PCI Issues Reports on Stand-Up Pouches

Published: June 10, 2014

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, UK | PCI Films Consulting announces two recent studies on the stand-up pouch: The US Market for Stand-up Pouches to 2018 and The European Market for Stand-Up Pouches to 2017. 

PCI says the stand-up pouch has emerged over the last few years as one of the most versatile and rapidly growing flexible packaging formats and is being adopted worldwide for an increasingly wide variety of end-use applications. The organization estimates current global market demand at about 80 billion units, more than 50% of which is now in Europe and North America where unit volumes are growing by approximately 5% and 8% per annum respectively.

The studies show demand being driven by a range of factors:

• Machinery improvements in terms of speed and the ability to incorporate resealable features such as zippers and sliders;

• Reduced heating times for retort applications and better taste compared with cans;

• Improvements in barrier film substrates such as coatings with increased heat tolerance and strength; developments in EVOH, which is a lower-cost barrier film alternative to PVdC coated films; and the availability of directional tear films;

• Environmental benefits and reduced logistical and storage costs compared with rigid formats;

• Consumer convenience—light weight, ease of opening and usage—e.g., special spouts on pouches for baby food, measured dosing, and reclose/resealability;

• New eating occasions such as eating and drinking on-the-go;

• Attractiveness to retailers, including more visible display area with increased printing surface for effective graphics and economies of stacking space by usage in vertical display cabinets.

More generally, says the studies, stand-up pouches offer packers an opportunity to stimulate packaged food sales, develop creative ways to compete better at the consumer and retailer, and the ability to offer profitable and innovative value-added line extensions to brand owners that complement their core businesses. The conclusion is that the stand-up pouch is set to become a serious rival alternative to rigid formats, especially as packers replace existing aging filling equipment.

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