Looking back on 2020: How Corona has changed the packaging industry

Looking back on 2020: How Corona has changed the packaging industry

2020 was associated with constant ups and downs in many areas of the packaging industry. Earlier this year, the focus was on sustainability. However, when the corona pandemic began, hygiene and protection  suddenly came to the foreground, and packaging was even classified as “system-related.” Now there is a renewed trend towards more sustainable packaging materials such as Mailing Boxes and Compostable mailers . Short-term market development also demanded a high degree of flexibility and innovation from packaging companies. Looking back at the industry in 2020, looking back at the winners and losers of the Corona Pandemic. It also describes what role sustainable packaging will play in the future.

Packing volume has increased since Corona

Online transactions have been steadily developing in recent years, which has also led to an increase in packing volume. With the beginning of the corona pandemic, e-commerce has grown significantly again. According to the Federal Electronic Commerce and Mail Order Association, the increase in the first half of 2020 was 9.2%, even 13.3% in the third quarter of 2020. .. This development can be seen throughout Europe. A recent PwC study shows that more than one in four European consumers used online retail as their primary shopping channel during the pandemics. Online grocery retailers in particular have benefited from the pandemic. Food to order is one of the Corona winners and so is the service packaging for food and drinks.

The protective character of packaging is more in the foreground

During the Corona period, packaging gained importance again, especially its protective function. Increasingly, consumers were ordering online because they had to spend a lot of time at home and wanted to make their stay as safe and comfortable as possible. In addition, most of the fixed stores were closed, and there were few shopping opportunities.

In March 2020, IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen even noted the fact that packaging is essential to supply people with safe food, protective equipment, and medicines. Federal Minister of Economy Peter Altmaier declared in May 2020 that most of the industry also relies on a continuous supply of packaging materials.

Corona Pandemic Loser

Food, pharmaceutical, and medical device package makers recorded strong growth in the second quarter of 2020, but other industries struggled a lot. Demand for plastic packaging in the automotive and other industrial sectors and the foodservice industry has plummeted. Approximately 25% of the companies surveyed in the IK Management Report had to accept a sales decline of more than 20% in March and April 2020. Over 37% received fewer orders than in the same period last year.

The Importance of Sustainable Packaging in 2020

Avoiding plastic waste and using alternative packaging materials is one of the most important topics on social media. This is shown by a survey by a brand watch agency. However, during the height of the corona pandemic in April 2020, hygiene was so important that the sustainability of consumer packaging was initially postponed. This was demonstrated, for example, by the fact that consumers are more likely to rely on packaged food products. However, this trend did not last long.

Despite the corona pandemic, consumers want to keep avoiding plastic waste. In doing so, they hold themselves and the enterprise responsible for taking appropriate steps in the fight against plastic waste. With less plastic used, as a result, we are ready to accept a slightly higher price. RatioForm recognises the growing demand for environmentally-friendly packages and is developing a sustainable terra range.

This year’s most popular packaging solution

Some products in a wide range of ratio forms were particularly in demand in 2020 to optimally meet the various transportation requirements of the Corona era.

• Landbox: Food at the front door with a sustainable heat transport solution.
• Paper Pillows and Paper Pillows: The perfect combination of sustainability and online trading topics.
• Sticky and economical automatic box: This is one of the absolute top sellers, making online transactions fast and easy.
• ECONOMY Book Packaging: This product was also very popular with ratio form customers in 2020.
• Flopak BIO terra: Biodegradable packaged chips are sustainable and ideal for online transactions.

Sustainability will continue to play an important role in 2021 for both consumers and companies in the packaging industry. Need help with an ecological solution? Find out more about sustainable packaging materials from Ratio Foam and benefit from our talented advice.

Flute:

In 2020, determined by Corona, the e-commerce market recovered unexpectedly rapidly. Since then, there has been a steady increase in demand for proper packaging materials and thus optimisation of packaging stations. FLÖTER is increasingly adapting its air cushioning system to customer needs, as the right equipment in the packing station is especially important for efficiency. The need for individualized, integrated solutions remains high. COVID 19 related restrictions such as home offices and no visits can be addressed with the help of online solutions and a well-equipped presentation studio.

Development for sustainable solutions is a megatrend. With an innovative, biodegradable, climate-neutral air-cushion film, FLÖTER has taken a major step in development. The absolute best-selling 2020 is AirWave PaperWave Organic Bubble Wrap. It consists of a sealing layer made from renewable raw materials, 85% recycled paper, and a mixture of potato starch. It can be composted and decomposed within a few months. However, air cushions made from pure biomass are also finding more and more users.  AirWave Bio is made from potato starch and polylactic acid and is currently the only “household” compostable bubble wrap on the market. Even if one of these innovative packaging materials unplanned flows into the ocean, shortly, the material would be individualised without leaving a residue. Suppose you don’t want to do without 100% recyclable plastic for special product protection or for special applications such as ESD packaging. In that case, the climate-neutral AirWave ClimaFilm is the closest to your environmental and cost goals. Become. FLÖTER can look back on the highly successful 2020 and claim to be the winner of innovation. Innovation for recession is our motto for 2020.