The development of flexible packaging

The development history of flexible packaging reflects the evolution of modern industrial technology and consumer demand. Before the middle of the 20th century, traditional packaging was mainly made of metal, glass and hard plastic, which was costly to transport and inconvenient to use. With the breakthroughs in petrochemical technology, flexible composite materials such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) emerged in the 1950s and 1970s. Flexible packaging, with its advantages of lightweight and strong plasticity, rapidly permeated the food and daily chemical industries.

 

The 1980s and 1990s were a crucial period for the functional transformation of flexible packaging. The maturity of multi-layer co-extrusion technology has transformed single materials into 7-9 layer composite structures. After being combined with an aluminum foil coating, the barrier properties are significantly enhanced, and the shelf life is extended by 3 to 5 times. During this period, innovative bag types such as stand-up pouches and spout pouches emerged, promoting the adoption of flexible packaging for liquid products like beverages and sauces. After 2000, the concept of sustainable development gave rise to the research and development of bio-based materials (such as PLA) and single-material recyclable structures. At the same time, active packaging technology, integrating functions such as antibacterial and oxygen absorption, further expanded its application in the field of fresh food.

 

At present, flexible packaging is showing three major trends: The first is intelligence, achieving traceability and temperature control monitoring through printed electronic labels; Second, it is environmentally friendly. Water-based ink and thinning processes have reduced the carbon footprint by more than 30%. The third is customization. Digital printing technology supports small-batch personalized production. According to industry research, the global flexible packaging market size exceeded 200 billion US dollars in 2023, among which the annual growth rate of e-commerce logistics packaging demand reached 12%, becoming a new growth engine.

 

In the future, breakthroughs in nano-coating technology and degradable materials will solve the existing problem of balancing environmental protection and performance, while the combination of smart labels and the Internet of Things may reshape the product circulation model. Flexible packaging is evolving from a simple protective function to a comprehensive solution carrier integrating preservation, interaction and environmental protection.