Flexibles forecast to grow to $21.2 billion

The Flexible Packaging Assn.’s (Linthicum, MD) State of the Industry Report 2002 forecasts shipments of flexible packaging to grow at a rate of 5.5% to $21.2 billion this year.

According to the study, “trends contributing to the increasing demand include an aging population, end users’ drive for reducing costs, new product introductions using flexible packaging, and growth in stand-up pouches. As consumer acceptance of these pouches continues to grow and fill speeds increase, expect to see more of them used for major product lines.”

Current flexibles sales are estimated at $20 billion. Forty percent of those are in retail food applications, with another 15% in institutional food. Retail non-food, industrial applications, and consumer products each account for 10% of sales, with institutional non-food and medical and pharmaceutical categories each representing 7.5% of end-use market users of flexible packaging materials. The 2002 report is free to FPA members and available to nonmembers for $3귔. —JB