Nano-Enabled Packaging for the Food and Beverage Industry: a Technology, Industry and Market Analysis

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Nanotechnology, the science of very small materials, is poised to have a big impact in food and beverage packaging. Due to very large aspect ratios, a relatively low level of nanoparticle is sufficient to change the properties of packaging materials without significant changes in density, transparency and processing characteristics. The addition of certain nanoparticles into shaped objects and films has been shown to render them light, fire-resistant and stronger in terms of mechanical and thermal performance, as well as less permeable to gases. New packaging solutions will focus more on food safety by controlling microbial growth, delaying oxidation, improving tamper visibility, and convenience. Three basic categories of nanotechnology applications and functionalities appear to be in development for food packaging: enhancement of plastic materials’ barriers; incorporation of active components that can deliver functional attributes beyond those of conventional active packaging; and sensing and signaling of relevant information.

The applications of nanotechnology in the food and beverage sector are only now emerging, but these are predicted to grow rapidly in the coming years. Applications in this area already support development of improved tastes, color, flavor, texture and consistency of foodstuffs, increased absorption and bioavailability of nutrients and health supplements, new food packaging materials with improved mechanical, barrier and antimicrobial properties, and nano-sensors for traceability and monitoring the condition of food during transport and storage.

The rapid use of nano-based packaging in a wide range of consumer products has also raised a number of safety, environmental, ethical, policy and regulatory issues. The main concerns stem from the lack of knowledge with regard to the interactions of nano-sized materials at the molecular or physiological levels and their potential effects and impacts on consumers’ health and the environment. Research and development in the field of active and intelligent packaging materials is very dynamic and develops in step with the search for environmentally friendly packaging solutions. In this context, the design of tailor-made packaging is a real challenge, and it implies the use of reverse engineering approaches based on food requirements and not just on the availability of packaging materials any longer. Nanotechnologies are expected to play a major role, taking into account all additional safety considerations and filling present packaging needs.

STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES

The study is intended to benefit the existing manufacturers of food and beverage packaging who seek to expand revenues and market opportunities. It also can serve as a reference for small food and beverage packaging industry players who would like to expand to nano-enabled technologies for food and beverage packaging. This study also provides the most complete accounting of nano-enabled packaging for food and beverage products in various markets around the globe.

The main objective of this report is to understand the current state of nano-enabled packaging in the food and beverage industry, the companies involved, technologies being pursued and intellectual property being generated.

This study focuses on various types of nano-enabled packaging, providing market data about the size and growth of application segments, industry trends, new developments including a detailed patent analysis, and company profiles. Another goal of this report is to provide a detailed and comprehensive multi-client study of the market in North America, Europe, Asia/Pacific and the rest of the world for nano-enabled packaging, as well as potential business opportunities emerging in the future.

The study objectives include a thorough coverage of the underlying economic issues driving the nano-enabled packaging business, as well as assessments of new advanced nano-enabled packaging that are being developed. Particular attention was paid to providing realistic market data and forecasts for the nano-enabled packaging industry segments. To our knowledge, this study provides the most thorough and up-to-date assessment that can be found anywhere on the subject. The study also provides extensive quantification of the many important facets of market developments in nano-enabled packaging all over the world. Ultimately, the study contributes to the determination of what kinds of strategic responses can be adopted by companies hoping to compete in this dynamic market.

REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY

With an increasing global customer base, food retailing is transforming. However, food packaging requires longer shelf life, along with monitoring food safety and quality based upon international standards. Nanotechnology is enabling new food and beverage packaging technologies to respond to these requirements.

Also, most commercialized foodstuffs, including fresh fruits and vegetables, are being marketed inside packages. By means of the correct selection of materials and packaging technologies, it is possible to maintain product quality and freshness during the period required for commercialization and consumption. Nanotechnology derived food packaging materials are the largest category of current nanotechnology applications for the food and beverage sector. Therefore, iRAP felt a need to do a detailed market update and industry analysis for this industry.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE STUDY

This study provides the most complete accounting of the growth of the nano-enabled food and beverage packaging market in North America, Europe, Asia/Pacific and the rest of the world currently available in a multi-client format. It provides the most thorough and up-to-date assessment that can be found anywhere on the subject and provides extensive quantification of the many important facets of developments in various markets for nano-enabled food and beverage packaging. This quantification, in turn, contributes to the determination of what kind of strategic response suppliers may adopt in order to compete in these dynamic markets. Audiences for this study include marketing executives, business unit managers and other decision makers in the nano-enabled food and beverage packaging companies, as well as in companies peripheral to this business.

