The packaging industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by reusability, recyclability, light weight, and convenience, and growing importance of technologies such as circular economy, shrink wrapping, RFID technology, and virtual reality. 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: MFC coated packaging paper. Buy the report here.
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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.
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 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
MFC coated packaging paper is a key innovation area in packaging
Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) is a nanomaterial derived from cellulose, which is the most abundant organic polymer on Earth and a major component of plant cell walls. MFC is produced through mechanical or chemical treatments that break down cellulose fibers into extremely fine, nanoscale fibrils or microfibrils. It acts as a natural performance enhancer, used for creating lighter and stronger packaging. It is used primarily for the food industry.
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 110+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established packaging companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of MFC coated packaging paper.
Key players in MFC coated packaging paper – 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 MFC coated packaging paper
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Stora Enso is the leading patent filer in MFC coated packaging paper. It recently acquired a Dutch company, De Jong Packaging Group, to accelerate growth in renewable corrugated packaging. The acquisition will greatly enhance Stora Enso's foothold in the European packaging sectors and serve as an entry point into the corrugated packaging market in the Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and the UK. Some other key patent filers in the MFC coated packaging paper include Billerud, Wilh. Werhahn, FiberLean Technologies and Nippon Paper Industries.
In terms of application diversity, OneWorld Packaging leads the pack. Mayr-Melnhof Karton and UPM-Kymmene stand in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Tokushu Tokai Paper holds the top position, followed by FiberLean Technologies, Wilh. Werhahn and Smurfit Kappa Group.
MFC coated paper will be revolutionary for the food industry in coming years as it will help store the food for a longer time.
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.
