Nanomaterials have already been commercialized at various stages of the packaging supply chain from food storage to traceability and tracking. Their enhanced properties, such as UV protection, barrier to moisture, gases and volatile components, mechanical strength, significantly improve packaging materials.
Consumer demand for more environmental friendly products has led to the development of nanocomposites derived from renewable sources with triggered biodegradability, but with the same mechanical properties as commonly used materials.
The global plastics sector currently produces approximately 250 million tons annually. Over 99% of this is derived from fossil fuels, and most of it is not biodegradable. Currently, the packaging materials are largely based on glass, aluminium and tin, and fossil derived synthetic plastics. These materials possess high strength and barrier properties. However, they are unsustainable, some are fragile such as glass, and their weight adds to energy costs for shipping. Therefore, packaging recycling is of great importance, and this market is a potentially lucrative one for nanomaterials, and is specifically targeted by most nanocellulose producers.
The use of nanocomposites with biopolymers is on the rise as the use of biodegradable packaging increases. Nano-enabled polymers keep food secure during transportation, increase shelf life and protect from pathogens. Concerns about costs in comparison to traditional packaging and consumer acceptance have thus far hindered widespread uptake.
Nanomaterials have been developed as additives to increase packaging strength and decrease the permeability of plastics in PET bottles and packaged goods. Application areas in food packaging, both flexible and rigid include packaging for processed meats, cheese, confectionery, cereals and boil-in-the-bag foods; extrusion coatings for paperboard fruit juice and dairy products; and beer and carbonated drinks products.
Published January 2017 | 59 pages
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY…………………………………………………………… 8
2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY………………………………………………… 10
2.1 COMMERCIAL IMPACT RATING SYSTEM…………………………………………………………………… 11
2.2 MARKET CHALLENGES RATING SYSTEM…………………………………………………………………. 12
3 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………. 15
3.1 Properties of nanomaterials……………………………………………………………………………………………. 15
3.2 Categorization………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 16
4 NANOMATERIALS REGULATIONS………………………………………… 17
4.1 Europe……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 18
4.1.1 REACH…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 18
4.1.2 Biocidal Products Regulation…………………………………………………………………………………. 19
4.1.3 National nanomaterials registers……………………………………………………………………………. 19
4.1.4 Cosmetics regulation……………………………………………………………………………………………… 20
4.1.5 Food safety…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 20
4.2 United States………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 22
4.2.1 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)……………………………………………………………………. 22
4.3 Asia………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 22
4.3.1 Japan……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 23
4.3.2 South Korea…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 23
4.3.3 Taiwan……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 23
4.3.4 Australia…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 23
5 THE GLOBAL MARKET FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY IN PACKAGING 25
5.1 MARKET DRIVERS AND TRENDS……………………………………………………………………………….. 25
5.1.1 Rise in demand for environmentally sustainable packaging…………………………………… 25
5.1.2 Shortcoming of packaging biopolymers………………………………………………………………….. 25
5.1.3 High demand for packaging films resistant to oxygen and moisture to increase shelf life 26
5.1.4 Growth in active packaging……………………………………………………………………………………. 26
5.1.5 Anti-microbial packaging biofilm market is growing………………………………………………… 26
5.1.6 Need for improved barrier packaging……………………………………………………………………… 27
5.1.7 Growth in barrier food packaging sector………………………………………………………………… 27
5.2 APPLICATIONS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 29
5.3 MARKET SIZE AND OPPORTUNITY…………………………………………………………………………….. 31
5.3.1 Total market size……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 31
5.3.2 Nanotechnology and nanomaterials opportunity…………………………………………………….. 32
5.4 MARKET CHALLENGES……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 38
6 APPLICATION AND PRODUCT DEVELOPERS………………………… 39-56 (36 company profiles)
7 REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………. 57
TABLES
Table 1: The Global market for nanomaterials in 2015 in tons, market characteristics and growth prospects………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9
Table 2: Categorization of nanomaterials……………………………………………………………………………………. 16
Table 3: National nanomaterials registries in Europe…………………………………………………………………. 19
Table 4: Nanomaterials regulatory bodies in Australia……………………………………………………………….. 24
Table 5: Applications in packaging, by nanomaterials type and benefits thereof………………………… 30
Table 6: Application markets, competing materials, nanomaterials advantages and current market size in packaging………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 32
Table 7: Nanotechnology in the packaging market-applications, stage of commercialization and estimated economic impact………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 35
Table 8: Market opportunity assessment for nanotechnology in packaging………………………………… 35
Table 9: Potential addressable market for nantoechnology-enabled applications in packaging…. 36
Table 10: Market challenges rating for nanotechnology and nanomaterials in the packaging market………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 38
FIGURES
Figure 1: Potential addressable market for nanotechnology-enabled applications in packaging… 37
