The Growth of Metal Packaging

The global market for Metal Packaging is on the rise.

According to Global Industry Analysts, Inc., it is projected to surpass $165 billion by the year 2024.

Metal packaging is becoming increasingly popular in a variety of industries and is being used by some of the world's best-known consumer brands in food, beverages, spirits, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, industrial and household products.

Food and other products have been packaged into metal cans for over a century, although this trend has only recently begun to spike in use. Metal packaging has become a popular alternative to other types of packaging for a variety of reasons.

Metal is much less harmful to the environment than plastic. It is easy to recycle and can naturally deteriorate, unlike synthetic materials that end up harming soil and water. It is a much more sustainable packaging solution and a more promising choice for supporting future generations. As concerns about global warming and the impact that human activity is having on the environment rise, the use of green (or sustainable) products is expected to continue to grow and possibly even be mandated by government officials in the future.

Another factor is the growing competition in the food and beverage industry in developing countries. There is a much higher demand for simple, affordable canned food and beverages in these countries, and metal packaging is a cost-effective and safe way to package these products for delivery and sale. This is greatly boosting the need for items like metal closures, aluminum bottles and cans.

Metal is much more durable than plastic and other types of packaging. Plastic is susceptible to heat and glass can be too frail for some responsibilities. Stainless steel is a type of metal that can withstand more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Metal is incredibly durable, especially considering how lightweight and thin it is. This makes it a smarter choice for transportation.

It's also much easier to standardize the use of metal packaging than other types. Types of metal packaging tend to adhere to uniform volumes that align between labs and across borders into standard sizes of pints, quarts, gallons and liters. That makes it very simple to make sales between countries and still rely on a common system. Metal also has the benefit of having non-combustible construction, which no other packaging alternative can offer. Companies can rest assured that they won't lose money on damaged products that leak material during shipping or storage.

Metal packing is a much more affordable choice considering all of the benefits it has to offer. Though the price varies based on how much raw materials and labor factors cost at any given time, it is always competitive with plastic, which keeps the overall price low. It's one of the most stable materials available on the packaging market.

Also, because metal can be shaped into virtually any size package, large or small, it is super versatile and can be used for many different types of material, whether as the primary element of the package or a small addition, such as twist/lugs, screw caps, safety seals and more. For all of these reasons, metal packaging is expected to continue growing in use over the years to come.