Plastics take lead in European food packaging

Plastics take lead in European food packaging

Plastics towers above the western European packaging industry pushing successfully into the food packaging sector.
Functionality and presentation seem to be the main leader features of the steady and rapid penetration of plastics in the food packaging industry.

The four leader markets - Germany, France, Italy and the UK - attest plastics' primary role in the whole western European packaging industry in value terms (37,4% share in 1998 against 35,5% paper and board's one). As a matter of facts 1998 was a positive year for European packaging industry after two weak years, namely 1996 and 1997 which saw many reorganisations of the main European packaging companies.

Among the four main national markets, Italy saw the greatest growth in terms of outputs. But the primary role in the overall European western packaging industry is still held by Germany even if smaller producers such as Spain, Denmark and Finland are increasing their importance.

Food represents the sector which is currently hosting more than half of all plastics employment. As a matter of facts, though 56% is still held by cartons in milk packaging, 34% of the western European market is held by plastics bottles and pouches and the percentage is destined to increase due to the consumer trend of buying larger sizes. The latest introduction within this field relates to the PET bottle of milk developed by Schmalbach-Lubeca and Campina Melkunie and used in the Belgian, Dutch and Italian markets, for example by Parmalat. PET containers will spread into sectors such as beer, food, milk and beauty products by involving hot-fill and large serving-size bottles.

Outputs keep on pointing at future positive perspectives as far as the growth of the plastics packaging industry is concerned….



Source : European food packaging 2000