Food packaging is the heart of any food product. Globally, very few products are sold unpacked. Efficiently packed food offers convenience to consumers, is protected from contamination, prevents waste, and retains its quality throughout its shelf life. The world is witnessing rapidly changing lifestyle habits, and hectic schedules drive the demand for processed packaged food. Additionally, food packaging offers a barrier to unwanted elements and safety, further propelling the market growth for food packaging. 

The quickening pace of life demands packaged food and the convenience it offers. Further, companies are using high-performance materials made from various material compositions, pushing the growth of the food packaging industry worldwide. The global food packaging market was valued at USD 362.9 Billion in 2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7% from 2023 to 2030. 

In India, the food packaging market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 29.88% from 2023 to 2028. This can be attributed to the rise in purchasing power, exports, and expansion of organized retail. The country is witnessing a growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly packaging, which is expected to drive the market's growth. Reusable, recyclable, and compostable packaging and other innovative technologies are the focus of packaging manufacturers.

Food packaging trends

Saikat Ghosh, product manager- Inspection Business, Ishida India, described some key trends businesses would follow in 2023, "Sustainable packaging will continue to be a major trend in 2023, as consumers become more environmentally conscious. Consumers will continue to look for convenience in their food packaging. Businesses can focus on providing packaging that is easy to open, resealable, and portable. Further, as consumers prioritize health and wellness, businesses can focus on packaging emphasizing portion control and labels indicating nutritional information. Personalized packaging can also help businesses stand out."

He also advocated using digital integration (QR codes, augmented reality) in packaging to provide a more interactive experience for consumers.

The competitive landscape

India's food and beverage packaging industry is highly competitive, with many local and international players vying for market share. Ghosh elaborated on this, "India is a large and growing market for packaged food and beverages, and there is significant demand for a wide range of packaging formats, from traditional glass bottles and metal cans to newer formats such as tetra packs and flexible packaging."

According to him, the competitive landscape in this industry is shaped by several factors, including cost, quality, innovation, sustainability, and distribution. He believes Ishida's global presence, technological innovation, customer-centric approach, and partnership with other industry leaders have helped the company grow and expand in the food packaging market.

Innovations in food packaging

In recent years, significant innovations in food packaging have focused on safety, security, and sustainability. Highlighting some of Ishida's innovations, Ghosh said, "Ishida is a leading manufacturer of food packaging equipment and has been at the forefront of innovations in food packaging. A few of these are X-ray inspection systems, weighing and filling technology that reduces the risk of under or over-filling, and multi-head weighers designed to improve the speed and efficiency of packaging lines, reducing waste and increasing productivity."

Ishida has also incorporated smart technology into their packaging solutions, such as RFID (radio frequency identification) tags and sensors, to improve the safety, security, and traceability of food products and tray sealers to provide a secure seal that protects food products and helps maintain their freshness.

Witness packaging technology at its best at Inter FoodTech & Pac MechEx

Inter FoodTech & Pac MechEx is an international exhibition on packaging material, technology, machinery, and services that will bring a gamut of packaging industry leaders under one roof. Packaging and equipment manufacturers catering to various food products will display their machines and exchange ideas at the much-awaited event.

Catalis Packaging Technologies, one of the leading packaging machinery manufacturing companies, will display packaging solutions for most of the leading brands in the food, salt, sugar, nuts, and seeds industry.

Ghosh declared Ishida's plan for the event, "We will be demonstrating our range of cutting-edge weighing, packing, and quality control solutions at Snack & BakeTec. Our innovative solutions are designed to optimize equipment performance, streamline production processes, and minimize downtime, ultimately increasing efficiency and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)."

Mespack, an international manufacturer of flexible packaging machinery, will showcase its horizontal (roll-stock, pre-made, and hybrid), vertical form-fill-seal equipment to produce sachets, stick packs, film-based packaging (including stand-up pouches), water-soluble pods, and end-of-line equipment (wrap around and American box).

Serving the global food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industry for 48+ years, Parle Global will also display its packaging equipment at the trade show.

Mukhtar Pathan, director-Sales, VA Exhibitions, the organizers of Snack & BakeTec, Inter FoodTech & Pac MechEx, said, "This year, we will focus on the essential technologies for optimization of production facilities, live demonstrations of equipment, insightful seminars by industry shapers and interactive experiences. We invite all the food and beverage companies to attend the event and make fruitful connections, meet potential customers, and share knowledge, all under one roof."