Pet food packaging industry Problems and Solutions
Packaging is often the first line of offense in a product’s ability to sell itself, and in pet food packaging the stakes have been significantly raised by packed shelf space at the premium and superpremium levels.Packaging is a certainty that will continue to be necessary for modern life, from protecting food to protecting merchandise.
The principal roles of food packaging are to protect food products from outside influences and damage, to contain the food, and to provide consumers with ingredient and nutritional information Traceability, convenience, and tamper indication are secondary functions of increasing importance. The goal of food packaging is to contain food in a cost-effective way that satisfies industry requirements and consumer desires, maintains food safety, and minimizes environmental impact.
Safety of Pet Food Packaging
Food packaging can significantly influence the quality and safety of the food product in question by providing a barrier to moisture and other environmental conditions that may result in contamination and/or spoilage.
The U.S. demand for pet food packaging is expected to rise 4.8 percent annually to $2.5 billion by 2018. Growth will be based on the use of higher value, more sophisticated packaging and continued strength in pet food shipments. The proliferation of premium pet food brands will also spur packaging demand growth, as higher value containers will be required to provide superior graphics, puncture resistance to reduce likelihood of contamination and barrier protection for these more expensive, higher-quality products.
According to our new study, Pet Food Packaging, demand for metal cans in pet food packaging is forecast to rise 2.7 percent annually to $650 million in 2018. Cans held 29 percent of the pet food packaging market in 2013. The percentage of overall can demand in pet food packaging will continue to decline due to supplantation by other packaging types, including retort pouches, tubs and cups, and chubs. Pouch demand in pet food packaging is forecast to rise 8.3 percent per annum to $540 million in 2018, the fastest pace of growth among pet food packaging types. For small packages of dry food, pouches will continue to supplant bags. For wet food, retort pouches will continue to gain acceptance as an alternative to metal cans, growing in popularity due to peelable lids that are easier to open and allow the consumer to avoid cuts from metal edges and especially in applications where strength and stiffness are not primary factors.
Can demand growth is forecast to be below that for the overall pet food packaging market, based on the maturity of this traditional packaging type and the lack of value-added features that would increase demand. Although other drawbacks like heavier weight and the need for opening devices on some cans do exist, an advantage does exist in that metal cans are the most recycled food or beverage container type.
Other advantages include their low cost, long shelf life, durability and amenability to wet food products, ultimately reducing chance of contamination and spoilage. Additionally, the presence of easy opening ends will support continued opportunities. Fast-filling speeds and line efficiencies also support can use and make some manufacturers reluctant to shift production to plastic alternatives, which are slower to manufacture and involve added production costs .
Global Pet Food Packaging Market Report 2018-2022: Key Trends Include Premiumization of Pet Food, Recyclable Packaging & Use of Advanced Packaging
The latest trend gaining momentum in the market is the premiumization of pet food. Premiumization alters the end-user's perception of the quality of pet food. Premium packaging addresses the consumer demand in nutritional value and freshness aspects of the product, in turn, contributing to the growth of the market considerably in the forthcoming years.
One of the major drivers for this market is the increase in pet ownership and spending. The increase in pet adoption has been witnessed not only in large markets including North America and European countries but also in emerging markets including China and Brazil. The rising pet adoption and subsequent increase in demand for pet food products will be the major factors driving the pet food packaging market during the predicted period.
pet food packaging
1.US demand to rise 4.8% annually through 2018
US demand for pet food packaging is expected to rise 4.8 percent annually to $2.5 billion in 2018. Growth will be based on the use of higher-value, more-sophisticated packaging and continued strength in pet food shipments fueled by an expected rebound in the pet population. The proliferation of premium pet food brands providing healthier, more nutritious alternatives (corresponding to the continuing humanization of pets by their owners) also will spur packaging demand growth, as higher-value bags, pouches, and rigid containers will be required to provide superior graphics, puncture resistance, and barrier protection for these more expensive, higher-quality products.
2.Plastic pouches to be fastest growing types
As with other food categories, plastic pouches will be the primary beneficiary of the trend toward more advanced pet food packaging. Pouch demand in pet food packaging is forecast to rise 8.3 percent per annum to $540 million in 2018, the fastest pace of growth among pet food packaging types. Pouch demand will be bolstered by features that are inherently convenient for consumers, including zippered closure mechanisms and light weight, as well as by reduced transportation costs due to their light weight. Pouch growth will be strong in both dry and wet food. For small packages of dry food -- those less than 10 pounds -- pouches will continue to supplant bags. For wet food, retort pouches will continue to gain acceptance as an alternative to metal cans, especially in applications where strength and stiffness are not primary factors.
