KN21058 KEY NOTE PACKAGING (PLASTIC) MARCH 1998

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The apparent UK market for plastics packaging is estimated by Key Note at £2.9bn in 1997, having increased in value by approximately 21.4 percent since 1993 from an estimated £2.39bn.
Demand for plastics packaging continues to grow, despite strong environmental pressures to reduce the total volume of all packaging, because polymer and plastic machinery manufacturers and converters in the industry produce very versatile materials and designs, which can be adapted for use in almost any application. The appeal of plastic to packaging designers and end users is that it is strong, lightweight, easily shaped, can be modified to cope with extremes in temperature without degradation, and can be produced in volume at relatively low cost. Innovation in materials and design is the essence of the plastics packaging industry. An indication of its growing appeal is that it has managed to penetrate the luxury end of the market in personal care.
Recently introduced European Union (EU) wide packaging laws insist that a high proportion of all packaging must be recovered and recycled. This is not a cheap source of material for user industries because of the high cost of recovery and reprocessing. Its effect on the manufacture of long-term virgin polymer is uncertain as obviously a growing proportion of reclaimed plastic must be used by converters, but it is not suitable for many applications, e.g. those in direct contact with food products. Consequently, it is likely to be used as a secondary material for the manufacture of goods where premium quality is not essential. New uses must be found which can utilise reclaimed plastic and this will be a major consideration for the future as large quantities of this material will soon appear on the market. Some companies already specialise in the reuse of plastic waste, e.g. British Polythene Industries (BPI), but more companies are now likely to take this step.
This disincentive to volume growth will also reduce growth in value, although converters will seek to add value by more ingenious designs and by utilising the constantly improving qualities of virgin polymers to attract new customers. Key Note estimates that total growth by constant value, will lift sales to £3.41bn in the year 2002 compared with £2.93bn in 1997, giving a total 18 percent increase over this period.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary

Market Definition

INTRODUCTION

TYPES OF PLASTIC USED FOR PACKAGING

OTHER SUBSTANCES

PLASTICS PROCESSING

MARKET SECTORS

MARKET TRENDS

Market Size

MARKET POSITION

THE TOTAL MARKET

FOREIGN TRADE

CONSUMPTION BY MARKET SECTORS

Table 1: UK Demand for Packaging Products (£bn and percent), 1997

Table 2: Apparent UK Market for Plastics Packaging (£m), 1993-1997

Table 3: Estimated UK Manufacturers' Sales of Plastic Packaging by Product (£m at msp), 1993-1997

Table 4: Exports of Plastic Packaging Products (£m), 1993-1997

Table 5: Exports of Plastic Packaging Products (£m), 1996 and 1997

Table 6: Main Export Destinations in Europe (£m), 1996

Table 7: Total Imports of Plastic Packaging Products (£m), 1993-1997

Table 8: Breakdown of Imports of Plastic Packaging Products (£m), 1996 and 1997

Table 9: Main Sources of Imports From Europe (£m), 1996

Table 10: Main Sources of Imports from Non-EU Countries (£m), 1996

Table 11: Main Polymer Usage in UK Packaging (000 tonnes), 1993-1997

Table 12: UK Consumption of Polyethylene in Film Applications (000 tonnes), 1997

Table 13: UK Polyethylene Usage for Film Extrusion (000 tonnes), 1997

Table 14: UK Consumption of the Principal Plastics Used for Manufacturing Bottles and Containers (000 tonnes), 1993-1997

Table 15: Estimated UK Consumption of Plastics in Closures (000 tonnes), 1993-1997

Table 16: Consumption of Plastics in Labels (000 tonnes), 1993-1997

Table 17: Consumption of Plastics in Boxes, Crates and Pails (000 tonnes), 1993-1997

Industry Background

OPERATING STRUCTURE

POLYMER SUPPLIERS

CONVERTERS

EMPLOYMENT

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

Table 18: Number of VAT-Based Enterprises in Packaging by Turnover (£000), 1997

Table 19: Number of Companies in Packaging by Employment Size (number of employees), 1997

Competitor Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Table 20: Leading Plastics Packaging Companies by Turnover (£m), 1996/1997

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT)

FLEXIBLE PLASTIC FILMS

SEMI-RIGID PLASTICS

RIGID PLASTICS

CLOSURES

LABELS

INTERMEDIATE BULK CONTAINERS

Buying Behaviour

INTRODUCTION

THE MAIN MARKETS

Outside Suppliers to the Industry

POLYMER SUPPLIERS

RECLAIMED POLYMERS

DISTRIBUTORS AND IMPORTERS

PROCESSING MACHINERY

Current Issues

INTRODUCTION

PACKAGING REDUCTION

POLYMER SUPPLY

COMPANY DEVELOPMENTS

Forecasts

FORECASTS 1998 TO 2002

Table 21: Apparent UK Market for Plastics Packaging (£m), 1998-2002

Company Profiles

INTRODUCTION

DEFINITIONS

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Sources

ASSOCIATIONS

PERIODICALS

DIRECTORIES

GENERAL SOURCES

HBI UK INFORMATION SOURCES

GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS

OTHER SOURCES

Text © 1998 Key Note

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Last updated by Jacob van Eldik 22th February 2000