SCOPE AND FORMAT

The market data contained in this report quantifies opportunities for nano-enabled food and beverage packaging technologies, nanomaterials used for packaging, and the technology applications. In addition to product types, it also covers the many issues concerning the merits and future prospects of the nano-enabled food packaging business. It also covers in detail the economic and regulatory issues regarded by many as critical to the industry’s current state of change. The report provides a review of the nanotechnologies involved in the food and beverage packaging industry, along with the industry structure and the companies involved in providing these packaged products.

TO WHOM THE STUDY CATERS

The report provides the most thorough and up-to-date assessment that can be found anywhere on the subject. The study is intended to benefit current food and beverage packaging producers and users, as well as developers of new technologies in this area. Specifically, the report would be of great use to:

• producers and suppliers of food and beverage packaging materials,
• resin suppliers,
• producers and suppliers of nanoparticle materials.
• users of food and beverage packaging,
• universities and research institutions involved in research in the food and beverage packaging area,
• investors and venture capitalists interested in new technology areas.

REPORT SUMMARY

With the increasing global customer base, food retailing is transforming. However, with the move toward globalization, food packaging requires longer shelf life, along with monitoring food safety and quality based upon international standards. To address these needs, nanotechnology is enabling new food and beverage packaging technologies.

Applications in nano-enabled packaging span development of improved tastes, color, flavor, texture and consistency of foodstuffs, increased absorption and bio-availability of nutrients and health supplements, new food packaging materials with improved mechanical, barrier and antimicrobial properties, and nano-sensors for traceability and monitoring the condition of food during transport and storage.

The total nano-enabled food and beverage packaging market in the year 2008 was $4.13 billion, which is expected to grow in 2009 to $4.21 billion and forecasted to grow to $7.30 billion by 2014, at a CAGR of 11.65%. Active technology represents the largest share of the market, with $2.7 billion in 2008, followed by intelligent packaging with $1.03 billion, and finally, controlled release packaging of $360 million. In 2014, the active segment will remain the largest, with $4.35 billion in sales, and the intelligent segment will grow to $2.47 billion sales.

Other major findings of this report are:

• Among active technologies, oxygen scavenger, moisture absorbers and barrier packaging represent more than 80% of the current market.
• Time/temperature indicators are a major share of intelligent packaging, with radio frequency identification data tags (RFIDs) forecasted to show the strongest growth in this category in the future.
• In controlled release packaging, antioxidants have a 60% share, compared to a 40% share for antimicrobials.
• In food products, the bakery and meat products categories have attracted the most nano-packaging applications, and in beverages, carbonated drinks and bottled water dominate.
• Among the regions, Asia/Pacific, in particular Japan, is the market leader in active nano-enabled packaging.
• In the United States, Japan, and Australia, active packaging is already being successfully applied to extend shelf-life while maintaining nutritional quality and ensuring microbiological safety. Examples of commercial applications include the use of oxygen scavengers for sliced processed meat, ready-to-eat meals and beer, the use of moisture absorbers for fresh meat, poultry, and fresh fish, and ethylene-scavenging bags for packaging of fruit and vegetables. In Europe, however, only a few of these systems have been developed and are being applied now. The main reasons for this are legislative restrictions and a lack of knowledge about acceptability to European consumers, as well as the efficacy of such systems and the economic and environmental impact such systems may have.
• The fast growth of carbonated soft drinks in many parts of the world has been driven by polyethylene terephthalate (PET). There is a relatively large demand for oxygen scavengers in plastic bottles for non-carbonated drinks such as juices, sports and functional drinks, the ingredients of which can be sensitive to oxygen.