Edited by Dr. Boh C. Tsai, the market forecast is drawn from the Schroeder study entitled, “Oxygen Scavenger Technologies, Applications, and Markets: A Strategic Analysis for the Packaging Industry.”
Schroeder bases the substantial growth rate on what it refers to as “conservative estimates that assume oxygen scavenger packaging will see only 5-percent or less penetration” in four major markets. Those markets are bottles for beer, crowns for beer, bottles for beverages such as fruit juices and sports drinks, and case-ready meats. Other markets expected to add to the total include juice cartons, trays and lidstock for home-meal replacements, and composite cans. As the accompanying chart shows, 250 million oxygen scavenger “units” were sold in ’99, with sales forecasted to top five billion in 2003.
The study predicts that a shakeout in the oxygen-scavenging packaging supply situation “will continue in 2001 but is expected to reach stability by 2002.” Sixty charts are included in the study, which details the active/passive barrier relationship between oxygen-scavenging materials (at various costs and performance levels) and resins such as ethylene vinyl alcohol, MXD-6 nylon, amorphous nylon, polyethylene napthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinylidene chloride. Available for $9귔, the study also examines advantages and disadvantages of eight commercial scavenger systems available worldwide. (JB)
