Market Trends of United States Pouch Packaging Industry
Convenient and Cost-effective Pouch Packaging is Expected to Witness Growth
- Pouch packaging is considerably less expensive and lighter for transportation than rigid packaging. The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) indicates that developments in production processes and material innovation have decreased the weight of some flexible packaging by approximately 50%. Moreover, pouch packaging also permits space-saving opportunities, which means that substantial ratios of products could be shipped utilizing less fuel and energy.
- Pouch packaging also enhances business brand identity and strengthens visual marketing. Pouches are versatile, flexible, and attractive, promoting the brand and increasing sales. Digitally printed stand-up pouches can enhance a brand’s identity in any way the business wants. The company can utilize the whole surface of the pouch to display exciting graphics, logos, branding messages, or product details.
- The expanding ex-pat population and the urge to try new products also drive the demand for ready meals. The region's need for quick and easy food, including prepared meals, is increasing due to shifting social and economic patterns. According to the US Census Bureau, the industry revenue for plastic bag and pouch manufacturing in 2020 was USD 10.65 billion, and it is expected to reach USD 10.87 in 2023.
- Confectionery and ready-to-eat food producers relied on lay-down bags produced using standard equipment. However, this conventional packaging often fails to make their products stand out on shelves. With shelves becoming more crowded, consumers, pressed for time, found it challenging to locate their desired products.
- Consequently, there's been a notable shift toward stand-up pouches, revolutionizing the presentation of confections and related items in retail settings. Complementing this trend, brands are increasingly turning to high-gloss graphics and innovative features like laser scoring, all aimed at enhancing both visibility and convenience for consumers.
The Food Segment is Expected to Witness Robust Growth
- Pouch packaging provides various benefits for food packaging, such as safeguarding the contents, providing a tamper-proof design, and meeting the product's physical, chemical, or biological requirements. Furthermore, these pouches help maintain the food's nutritional content, facilitate efficient and reliable distribution across the food chain, and reduce post-harvest waste.
- Owing to the extensive demand across end users, manufacturers consistently launch new confectionary pouches with significant innovations. In March 2023, Marciech Confectionery, a California-based company, disclosed a brand-new appearance and felt for its confectionaries by launching new pouches. The modified single-serve and pouch packaging is still reassuringly recognizable to those loyal to the brand.
- In November 2023, the US Department of Agriculture announced more than USD 52 million in investment to improve dietary health and access to fresh fruits and vegetables for eligible families. The investment aims to improve families' access to fresh fruits and vegetables. As a result, packaging solutions, such as vegetable pouch packaging, can preserve freshness and boost the shelf life of these products.
- Various trends influence the demand for fresh fruits and vegetable pouch packaging. One key trend is the rising need for fresh and organic food products. As consumers become health-conscious and environmentally conscious, they seek fresh and organic food products, which increases the demand for produce packaging. This trend is anticipated to continue pushing for a transition in the fruit and vegetable packaging sector. According to the Organic Trade Association, the consumption value of organic packaged food in 2020 was USD 21.304 billion, and it is expected to reach USD 24.136 billion in 2024.
- Therefore, the surging need for lightweight, protective, self-appealing, and high-barrier packaging among confectionery manufacturers is predicted to augment the sales of food packaging. The multi-sensory influence on pouch packaging is expected to lead to a surge in purchases, positively impacting the market.