For Japanese consumers, it’s all about the pretty packages

Isn't it just fascinating how the various cultural tastes affect international food packaging design? When I travel to other countries, I love checking out the various packaging that is displayed - what types of material is used, how it is shaped, etc. I guess that's what happens when I write about an industry that is everywhere.

Anyway, market research report guru Canadean has released another study - this one focusing on the Japanese plastic packaging industry. According to Canadean, the Japanese plastic packaging industry is actually in rapid growth. Japanese flexible and rigid plastics packaging demand will increase by 6.9 billion packs between 2012 and 2017.

To no surprise, Japanese consumers place high importance on quality packaging. In fact, according to Canadean, they are very engaged in the presentation of products and need to be convinced that packaging is flawless with particular regards to detail, color, and labeling. This, according to Canadean Senior Analyst Ronan Stafford, "will drive the wider use of plastic packaging and the development of more innovative plastic pack formats."

Like so many parts of the world, a demanding population has created a spike in the use of plastic packaging for items such as beauty, drinks, luxury cosmetics, and health and beauty products. Demand from skincare and make-up sectors alone will grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.2 percent and 2.0 percent respectively during 2012 to 2017. As these sectors grow, manufacturers should remain conscious of the quality, as well as the look and feel, of packaging materials. In other words, both the inside and outside counts when it comes to consumer preference.

With this in mind, AquaGirl Cosmetics has the DuPont Surlyn 3D over-molding technology to create a plastic pack thathas the look and feel of luxury glass, while maintaining important barrier properties to protect the product.

The demand for rigid plastic bottles, jars, and tubs, will increase significantly over the next few years. Demand for jars will grow particularly strongly at a CAGR of 3.0 percent between 2012 and 2017; this reflects rising demand for this packaging type in the health and beauty sector, as Japan's increasingly ageing population requires packaging that is easy and convenient to use, as well as aesthetically pleasing.