Demand for tubs and cups will benefit from the need for convenience features and light weight in pet food packaging. As a result, tubs and cups will continue to supplant metal containers in wet food, growing in popularity due to peelable lids that are easier to open and allow the consumer to avoid cuts from metal edges. In addition, the ability to package tubs and cups in multipacks for ease of handling will bolster growth. Tubs and cups will compete with pouches as alternatives to metal cans for wet pet food, with tubs and cups favored for applications where strength and ease of grasping are factors.
3.Plastic to be top packaging material in value terms
Among materials, paper accounted for the largest share of pet food packaging demand in 2013. In volume terms, paper will remain the leading material in 2018, based on the large number of unit shipments for paper bags. However, in value terms, by 2018 plastic will overtake paper due to the growth of plastic pouches, as well as the use of expensive features and graphics on those packages.
4.United States to Hold the Largest Market Share
United States is observed to hold the largest share of the pet care market in the world, owing to the growing pet population and an increasing inclination by the Americans to own dogs, cats, reptiles, small mammals, and fish. The continuing trend of pet humanization and willingness of American consumers to opt for premium pet food brands, the pet food market has proved resilient, allowing for continued growth in the sector. Further, the increase in the number of non-traditional households with no children, coupled with high levels of disposable income is boosting the per-capita pet expenditure for this market. Consequently, pet owners are willing to pay for more value-added products and resulting in a decline of economy pet food with people moving towards branded product offerings. There has also been a rise in internet retailing with the increasing penetration of e-commerce, although specialty pet superstores are still the top retail location for pet food purchases. All these factors are expected to be instrumental in driving thepet food packaging marketin the United States.
Pet food packaging solutions
The global pet food packaging market has witnessed a healthy growth over the forecast period owing to the growing trend for premium pet food coupled with government regulations on labeling of these pet food products. Although metal cans have been a preferred and popular choice of packaging, their use has fallen owing to a greater inclination towards flexible paper and plastic packaging. For example, stand-up pouches saw a 50% growth from 2006 to 2012. Also, there has been a significant growth in smaller package sizes, which include single-serve packs, as they enable pet owners to manage their pet’s weight or meal portions. Government regulations have also been instrumental in driving the market with a greater focus on labeling and customer information. For instance, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commercial Feed Laws and the Model Pet Food Regulations of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) require each package of food, snacks, or treats for pets (dogs and cats) or specialty pets (animals normally kept in a cage such as hamsters, parakeets, reptiles, or fish) to have a label printed on or affixed to the package. These factors have been instrumental in shaping pet food packaging market over the forecast period.
Sustainability and lightweighting are key areas in the developing PET packaging market
According to a report by Smithers Pira. In 2015, PET packaging amounted to just under 16.7 million tonnes, representing a 3.8% increase on 2014 levels. Going into 2016, growth is projected to reach 4.8%, amounting to 17.5 million tonnes. A strong level of new product developments into under-developed markets such as preserved foods, thermoforming, fruit juice and other functional beverages, are projected to boost the market going forward. In addition, further falls in PET resin prices are also projected to benefit the market.
Lightweighting
Some of the key trends in the market include continued lightweighting. Whilst bottles have seen continued gains in lightweighting over many years, it has continued to gain traction with some manufacturers reaching less than 8 grams for a 500ml PET water bottle. The trend towards lightweight products is partially as a result of cost-optimisation and helps manufacturers achieve a competitive edge. Lightweighting has had a negative impact on volume growth of PET packaging in recent years, although growth has still been relatively strong at 4.0% per annum over the period 2011-15.
Sustainability
The plastic sector faces strong challenges in regards to sustainability. In some regards, it will always face sustainability issues due to the nature of its production. However, it is the recycling streams and the development of these that will help neutralize such sustainability issues. Recycling rates have been improving gradually in Europe, but consumer behaviour is likely to prevent a fully sustainable material.
It is almost impossible for the industry to achieve 100% recycling rates, but a high level of recycling will help combat sustainability issues. Some countries have bottle banks, whereby consumers can bring back the plastic packaging material for a small cash incentive. Whether this can be successfully applied across the world is arguable, but it is likely to provide some form of incentive for some consumers, especially those in less developed markets whereby recycling education is not on par as more the developed markets of North America and Western Europe.
Global PET Packaging Market
The global PET packaging market was worth USD 54.9 billion in 2017 and is projected to reach USD 69.7 billion by 2023 growing at a CAGR of 4.03% over the forecast period (2018-2023).
PET is shatter-resistant, flexible, and easy-to-recycle which is expected to propel the demand for the product. In addition, the absence of toxicity in PET products that are used for packing food products is projected to fuel the market growth. The major advantage of PET over other plastic materials used for packaging is its high rate of recyclability. PET bottles are used for packing beverages and fruit juices, whereas PET films are used in packaging solutions for pre-cooked meals and processed meat. Thus, the growth in food & beverage industry is likely to boost the PET packaging market over the forecast period.
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