Packaging

Flexible packaging continues to be an important and well-developed pack type in Western Europe, heavily used in the packaged food industry, and confectionery in particular. However, applications using plastic will have to cope with the ever…

Metal packaging continues to be an important, and growing, pack type in Asia Pacific, led by metal beverage cans for soft drinks and beer, which account for the bulk of metal packaging in the region. While metal packaging was negatively impacted by…

The closure of retail outlets and horeca establishments in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19 led to a shift towards the consumption of larger pack sizes and multipacks – boosted by both increased online purchases and falling incomes. As the…

Ukraine’s economy contracted significantly in 2020, with real GDP declining by 4%, compared to a 3% rise in 2019, and unemployment also rising, as a result of the measures taken to contain the spread of COVID-19. Purchasing power declined, with…

The economic impact of the measures to try and contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus resulted in reduced purchasing power for local consumers in Turkey, which saw a shift towards bigger packages and multipacks – a shift that was also driven by…

Overall unit volumes of packaging increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumers were prioritising packaged products, particularly in food, with previously unpackaged produce often wrapped and sealed. Demand for larger pack sizes and multipacks…

The economic impact of the measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus pushed the UK into a deep recession in 2020, with GDP slumping and unemployment rising. With reduced purchasing power and increased economic caution amid intense and…

The measures put in place to try and contain the spread of COVID-19 contributed heavily to the 5% real GDP decline in the United Arab Emirates in 2020, following a rise of 2% in 2019. The pandemic’s economic impact hampered spending as it pushed up…

The COVID-19 pandemic saw the Thai authorities implement strict alcohol consumption laws – with the sale of alcohol temporarily prohibited in restaurants. This saw on-trade consumption habits changing, resulting in a significant decline in sales in…

Measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 drove sales of larger packaging formats as consumers initially stockpiled for fear of running out of staple goods, and then reduced the frequency of their shopping trips to avoid unnecessary face-to-face…

Sweden’s approach to managing the pandemic was far more relaxed than that seen in other European countries. Unlike its neighbours, Sweden did not impose major lockdown restrictions on household due to COVID-19, instead recommending that its citizens…

In a temporary trend reversal, sustainability-driven development in packaging stalled as result of the pandemic, as priorities shifted towards hygiene and product protection. As a result, a rise in disposable packaging was being seen, fuelled by…

The economic impact of COVID-19 and the measures taken to contain it have been severe in South Africa, with widespread job losses, leading to falling purchasing power for already cash-strapped consumers. One result of this has been increased demand…

The pandemic forced the Singapore government to put in place so-called circuit breakers, which included lockdown measures, in order to limit the chain of viral transmission. This resulted in the closure of non-essential premises, such as foodservice…

The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic pushed Saudi Arabia into recession in 2020, with real GDP and the real value of private consumption falling and unemployment rising due to the closure of non-essential businesses. This boosted the…

Although Colombia was suffering a severe recession in 2020, partly as a result of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, beauty and personal care packaging continued to see overall growth, albeit at a slower rate than in 2019. Bath and shower…

Packaging sales were severely impacted by lockdown, mobility restrictions and reduced social interaction – even outside of lockdowns consumers remained reluctant to go out and meet in groups as frequently as in pre-pandemic times. Larger pack sizes…

In a country where food and drink-focused socialising are popular, lockdown restrictions arising from COVID-19 resulted in a slump in on-trade sales in 2020 due to the closure of horeca establishments. Because of the pandemic there were shifts in the…

Due to lockdown restrictions, on-trade venues were completely shut down during the early onset of COVID-19 in Spain. Even when lockdown restrictions were relaxed later in 2020, some on-trade venues remained shut, while others were only operating with…

Prior to the pandemic, Tetra Pak launched packaging with QR codes in Russia for milk, juice and baby food products, enabling greater communication with consumers and a way to collect data and promote brand loyalty. The development allows consumers to…