Flexible Frozen Food Packaging Market

Flexible Frozen Food Packaging Industry Outlook (2023 to 2033)

According to Future Market Insights, the global flexible frozen food packaging market is expected to reach a market valuation of US$ 2.8 billion in 2023, and further expand at a CAGR of 12% to reach US$ 8.7 billion by the year 2033. According to the forecast period, the sales of flexible frozen food packaging in the form of bags and pouches are expected to hold 70% of the market share.

Ready-to-eat meals are expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.7% and will continue to dominate the flexible frozen food packaging market. Growing demand for biodegradable packaging solutions is forecast to drive growth in the market for bioplastics. According to the forecast period, the bioplastics market will expand 1.7 times over the base year, making the market an attractive investment opportunity for manufacturers in the market.

Flexible frozen food packaging is expected to grow substantially in the near future. Increasing e-commerce markets and growing frozen food demands are expected to boost the market in the coming years. In recent days, the market has seen a rise in the demand for groceries apps, and demand for ready-to-eat meals and seafood is on the rise. Therefore, the market for flexible frozen food packaging is growing.

Among the factors supporting the market are:

• The flexible packaging market is growing at a rapid pace.
• Multi-sized, multi-colored, multi-shaped innovations.
• Facilities for customized packaging are in demand.
• Materials with printable technologies are in trend.
• The need for eco-friendly and sustainable packaging is growing.
• Packages with longer shelf lives and space savings.

Based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture, aluminum foil is an excellent choice for wrapping frozen foods. In addition to being lightweight, flexible, and non-toxic, the container also ensures food safety. The highly recyclable properties of aluminum foil have led to its high demand in the market.

Market growth for flexible bags for frozen foods is being driven by the rise of reusable and self-standing pouches for meals like pasta and ready-to-eat meals are growing. As consumers become more interested in lighter, smaller, and printed packaging options for frozen food that are appealing to people with limited freezer space, the flexible frozen food packaging market is expected to experience growth.

For instance, C-P Flexible Packaging announces its successful collaboration with Northwest Frozen LLC to develop and launch an expanded line of frozen meals for retail distribution with extended shelf lives. As part of Oprah's Favorite Things, Crocchi, a pasta product shaped like a croissant, was picked as one of the new items. Cryo-frozen pasta is packed in modified atmosphere containers with high barrier properties. As well as producing high-quality frozen meals for a major United States grocery retailer, Northwest Frozen LLC also produces private-label items.

Flexible packaging manufacturers continuously innovate to improve the performance, usability, and sustainability of frozen food packaging through new materials, designs, and features. The flexibility, high sealing performance, and hygienic design of VFFS systems make them a popular packaging solution for frozen produce. For the future needs of the frozen food packaging industry, this technology can continue to be improved and adapted.

The availability of flexible frozen food packaging can provide consumers with features such as ease of opening, resealability, and microwave-safe materials that can enhance the consumer experience and meet their convenience needs. Among all regions, North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific are expected to grow the fastest for the flexible frozen food packaging market.

Flexible Frozen Food Packaging Market Overview

Flexible frozen food packaging is a means of packaging frozen food products by the use of non-rigid packaging materials such as foils, pouches, wraps, bags, etc. which allow more economical and customizable options. The demand for flexible frozen food packaging is rising owing to its high efficiency and cost-effective nature when compared to its rigid counterparts.

Other than the cost-effectiveness of the packaging material, characteristics such as durability, moisture resistance, leak-proof, and maintaining good temperature stability also have a key role while choosing flexible frozen food packaging material.

Also, nowadays flexible frozen food packaging materials are designed in a way that can be reused and recycled which aligns with the environmentally friendly nature of the packaging material. Flexible frozen food packaging also allows reduced shipping and handling costs owing to their less space occupancy as compared to the rigid frozen food packaging material.

The flexible frozen food packaging material is less bulky and lighter than the traditional options, which makes it a user-friendly packaging option, preferred by manufacturers as well as consumers.

What are the Key Trends Impacting Growth of the Flexible Frozen Food Packaging Market?

Sustainability and environment conservation, in terms of packaging materials, are rising day by day. Consumers, as well as manufacturers, have become more cautious while selecting a packaging material that encloses the product to be manufactured or purchased.

Today, majority of the manufacturers are using recyclable and reusable plastics packagings materials like Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High-density Polyethylene (HDPE), and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and many of which can be recycled and also have minimal impacts on the environment when compared to to the traditional flexible packaging which was used in the frozen food packaging.

