High Barrier Films for Food
Packaging Growth Advances
While food packaging is largely
recognised as a long-term and
resilient industry during economic
downturns, its enduring growth is
surpassed by demand for high barrier
films in food packaging.

In the latest market report from
AMI, titled “High Barrier Films
for Food Packaging – The Global
Market 2024”, expert consultants
have combined first-hand industry
insight across all polymer
substrates with data analysis to
give a comprehensive picture
of this increasingly important
sector. The research, which was
released in November 2024, gives
investors and industry participants
a thorough grasp of the competitive
challenges, market dynamics,
and industry development.

The report divides the global
market into eight separate regions,
differentiating between the four
distinct markets of Asia, which show
differing speed of growth, direction
of growth and use of substrates and
barrier materials with the Indian Sub-
Continent enjoying the highest rate
of growth contrasted with North East
Asia, where demand for high barrier
films is stagnant.

Growth drivers are varied and
complex. Sustainability is a key
factor in the rise in demand for high
barrier films as these films serve to
prevent food waste, reduce packaging
and replace mixed material alufoil
laminates. However, in developed
regions, poor consumer perception
of plastics could hinder growth, as
brand-owners and converters seek
alternatives through the use of paper,
with many development projects and
trials underway. Across Asia, more
cost-effective mixed material laminates
are expected to remain prevalent.

The report provides insights into the
different reasons behind these distinct
drivers for growth and offers analysis of
future outcomes.

The report covers all transparent
and non-transparent barrier materials
which are typically used to replace
alufoil. It explores the significant
future potential of emerging barrier
and substrate materials, some of which
accelerated in uptake during raw
materials shortages.

Chilled products such as meat/fish
and dairy account for the majority of
high barrier films applications in 2023,
and whilst snack foods will be the
fastest growing application, meat/fish
will provide the largest volume growth
as retailers seek to further protect this
high value segment.

Advances in technologies such as
MDO-PE and BOPE as well as improved
coating solutions will enable further
growth in the use of high barrier
films for stand-up pouches and retort
pouches, which are increasingly popular
for their convenience features, while
allowing for increased regulation for
sustainability and recycling purposes.

Mondi Bakes Sustainability into New Premium Bread Packaging
Mondi is partnering with Welton, Bibby and Baron, a packaging supplier to
the UK food and FMCG markets, to introduce recyclable paper-based bread
bags to retail shelves.

WBB is converting Mondi’s
FunctionalBarrier Paper Reduce
to create brown and white paper
bags for different pre-packed
fresh bread products. Mondi is
producing the strong base kraft
paper from responsibly sourced
fibres and coats it in-house to
ensure the final packaging’s
essential barrier properties.

FunctionalBarrier Paper Reduce
is the thinnest paper possible in
Mondi’s barrier paper range, offering
the strength needed for higher filling
weights while delivering superb
food compliant protection against
water vapour, grease and moisture.

The final packaging keeps the bread
fresh, soft and moist, while offering
a recyclable alternative to the
previous unrecyclable packaging.