Dive Brief:
- A new aseptic packaging market report projects the aseptic category to hit $62.46 billion by 2020 at a compound annual growth rate of 10.66% from 2015. Analysts say the CAGR should hit 9.33% between 2014-2019.
- The growth of this type of packaging could have vast implications for the food and beverage industries in terms of maintaining and improving the safety of the food supply.
- The biggest deterrent to using aseptic containers is a costly investment in creating and maintaining aseptic lines.
Dive Insight:
With aseptic packaging, foods and beverages go through a flash pasteurization treatment so that the products can retain texture, aroma, and other characteristics. Different sterilization methods include heat, chemical, or gamma ray treatment. This packaging can come in the form of pouches, cartons, and bags of varying dimensions. Also, products in aseptic packaging require no additives or preservatives to sustain a shelf life of more than two years.
Aseptic packaging provides an array of benefits for food and beverage companies from end to end of the supply chain. Products require no refrigeration, which is both convenient for consumers and cost effective for shippers. The packaging is flexible, which enables companies to ship more products with greater efficiency and saves warehouse space. A longer shelf life means companies can expand distribution while also reducing waste by offering consumers more time to buy and eat or drink the product before it spoils. The food safety implications of such a packaging method and material can also improve a company's confidence in the safety of its products from manufacturing plant to retailer to consumers.