Also, nowadays cardboard with a layer of laminated plastic as a packaging material in frozen food packaging is uplifting the market and is anticipated to boost the market in the coming days.

Ismail Sutaria

Principal Consultant

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Bioplastics: A New Trend in the Flexible Packaging

In today's world, consumers are becoming sensitive about packaging's role in the increasing environmental issues, but now bioplastics seem to be a perfect solution. Bioplastics are plastics that are derived from completely biodegradable biomass sources. It can be broken down into, water, and carbon dioxide, and composted by microorganisms under optimum conditions. Also, biodegradation takes place in weeks to months.

The greener initiatives, like bioplastics and the stringent regulations on the use of plastic, are encouraging the end-user industry to adopt the use of bio-plastics as a flexible bioplastic frozen food packaging material.

How is the Demand for Ready-to-Eat Frozen Food Products Reshaping the Flexible Frozen Food Packaging Market?

The change in lifestyle and the hectic work life is increasing the demand for ready-to-eat frozen food products. Adding to this, also the increase in per capita income is a factor that is boosting the market for frozen food products. Adding up these market driving factors for ready-to-eat food products, they are creating a market opportunity for flexible frozen food packaging materials.

According to the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), during the pre-pandemic COVID-19 situation, 70% of consumers added more frozen foods to their carts.

Therefore, changing shopping behavior in the frozen food aisle is also a driving factor for the flexible frozen food packaging market.

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What are the Key Challenges that may Restrain Growth of the Flexible Frozen Food Packaging Market?

The flexible frozen food packaging material is temperature-sensitive. Exposure to sunlight or extreme temperature conditions can hamper the product by deteriorating the flexible frozen food packaging material. During transportation, temperature regulation is an important factor in the flexible frozen food packaging material.

Competitive Landscape

Key players such as

• Amcor Ltd.
• Ball Corporation
• Crown Holdings, Inc.
• Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
• Pactiv LLC
• Sealed Air Corporation
• Sonoco Products Company
• WestRock Company
• Uniflex Packaging
• ProAmpac
• HANGZHOU MING RI FLEXIBLE PACKAGING CO., LTD.
• TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.
• Others

are actively involved in offering flexible frozen food packaging for different applications. 

What strategies are the Key Players adopting for Increasing their Market Share in the Flexible Frozen Food Packaging Market?

The manufacturers involved in the production of frozen food packaging material are coming up with innovations with the use of advanced technology in the packaging process. Also, the Key players are expanding their manufacturing facilities to serve the increasing demand for the flexible frozen foods packaging market.

• In February 2021, ProAmpac has launched the ProActive Recyclable R-2000F which has a new technology that will help the brand to achieve sustainable packaging goals. It has excellent heat resistance, robust sealant technology, and excellent dimpling resistance, which makes it an ideal replacement for gusseted frozen food packaging made of non-recyclable PET/PE or OPP/PE laminations. 
• In November 2020, Toppan Printing (Toppan), one of the global leaders in packaging, launched a new flexible packaging material with GL BARRIER, a barrier film that is developed by leveraging original vapor-decomposition and coating technologies that reduce oxidation and therefore help in preventing discoloration, changes in food texture, and loss of flavor when compared to the conventional packaging.

Why is the USA a Big Market for Flexible Frozen Foods Packaging Market?

The presence of a majority of the key manufacturers along with the ease of convenience towards the flexible frozen foods packaging market is uplifting the market. Also, the changing lifestyle of people is leading to the increased consumption of frozen foods which in turn is increasing the market for flexible frozen foods packaging.

Technological advancement is also helping to achieve sustainable goals in manufacturing flexible frozen food packaging materials like recyclable films and recyclable pouches.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the Flexible Frozen Foods Packaging Market?

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected positively the flexible frozen foods packaging market reason being changing consumer shopping/purchasing patterns. The majority of consumers were purchasing frozen foods or ready-to-eat foods during the pre-covid pandemic period. Therefore, the consumption of frozen foods had a higher demand which in turn boosted the market growth for the flexible frozen foods packaging market.

Key Segments of Flexible Frozen Food Packaging Market Covered in the Report

Based on Product Type:

• Pouches
• Bags
• Wraps
• Foils
• Others

Based on Application:

• Ready-to-Eat Meals
• Meat & Poultry
• Sea Food
• Vegetables & Fruits
• Soups
• Others

Based on the Region:

• North America
• Latin America
• Europe
• South Asia
• East Asia
• Oceania
• Middle East & Africa