Market Trends of Insulated Packaging Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Insulated Packaging Market according to our research experts:
Food and Beverage Industry to Show the Maximum Application
- The food and beverage packaging industry is witnessing significant growth, owing to the increasing demand for packaged food and ready-to-eat food consumption. Moreover, the growing trend of online food ordering and online grocery shopping is giving rise to the need for shipment and storage of perishables in a thermally controlled environment.
- Protection, preservation, maintaining, and extending the shelf-life of food products are the primary challenges faced in the food industry. As food products are prone to deteriorate over time, affecting their flavor, taste, texture, and color, choosing the right packaging products is necessary.
- The consumption of frozen food is increasing in developed countries, such as the United States, Germany, Canada, and France, which are driving the market for insulated packaging. According to Frozen and Refrigerated Buyer, in 2019, frozen food sales in the United States were USD 9,384.88 million. Ice cream contributed most to the sales of frozen food in the region with USD 1,418.38 million, whereas processed chicken/chicken substitute contributed USD 676.29 million.
- The packages containing frozen foods should be constructed, thermally insulated, and equipped with sufficient refrigerants to continuously maintain a product temperature of 0°C (32°F) or colder. Insulated shipping boxes are needed as they limit heat exchange between the environment and the inside of the package. One of the most used thermal insulators in the food industry is expanded polystyrene (EPS) coolers.
United States to Hold Significant Market Share
- The United States is expected to dominate the insulated packaging market due to the increasing number of retail food chains and their expansion and the growing e-commerce industry. eCommerce continues to grow dramatically in the country, putting pressure on traditional retail.
- Consumers spent USD 601.75 billion online with U.S. merchants in 2019, up 14.9% from USD 523.64 billion the prior year, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce quarterly e-commerce figures. That was a relatively higher growth rate than 2018 when online sales reported by the Commerce Department rose 13.6% year over year. Also, sales of consumer packaged goods, long confined to traditional retail channels, are exploding online, with growth rates, in many cases, more than 50% YOY.
- Moreover, the presence of major giants such as Amazon and Walmart has significantly changed the buying trends of grocery shoppers in the U.S. Also, the ability to prevent damage to temperature-sensitive products like pharmaceuticals, foods, and cosmetics, insulated packaging commands a noticeable presence in several high-growth industries in the country like healthcare, food, beverage, etc. This factor will drive the insulating packaging market in the forecast period.
- Moreover, the government regulations in the country, for instance, the food-contact packaging sector of the U.S., is highly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). With food being one of the most sensitive products to transfer and store, the regulations are expected to considerably promote the adoption of insulated packagings, such as insulated food bags.