With all the noise around plastics and plastic pollution, and the difficulty in recycling of flexible plastics, it is easy to assume that high barrier films, which are often complex multi-material structures, are taking a hit. In fact, according to the latest research from AMI Consulting, high barrier flexible films for food packaging growth is outstripping that of regular flexible packaging films. This growth is attributed to a number of different variables, including:

Socio-economic factors, such as the rise in modern retail and an increasing middle class in lower income markets have provided consumers with greater access to more sophisticated packaged foods.

With consumers leading busier, faster lifestyles, convenience features such as transparency and microwavability are popular, features which can be provided by EVOH, PVDC and AlOx/SiOx coated high barrier films.

**Health & Wellness **trends also contribute to this growth in high barrier films demand. The interest in foods with fewer additives and preservatives means that shelf-life extension must be provided by other means, namely higher barrier packaging.

The largest share of the high barrier food packaging films market is taken by EVOH films and coatings, accounting for nearly half of the volume, and forecast to grow the most in tonnage terms. Metallised films are the next most commonly used, and are popular in Asia, where demand is robust and continues to increase.

In our latest market report High Barrier Films for Food Packaging - The Global Market 2024, our expert consultants have combined first-hand industry insight across all polymer substrates with data analysis to give a comprehensive picture of this increasingly important sector. The research, which was released in November 2024, gives investors and industry participants a thorough grasp of the competitive challenges, market dynamics, and industry development.

If you are interested in hearing more about the report you can request your free proposal that contains more detail on the structure and findings included in the report by contacting me:

Brian Hinchliffe
Market Intelligence Sales Manager
+44 (0) 77 6038 3005
+44 (0) 117 314 8124
brian.hinchliffe@amiplastics.com