The packaging industry in Asia is growing rapidly, especially for food and beverage, e-commerce, retail, and pharmaceutical applications. Though many consumers and vendors are turning away from plastic and other non-sustainable materials, environmentally-friendly materials have yet to fully dominate the industry. The industry is expected to undergo great change and growth — with sales predicted to surpass $1 trillion by 2020 in the global packaging market —over the next few years as new players, methods, and regulations are introduced.
Here are the top 3 most popular types of packaging in Asia, as determined by BizVibe:
1. Poly bags: Polybags and pouches are typically made of flexible plastic films or plastic textiles. Poly bags have a wide range of applications and are one of the most common forms of packaging in Asia and around the world. They are heavily used in the food and beverage, retail, and e-commerce industries for the packaging and transportation of goods. The increasing shift away from plastic packaging and bans on plastic in many urban regions may change the prospects of the poly bags segment in the near future. However, as more manufacturers in Asia incorporate sustainability into their products and practices, the availability of poly bags made from bioplastics is expected to increase and can help poly bags maintain their leading position in the Asian market.
2. Corrugated boxes: Corrugated boxes and containers are currently experiencing the highest sales in the Asian market. These boxes are often used to package electronic goods and other fragile products due to their durability. They are also cost-effective, lightweight, easy to transport, and versatile in nature. Corrugated boxes are becoming especially popular in the booming e-commerce packaging market in Asia, currently accounting for more than 50% of the market share. Using corrugated boxes is an easy way for companies to cater to increasing concerns and changing preferences from consumers regarding sustainability and the environment as they are both recyclable and reusable. Additionally, many players in the Asian market are developing innovative and more efficient ways to extract paper pulp, making the production of corrugated boxes easier and less expensive, which will further increase their popularity in this market.
3. Blister packaging: Primarily used for the packaging of pharmaceuticals, the increasing prevalence of prescription and over-the-counter drugs in Asia is the main driver behind the popularity of this type of packaging. Blister packs are also frequently used for food products (especially candy and sugar confectionery) and small consumer goods. Blister packs typically use either thermoformed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), though the demand for varieties made from sustainable materials is expected to increase over the course of the next few years.
Thousands of the leading packaging companies in Asia and around the world can be in your contact list if you join BizVibe today. Whether you are looking for reliable suppliers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and potential customers in over 70 countries, or want to find out what your competitors are buying and which suppliers they’re using, BizVibe can help you reach out to sales prospects and decision-makers across the globe with its new business networking platform.
