Developing Foresight into 2050 Packaging Material Demand

The Foundation Industries, which include the glass, metals, paper, and plastics sectors, provide the feedstock to the vital packaging sector. But the long investment cycles mean that many companies in these sectors are today planning facilities that could be in operation for 30 years. The need to reduce carbon emissions and improve resource efficiency are impacting not just the foundation industries, but also their customers. What types of materials and products will the packaging sector be purchasing this far into the future?

To help understand what these changes may mean for the materials that will be demanded from the foundation industries, the Transforming Foundation Industries (TFI) Challenge commissioned this research project to look at how different futures scenarios might influence (retail) packaging material requirements. It is hoped that this will help the foundation industries to understand more about possible market opportunities and threats, consider the impact of disruptive products or business models, and help to refine their R&D needs.

Through exploring five different scenarios, generated through a series of structured interviews and expert workshops, including representatives from across the packaging supply chain and Foundation Industries - this research allows a glimpse into the possibilities for packaging in the future - and how ongoing collaboration between the packaging sector and the Foundation Industries will be crucial in the transition to Net Zero.