In Europe, the production of packaging is the most common operation for for the plastic processing industry, representing 39.5% of the total demand for plastic.
The production of packaging is the most significant sector for thermoplastics, which comprise about 47% of total consumption. The most common materials are polyethylene and PET. In the case of polyethylene, a large proportion of this demand involes producing flexible foils. The driving forces behind the increased utilization of flexible plastics in protective and barrier packaging include a shift towards the manufacture of semi-products, a rise in supermarket shopping and the demand for extended shelf life.
• PE foils and sheets for packaging purposes