PVC as a material has been growing in popularity as it is flexible, light, cost-effective, transparent, tough, and a safe material that is extensively used for packaging. It has excellent organoleptic properties and consumes less fuel while manufacturing and transporting compared with other packaging materials such as metal or glass. It also gives the product extra protection by acting as a shield against contamination and ensuring longer shelf life. PVC packaging is used in bottles, foil, cap sealing, cling film, hoods, blister packaging, and adhesives tape. The overwhelming growth of the retail industry across the world is fueling the demand for PVC packaging products. As supermarkets across the world deal in large quantities of perishable goods, buyers require PVC packaging to increase their shelf life. So, what are the other reasons affecting the growth of this market?

Superior packaging properties

Compared to other forms of packaging, including PET and HDPE, PVC packaging offers enhanced flexibility and a high degree of tensile strength. It is especially useful in extending the shelf life of perishables and withstanding maximum stress from repetitive stretching. PVC materials have more bending and fatigue strength than other plastic materials, which is why it is extensively used in both rigid as well as flexible packaging. Additionally, PVC packaging materials are light and organoleptic and form a barrier against moisture and air contamination. As a result, buyers in the packaging industry are extensively demanding this material.

The growth of the retail sector

The global retail market is experiencing rapid growth with rising popularity of hypermarket formats and e-commerce. Such retailers have to keep up their stock levels so as to fulfill customer demands at all times. As a result, such products require PVC packaging to increase their shelf life. Additionally, the demand for PVC packaging for food and beverage products is increasing rapidly with the per capita spend on food products increasing each year.

Demand for smaller packaging

The consumption habits of people are changing with time. People are hesitant to buy products in bulk, so they look for smaller packaging for sampling purpose. Also, smaller packaging is portable and helps reduce their calorie intake as well. Additionally, such small packages also reduce the per unit prices, making even premium items more affordable. Small packaging is becoming a trend not only in the food sector but also in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical sector, which reduces the storage costs and management complexities. Smaller packages utilize more amount of PVC materials than larger packages for packing a fixed unit quantity of goods.

Investment in R&D by packaging suppliers

Suppliers are pumping in more and more money in R&D activities to improve the physical and chemical properties of PVC. New discoveries will help suppliers to comply with environmental regulations and reduce the health hazards on humans. For instance, suppliers conduct reverse engineering on PVC packaging materials for improving the compound’s physical properties. Tests such as gel permeation chromatography, gas chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, and FT-IR allow suppliers to identify and evaluate the structurally weak ingredients efficiently. This enables them to effectively replace them with advanced molecules for manufacturing high-quality PVC packages.

Read more about the drivers in the PVC packaging market along with procurement challenges, supply market insights, pricing insights, and technological innovations in SpendEdge’s upcoming report on the global PVC packaging market.