Sustainability drive creates new growth opportunities for Cast PP films in Europe

AMI, Bristol, 16/08/21 – Cast PP Films – The European Market, is a brand new report from leading plastics market intelligence providers, AMI. The company has leveraged its expertise and proven methodology in other consumer and industrial films, to complete this new study for 2021.The report provides critical insight and analysis of the production, capacity and demand of Cast PP (polypropylene) film (CPP) in Europe, together with trends in key consumer and industrial applications.

Demand for Cast PP films continues to grow. The heat resistant properties of the film are invaluable to food packaging converters as well as those catering to the medical and healthcare market, sectors which have proven themselves to be Covid-19 resilient industries.

The Covid-19 pandemic also caused consumers to become more concerned with sterility and safety of their products, choosing sealed products other unpackaged, or those with loose wrapping. This stalled the "less plastic packaging" trend although this is expected to pick up as sustainability comes back to the fore.

Although Cast PP film is used worldwide, the market in Europe is of particular interest, being at the forefront of the drive to sustainability and the circular economy. Amid tightening regulations on recycling and surging media and public concern around plastic litter, companies across the plastics value chain are investigating how to mitigate this potential threat to the plastic films sector. Cast PP films can be utilised in mono-polymer and polyolefin "recycle-ready" film constructions, making it a go-to film for many packaging applications, and spurring future growth opportunities.

The study explores the variety of different properties that Cast PP films can offer the end-user, and the trends which differ by application. Each of these properties and more, is explored by end-use sector, whether in food packaging, non-food packaging or other technical applications.

New manufacturing techniques are providing further options for versatility, and new Cast PP film lines confirmed for future production are earmarked for capacity expansion or upgrading lines for better speed and efficiency.

There is still a West/East divide in terms of packaging use. Cast PP production is growing in new geographic locations, which will prompt a change in trade flows.

Food packaging accounts for the largest production volume globally, with growth continuing to be spurred by changing consumer lifestyles which require more convenience products, especially those which require heat resistance, such as retort and sterilisable pack formats.

In contrast, the production of Cast PP film for stationery is declining as a result of the move to paperless offices. As a consequence, food packaging's share of overall Cast PP production is increasing.

Companies active in the industry, in addition to those considering entering the market for the first time, must understand the trends that determine aspects including future industry size and structure. In this competitive market, knowledge is critical to the development of successful strategies for growth in sales and profitability.

AMI's new report Cast PP Films – the European Market provides an independent assessment of the industry. Key issues addressed in the study include production and demand drivers in significant countries of production, in addition to a review of trade from further afield. Cast PP film production is also analysed by end-use application and pack format type, with a review of competitive film structures and a forecast to 2025.

This comprehensive study builds on and expands AMI's successful reports and databases related to the PP film industry and enables industry players to:

• Get unrivalled data on the size and structure of the industry in Europe
• Identify key material trends for consumer and industrial films
• Assess growth dynamics
• Understand the evolution of trade flows and impact on supply
• Evaluate the future outlook for Cast PP film production and trade

Further information: Andrea Jenn, Consultant – Flexible Films, AMI Consulting, T \ +44 (0)117 924 9442 E \ Andrea.Jenn@amiplastics.com