The need for lightweight, protective packaging solutions in the food and personal care sectors will sustain the growth of plastics in Germany, according to a report from Canadean.
With more than half of the German population set to be aged 65 or over by 2055, the market analyst says there will be growing demand for easy-to-use, easy-to-handle packaging, with clearer and bolder labelling.
Summarising its report ‘Latest Trends and Key Issues in the German Retail Packaging Market’, Canadean says: “An older population will see an increase in the number of smaller households, and manufacturers will need to focus on smaller packaging in order to reduce waste and conserve space.”
Rigid plastics will continue to strengthen their stronghold over the German packaging industry over the next five years, Canadean adds, as glass loses share.
“Cost concerns will hinder the ability of packaging manufacturers to meet all of these requirements.”
As an example, Canadean cites the rising costs of raw materials, which meant sales of plastic film across both consumer and non-consumer markets as sales fell by 0.4% in 2012.
“Despite this, plastics are still the most popular packaging material in Germany,” Canadean states, “with rigid plastics holding the highest share of the sector in 2012, thanks to its malleability, versatility and lightweight nature, making it convenient, flexible, and easy to use.”
Canadean predicts “moderately strong” growth over the next five years: “The German packaging industry will grow at an annual rate of 1.05% (by volume in million units) up to 2017.
“The need for lightweight, protective packaging in the food and personal care sectors will push rigid plastics to display the highest value growth of the sector over the next five years, at an annual rate of 1.88%.”
Generally heavier and more fragile glass “will decline at an annual rate of -0.36% for the same period”, the company says.
