Corrugated Packaging Innovations Driving UK Packaging Industry

Published on Tuesday, May 05 2015

The general election is just round the corner and manufacturing in the UK is considered a key issue; with the main political parties claiming that they will help boost productivity and improve the UK’s economic performance in this sector.
 
The packaging industry is currently making positive growth, however there is still scope for further improvement as the UK is on average 20% less productive per worker than its main competitors (Confederation of Paper Industries).
 
According to the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI), one industry in the UK that is already showing above average productivity is corrugated packaging. Due to innovative thinking the UK Corrugate Industry has successfully refined their processes following an efficiency drive, investing around £500 million into machinery and plants over the last two years which has seen productivity increase by 40% over a decade.
 
The UK Corrugated Industry now plays a major part in the £6.5 billion UK Paper Industry and is the fifth largest market in Europe.  

How has the UK Corrugate Industry found success?

There are many reasons for the boom of corrugated packaging.
 
For instance, its versatility has made it an essential part of the 21st Century supply chain. It has become integral to UK food businesses and consumers alike for grocery shopping (YouGov poll 2014) – further indicators of the material’s vital place in today’s society.  

Battle of the brands

As brand owners continue to battle for attention and real estate on supermarkets’ busy shelves, research predicts that adopting innovative and eye-catching packaging could sway consumers’ purchasing decisions.
Corrugated packaging possesses the ability to provide effective on-pack communications to entice consumers which is reflected in the demand for this material. Corrugated packaging is expected to increase worldwide by over 4% each year for the next five years.
 

Consumer trends

Shoppers are moving away from large out of town stores in favour of convenience shopping. Corrugated box makers have reacted to this and are helping to meet this demand from consumers and retailers by manufacturing smaller pack sizes that are still aesthetically appealing and sustainable.
 
Corrugated’s reactiveness also benefits them as they have adapted to reduce consumer waste. There is a growing recognition that food waste is 10 times as significant as the impact of packaging (Packaging Europe).
By no means does the Corrugated Industry have all the answers to the UK’s productivity problem but its continued innovative thinking, investments and reactiveness are making a valuable contribution to the UK’s manufacturing base.

Share this page