In today’s fast-paced modern world where convenience, sustainability, innovation, and functionality are paramount, flexible packaging emerges as a versatile option catering to diverse industries and consumer preferences. Consumers are always focused on seeking products that align with their lifestyles, offering ease of use without actually compromising the quality and harming the environment. This has resulted in a remarkable transformation in the way products are packaged.

Flexible packaging refers to packaging products made from flexible or easily yielding materials such as PVC, PET, PP, PE, foils, paper, paper/plastic laminates, bio-based polymers, coatings, and metalized films that when filled or closed can change shape. Flexible packaging adapts to the contours of its contents unlike traditional rigid packaging and has become a popular choice for industrial goods, personal care products, food and beverages, and pharmaceutical products. Its ability to conform to different shapes not only enhances aesthetic appeal but also helps in maximizing storage efficiency and reducing overall transportation costs.

The global flexible packaging market size was USD 195 billion in 2022 and is expected to expand at a revenue CAGR of 13.87% during the forecast period. Key factors such as rising need for sustainable packaging solutions, growing awareness about environmental concerns and benefits of flexible packaging, rapidly expanding e-commerce and packaging sectors, and increasing investments in R&D activities are expected to drive global market growth during the forecast period.

Flexible packaging has revolutionized the way products across various industries are stored, transported, and consumed. These packaging solutions are lightweight in comparison with traditional rigid packaging options and encompass a variety of materials and formats catering to product types and consumer needs. Some of the commonly used flexible packaging solutions include stand-up pouches, flat pouches, retort pouches, zipper pouches, pillow pouches, sachets, quad-seal pouches, spout bags, vacuum bags, shrink sleeves, laminates, and barrier films. One of the key advantages of flexible packaging solutions is that it is often equipped with barrier properties, protecting the products from oxygen, moisture, light, and other external factors.

Many industries across the globe are opting for flexible packaging solutions due to several factors such as sustainability, extended shelf life, cost-effectiveness, consumer convenience, reduced storage and shipping costs, tamper-evident features, waste reduction, and reduced carbon footprint. As the demand for sustainable packaging and technologically advanced packaging solutions is rising across several businesses, flexible packaging has become a focus for innovative solutions. Manufacturers are constantly striving to offer packaging solutions that cater to the unique needs of products, ensuring protection, longevity, and consumer convenience. Moreover, considering changing consumer preferences, manufacturers are moving towards more sustainable and reusable solutions and are focused on offering customized products and services to customers.

Mentioned below are some of the world’s leading companies providing innovative, attractive, and cost-friendly flexible packaging solutions to their consumers.

• Sonoco
• Berry Global
• Mondi Group
• Coveris Holding S.A
• Amcor Limited
• Aluflexpack AG
• Constantia Flexibles
• Glenroy, Inc.
• ProAmpac Intermediate, Inc.
• PkgMaker

Sonoco:

Sonoco is a US-based international provider of diversified consumer packaging, protective packaging, and industrial products and packaging supply chains. The company is situated in Hartsville, South Carolina and its packaging solutions include both rigid and flexible packaging. Sonoco distributes innovative flexible packaging solutions like rollstock, lid film, and pouches for various industries such as food, pet food, and personal care among others. One of the notable features of Sonoco’s approach to flexible packaging is its commitment to sustainability, emphasis on recyclability, and supply chain efficiency.

Berry Global, Inc.:

Berry Global, Inc., headquartered in Evansville, Indiana is a global manufacturer and marketer of plastic packaging products and is best known for providing a wide range of packaging solutions such as flexible packaging, rigid packaging, and non-woven materials. The company provides a wide range of flexible packaging solutions for various industries like personal care, healthcare, food and beverages, and industrial, designed to protect and preserve products while being environmentally friendly and sustainable whenever possible. However, In November 2020, ABX acquired Berry Global’s US flexible packaging business. Six Berry flexible packaging plants including Columbus, GA, Homer, LA, Macedon, NY, Schaumburg, IL, and Milwaukee and Pewaukee, WI are under the ABX umbrella.

Mondi Group:

Mondi Group is a leading multinational packaging and paper group headquartered in Weybridge, United Kingdom, and around more than 100 production sites across 30 countries in Europe, North America, and South Africa. Mondi offers a variety of flexible packaging solutions such as resealable packaging, stand-up pouches, and laminates for various sectors such as consumer goods, food and beverages, personal care, and pet food. To ensure longevity and safety of packaged products, the company manufactures a broad range of barrier materials to prevent ingress or egress of specific elements such as moisture, oxygen, or UV light. In May 2022, Mondi partnered with German machine supplier, beck packautomaten GmbH to launch a strong, flexible paper-based packaging solution for eCommerce packaging.

Coveris Holding S.A:

Coveris Holding S.A is a leading European packaging company, headquartered in Vienna that specializes in manufacturing paper and plastic-based flexible packaging solutions for several sectors like food, pet food, medical and consumer goods. Coveris is highly committed to sustainability and innovation and has a wide range of flexible packaging solutions ranging from shrink films, bags, pouches, labels, laminates, and other specialty solutions. In May 2022, Coveris announced the launch of recyclable, reduced-plastic cheese pouches for Iceland.

Amcor Plc:

Amcor is an Australian-based packaging company headquartered in Victoria that produces various types of rigid containers, flexible packaging solutions, specialty cartons, and closures for various industries including food and beverages, medical devices, home and personal care, and pharmaceuticals. In 2019, Amcor acquired Bemis Company Inc. and became one of the largest packaging companies in the world focused on flexible and rigid packaging solutions. Amcor offers a broad range of flexible packaging products and solutions such as flexible pouches, wraps, laminates, and bags to meet the diverse needs of customers.

Aluflexpack AG:

Aluflexpack AG is a Switzerland-based packaging company that specializes in manufacturing premium flexible packaging and barrier solutions. The company is well-known for producing a wide range of flexible packaging products such as pouches, sachets, foils, and other types of flexible containers for various industries like cosmetics, food and beverages, and pharmaceuticals.

Constantia Flexibles:

Constantia Flexibles is one the largest manufacturers of flexible packaging in the world, located in Vienna, Austria, and has over 38 production sites predominantly in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The company offers a wide range of tailor-made flexible packaging products such as blisters, trays, containers, pouches, and strip packs, especially for pharmaceutical and consumer goods industries.

Glenroy, Inc.:

Glenroy, Inc. is a global packaging company providing sustainable flexible packaging solutions. The company has been in the industry for many decades, famous for producing highly versatile flexible packaging films and stand-up pouches for various applications including personal care, pharmaceutical, nutritional, pet food, and food and beverages. In May 2023, Glenroy received the highest achievement award and five other awards from the Flexible Packaging Association.

ProAmpac Intermediate, Inc.:

ProAmpac Intermediate, Inc. is a leading flexible packaging company committed to sustainability and innovations. The company provides innovative packaging solutions from stand-up pouches to large-format lawn and garden bags for various sectors such as food, pet care, healthcare, lawn care, and retail.

PkgMaker:

PkgMaker is a leading manufacturer of flexible packaging located in Shenzhen, China. The company is famous for providing customized flexible packaging solutions for popular brands such as Lays, Nestle, M&Ms, Costco, and Walmart among others.  PkgMaker’s product base includes mylar bags, stand up pouches, flat pouches, child-resistant packaging, coffee packaging, rollstock films, spout pouches, and customized print pouches.

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