The global packaging industry generates a turnover exceeding €500 billion, 60% of which concerns the food sector. There is still great disparity between countries and 75% of packaging production is consumed by 20% of the world’s population. As France’s seventh largest industrial sector, packaging holds an important place in the French economic panorama, with a turnover of about €21 billion and €1.7 billion for manufacturers of packaging equipment. The leading French industrial sector with a turnover estimated at €154 billion (2007), the food processing industry is also the largest in Europe. This gives an idea of the importance of this sector for packaging companies. It remains their largest market with 40% of turnover, followed by the health-pharmacy sector (11%) and the cosmetics-hygiene-perfumery sector (10%).

Cardboard remains the leader in packaging purchasing (33%) ahead of plastics (30%). Corrugated cardboard represents 3 million tons for a turnover of €3 billion. Made from natural materials (cellulose fibre or starch) where the supply is renewable, corrugated cardboard has a very good carbon footprint and image with consumers. 90% of corrugated cardboard production comes from recycling, consolidated with each rotation by adding 10% virgin matter (cellulose pulp).
It was invented in 1850 by Messrs. Healey and Allen, two Englishmen who used it at the time to stiffen top hats.  All sectors included, it is the most widely used packaging material for transport in the world, with a financial weight that is higher than the others. Almost 50% of the production is for the food industry. Light, safe, resistant, ergonomic and protective, it is subject to strict regulations (articles 16 and 17 of the European rules 1935/2004) regarding its readiness for contact with foodstuffs.

Packaging is the largest outlet for plastics in the world and the food industry consumes 65%. Plastic food packaging is made from polymers, which come in the form of a long chain of molecules constructed according to the individual links called monomers. Constantly lightened, free of heavy metals, plastics can now be recycled on an industrial scale and the industry is developing new packaging based on materials from renewable resources. Thanks to its great variety, it adapts to all sectors (food, industry, distribution, etc.) and represents 40% of converted plastic in Europe. After Germany (4 million/tons), France (2.04 million/tons) is the second largest producer of plastic packaging in the EU. Due to their high calorific value, plastics improve the energy yield from domestic waste incineration and the energy recovered is then used for urban heating and to produce electricity. This represents an annual saving of 300,000 tons/oil equivalent in France. There are different plastic materials; the main ones are polyethylene (stretch film, bag, tube, small bottle, container, etc.), polypropylene (film and clear bag, stopper, dishes to reheat, etc.), polyvinyl chloride (bottle, food box and container), polystyrene (dairy pot, cup, egg box), expanded polystyrene (container, food shipping pallet, etc.) and polyethylene terephtalate (food box, bottle, cover).

A natural material from the forest, wood is notably used in the packaging and paper sector. Wood packaging represents a total turnover of €1.72 billion. Poplar (France is the world’s 3rd largest producer with 240,000 hectares, representing 2% of its forested surface) is the wood most used to make light wood packaging (9% of the packaging business) for its rotary cutting flexibility (70% hygrometry). The poplar is a species that grows rapidly (eighteen years) and its cultivation is regulated at two trees planted for every tree cut. Non-polluting, renewable, damp-resistant, light for transport, light wood packaging pleases consumers because of its nature-friendly image. It represents a turnover of €250 million for an annual production potential of 800 million to one billion units (60% of national poplar production). Light wood packaging accounts for 30% of fresh food packaging.

Today, there several major trends to be seen in packaging.
Lighter, better quality materials and their substitutes are constantly being developed. Greater allowance is made for food safety and convenience. Furthermore, packaging is also evolving in terms of ‘attractiveness’ (feel, sight, smell).
The major technical trends are varied: cooking in the packaging (system of appropriate valves), new packaging for 4th and 5th range products, flexible packaging, clean materials (less additives, vegetable solvent-free inks), intelligent packaging (traceability, inviolability of products, etc.) with RFID chips, outer labels with micro-organisms, electronic temperature markers, active packaging (action on the product producing cold or heat to improve preservation including vacuum packing, deep-freezing and freezing, modified atmosphere, etc.), food films for products with a high fat content, isotherm and cooling packaging in PU (polyurethane), aluminised resin (insulated inflatable wrapping sometimes with a cold diffuser, air liner model).

Yves Boccassini
(Chairman of CAR – ex-director of Boccasacs)

“Our company is specialized in paper and plastic packaging for the food service sector. Despite a relatively stable market, we still handle quite large volumes, representing just over 200 tons a year of paper packaging. However, new, more sophisticated trends like the container are gaining ground. We are also trying to develop the highly practical, large American SOS paper bag, which has the advantage of supporting the entire wood sector. We also sell plastic, reusable bags. Our biggest sales are in plastic (25%), paper (20%) and wicker. As a whole, packaging represents 50% of our turnover and remains a stable market with a slight increase during the red berry season (April, May, June). Personally, I don’t really believe in ‘organic’ packaging because it is too expensive and I am still convinced that paper will remain the most ecological solution for the future.”  

Olivier Draullette
(Development Manager for ONDEF – the French trade association for corrugated packaging)

“The ONDEF groups all corrugated cardboard manufacturers in France, which represents 75 production sites, 12,000 employees, 3 million tons of corrugated cardboard and a turnover of €3 billion. The conversion of paper into corrugated cardboard makes the packaging more rigid. Its manufacture underwent a ‘revolution’ when the corrugated machine was invented around 1870 in the USA. The main two sources of raw material are wood fibre (converted into shavings and paper pulp) and, above all, corrugated cardboard recycled after use (90%). It plays a very important role since it accounts for over one third of all packaging. Light, natural, resistant, safe, protective, ergonomic and affordable, it is mainly used in the food processing industry because it optimises packaging logistics by adaptation of a type of product to a type of packaging. It is also fit for contact with foodstuffs under European legislation. Corrugated cardboard has also managed to innovate as shown by the new standard (Common Foot Print) designed for more efficient, uniform stacking, shelf-ready packaging, layer pallets and the bag-in-box.”

Christophe Leygues
(Manager of the Rungis site of Alsys)

“Packaging is our principal activity and represents over 6,000 listed products, of which 3,000 are made at our factory in Brie-Comte-Robert (77). For the most part we sell all kinds of wrapping paper to our clients (food service industry) in France and abroad, as well as plastics in the form of pots, containers and lots of small packaging. We are also planning to develop our organic line, notably the corn and potato starch bags. Packaging is a stable market for certain product lines although it is growing for others.  Packaging as a whole is growing because it is a constant need, an ever changing activity, seeking innovation and research.”