The packaging industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by safety and trust, digitization, convenience, and growing importance of technologies, such as connected packaging, Bluetooth low energy and Internet of 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: resealable packaging.
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.
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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
Resealable packaging is a key innovation area in packaging
Reusable/resealable packaging allows consumers to multipurpose suitability as the product stored can be resealed again to maintain product freshness and prevent spillage.
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 40 companies, spanning technology vendors, established packaging companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of resealable packaging.
Key players in resealable packaging – 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 resealable packaging
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Toppan is the leading patent filer in resealable packaging. Some other key patent filers in resealable packaging include Mondelez International, Kraft Heinz, Sonoco Products, and Avery Dennison. Heinz, the maker of the popular ketchup, partnered with Pulpex, a sustainable packaging solutions provider, to launch paper-based, renewable and recyclable bottle made from 100 percent sustainably sourced wood pulp.
Resonac Holdings leads the pack in terms of application diversity. Nestle and Tadbik stand in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Toppan holds the top position, followed by Nestle and Kraft Heinz.
In the coming years, resealable packaging will potentially become an important aspect in the packaging industry. With consumers looking for packaging that ensures a longer shelf life of products, this packaging format will gain popularity.
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.
