched cosmetic bottles made of 100% recycled polyethylene (PE) for its Nivea brand. The launch of this PE bottle is a part of the company’s Recyclist project and the result of a collaboration between the Fraunhofer IWKS, Fraunhofer IVV, and Pla.to.
- In February 2020, First Mile, a recycling company, partnered with the global sustainable fashion innovation platform, “Fashion for Good”, to resolve the increasing issue of plastic polybag waste in the fashion industry. Furthermore, The increase in regulations against the use of plastic is anticipated to lay a significant effect on the market. In March 2020, the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer revealed that the plastic packaging tax would see companies paying EUR 200 per metric ton of packaging made from less than 30% recycled plastic from April 2022.
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Poland Expected to Witness Significant Market Share
- Poland is one of the significant markets for the European flexible packaging vendors, owing to the high rate of investment in advanced and innovating packaging across the various end-user industries and the company's growing focus on lightweight, portable, flexible, and environmentally friendly packaging.
- Many Poland packaging companies are also expanding their geographical presence through the market by opening new manufacturing units, which is expected to expand the scope of the region's flexible packaging market too. For instance, Plast-Box Group, one of Poland's and Europe's leading producers of plastic packaging, opened a new warehouse and logistics center near Warsaw with a total area of over 3,800 square meters.
- Furthermore, in July 2020, Sudpack, a flexible packaging company based in Germany, expanded into the region by adding a site in the country. The expansion is expected to support the company’s operations in Eastern Europe, complementing the growth of various resin materials in the region.
- Aligned with the recycling of PET packaging, major companies operating in the region have engaged in various recyclable policies. Several chemical companies have identified the country as a strategic market and established PET recycling facilities. For instance, in August 2020, Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL), a global chemical producer, announced an agreement to acquire IMP Polowat to expand its recycling capacity in the country.
- The country has witnessed a surging demand for plastic-based flexible packaging products. The flexible packaging market in Poland can be categorized into various types of resins, including PE, BOPP, CPP, PVC, PET, and many others. Different key players operating in the market offer products based on various resin types.
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