Demand for folding boxes is expected to grow in several end-use sectors, including the "mobile" diet, pharmaceutical and beverage industries. The growth of the "eat on the go" segment is due to continued urbanization, busy lifestyles, more working women and single/single parent families, as well as pressure from time.
At the same time, the growth of the pharmaceutical market is partly due to changes in regulations and partly due to increased health awareness among consumers, especially since the outbreak, which has significantly increased the demand for pharmaceutical packaging.
Folding boxes are one of the most sustainable forms of packaging, are more and more brand owners turning to folding boxes as a more sustainable solution?
The demand for sustainable packaging continues to be a major driver of growth, with many brand owners committed to achieving sustainability goals such as 100% recyclable packaging by 2025. The use of paper instead of plastic is increasing, as are government regulations and legislation on non-recyclable materials...
Sustainability covers the entire packaging field, and it requires the cooperation of many parties. We are in a very exciting period for sustainable packaging and at Borst we believe we have reached a defining moment. We launched oneBARRIER FibreCycle, an all-paper, single-material, recyclable solution developed in response to growing industry demand for more paper packaging options.
Both as an industry and as a society, we need to continue to collaborate and communicate. Education is a big part of this and we need to better educate consumers about waste separation and recycling and improve collaboration, not only with the packaging industry as a whole, but also with waste management companies. It's been a process, but Bost has made great progress.
What are the biggest challenges facing the packaging and printing industry, and how should the industry respond in order to continue to grow and prosper?
Over the past year or so, our industry has faced some significant pressures due to factors such as global economic instability, global supply chain challenges, human resource shortages and energy crises. As we look to the year ahead, we expect these challenges to be addressed, but the shortage of human resources is likely to be a challenge that will persist for some time. When we talk to processors, we still hear from many businesses who are struggling to find skilled machine operators or retain existing staff.
Companies like Bost can help, whether by supporting the training of operators or through the automation and digitization of production processes. This includes the automated setup and exchange of machines, making production easier, more reliable and therefore more efficient for our customers; Or automating the machine so that it can process PDF files automatically sets up the machine for production until the final product is ready to be shipped to the customer.
It's a challenge, but it's also an opportunity. We can make the process smoother and faster. The industry has always adapted and evolved, and we will continue to do so and help our customers achieve this operation.
What are the other trends for folding color boxes in 2024 and beyond?
Three major trends are expected in 2024 and beyond - zero defect packaging, automation, and digitalization.
Zero-defect packaging will continue to be a non-negotiable factor. Zero defect packaging puts the onus on the manufacturer to provide completely defect-free packaging within a short lead time. Low-quality stuff doesn't sell because it means waste and higher costs, and reduces the profitability of processors.
Factory automation will continue to be a focus. As job run times decrease, automation is needed to enable quick order changes. The lack of skilled manpower and the continuing challenge of increasing productivity. Further automation solutions will be promoted. In the near future, more and more companies will have to provide solutions to meet the latest market needs, including robots and so on.
At the same time, the digitization of the industry will continue throughout the supply chain. Integrating cloud-based reporting into a device's quality assurance monitoring system enables processors to receive real-time data.
