Why Is Food and Beverage Sector Increasingly Using Packaging Adhesives?

Adhesives are widely used in the packaging of food and beverages to ensure the safety of these items. With the escalating consumer consciousness regarding health, there has been a notable surge in the need to maintain shelf life or freshness of packaged food products. Moreover, the booming urban population, increasing travel activities, and rising awareness on nutrition will amplify the consumption of packaged healthy food in the coming years. Besides, the busier lifestyle of people is also forcing them to shift toward packaged food items that require adhesives in large quantities.

Additionally, the rising consumption of low-tack adhesives (LTAs) for the reclosable application will drive the packaging adhesives market at a CAGR of 4.6% during the forecast period (2020–2030). The market generated a revenue of $10,426.9 million in 2019 and it is projected to generate $17,137.4 million by 2030. The LTA is used in reclosable application, due its high-adhesion ability, which provides better usability for consumers and offers a cost-competitive option to manufacturers of packaging products. Unlike the zipper seals, the LTAs do not need to be precisely aligned to reclose a package.

The resin type segment of the packaging adhesives market is classified into rubber, ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), acrylic, polyamide (PA), polyvinyl acetate (PVA), and polyurethane (PU). Among these, in 2019, the acrylic category accounted for the largest market share, on account of its high-temperature resistance and chemical resistance properties. Acrylic adhesives are widely used for cold storage food and beverage packaging, as they offer instant adhesions that stimulate production efficiency and demonstrate moisture resistance. 

Geographically, the Far East region consumed the highest volume of packaging adhesives in 2019, owing to their increasing applications in the e-commerce, food and beverage, personal care, and consumer goods sectors in China. Moreover, the robust growth of the e-commerce industry in Japan and China, owing to the ease of convenience offered through home delivery. Thus, an escalation in online shopping activities will boost the requirement for carons and corrugated boxes for delivery of goods. These packaging items need adhesives in large quantities.

Furthermore, the Far Eastern packaging adhesives market will also hold the largest share during the forecast period, due to the growth in the consumer goods manufacturing, e-commerce, and other end-use sectors in Japan, South Korea, and China. The e-commerce sector needs packaging adhesives in high volume for labeling to trace products and as tapes for effective delivery of goods. Thus, the escalating demand for consumer goods and products available on online platforms, on account of increasing disposable income, will fuel the market growth in the region.

Thus, the surging awareness regarding health and nutrition and the growing end-use sectors will fuel the adoption of adhesives for packaging applications in the coming years.