The packaging industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by convenience, experience seekers, and multipurpose suitability, and the growing importance of technologies, such as near-field communication, Internet of Packaging, and bio-degradable packaging. In the last three years alone, there have been over 427,000 patents filed and granted in the packaging industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in packaging: multi-pack shrink wrapping.

However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.

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Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.

30+ innovations will shape the packaging industry

According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the packaging industry using innovation intensity models built on over 77,000 patents, there are 30+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Within the emerging innovation stage, cellulose fiber 3D printing, biodegradable packaging films, and multilayer barrier films with energy recovery are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. RFID packaging, anti-counterfeiting bottle caps, and clamshell-type packaging are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are resealable medication vials and synthetic resin containers, which are now well established in the industry. 

Innovation S-curve for the packaging industry

Multi-pack shrink wrapping is a key innovation area in packaging

Shrink wrap bundling is the process of making a pack of multiple items or products. It enjoys the advantage of affordability; hence it is considered as a popular choice compared to other packaging materials. Shrink wrap takes minimal space, and keeps bundled items close together without the need for additional bulky materials.

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 90+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established packaging companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of multi-pack shrink wrapping.

Key players in multi-pack shrink wrapping – a disruptive innovation in the packaging industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.

Patent volumes related to multi-pack shrink wrapping

Company Total patents (2010 - 2022) Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies
Graphic Packaging 2404 Unlock Company Profile
Westrock 1402 Unlock Company Profile
Barry-Wehmiller Companies 29 Unlock Company Profile
Otsuka 28 Unlock Company Profile
Kimberly-Clark 26 Unlock Company Profile
Mondelez International 20 Unlock Company Profile
Colgate-Palmolive 20 Unlock Company Profile
LBP Manufacturing 19 Unlock Company Profile
International Paper 17 Unlock Company Profile
DS Smith 15 Unlock Company Profile
O-I Glass 15 Unlock Company Profile
Ferrero International 13 Unlock Company Profile
Merck 12 Unlock Company Profile
EoL Packaging Experts 11 Unlock Company Profile
Onex 10 Unlock Company Profile
The Kraft Heinz 10 Unlock Company Profile
Krones 10 Unlock Company Profile
Rtc Industries 10 Unlock Company Profile
Clario 10 Unlock Company Profile
Anheuser-Busch InBev 9 Unlock Company Profile
A&R Carton Bremen 9 Unlock Company Profile
Adalis 7 Unlock Company Profile
AbbVie 7 Unlock Company Profile
Daio Seishi KK 7 Unlock Company Profile
TECMA pack 7 Unlock Company Profile
Smurfit Kappa Group 6 Unlock Company Profile
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical 5 Unlock Company Profile
ams 5 Unlock Company Profile
Wanfried-Druck Kalden 5 Unlock Company Profile
Karl Knauer 5 Unlock Company Profile
Altria Group 5 Unlock Company Profile
Target 4 Unlock Company Profile
Cascades 4 Unlock Company Profile
Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial 4 Unlock Company Profile
Otor 4 Unlock Company Profile
BEDFORD INDUSTRIES 4 Unlock Company Profile
Wm. Wrigley Jr. 4 Unlock Company Profile
Inno-Pak 4 Unlock Company Profile
Daio Paper 4 Unlock Company Profile
Amadeus FiRe 3 Unlock Company Profile
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners 3 Unlock Company Profile
Keurig Dr Pepper 3 Unlock Company Profile
Rock-Tenn Shared Services 3 Unlock Company Profile
Gustav Stabernack 3 Unlock Company Profile
H&H Packaging 3 Unlock Company Profile
Mars 3 Unlock Company Profile
Ennomotive 3 Unlock Company Profile
Sapporo 3 Unlock Company Profile
Amcor 3 Unlock Company Profile
SAICA Pack 3 Unlock Company Profile

Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics

Graphic Packaging Holding is the leading patent filer in multi-pack shrink wrapping. Some other key patent filers in multi-pack shrink wrapping include Westrock, Barry-Wehmiller Companies, Otsuka Holdings and Kimberly-Clark.

Otsuka Holdings leads the pack in terms of application diversity, while Rtc Industries and Krones stood in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Otsuka Holdings holds the top position, followed by Colgate-Palmolive and Ferrero International.

Multi-pack shrink wrapping gives the company advantage of increased storage space in warehouses, is lightweight, protects against environmental damage, and provides a cost-efficient option. Hence, it would be an essential part of the packaging industry in the coming years.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the packaging industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Packaging.

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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.