State of the Folding Carton Industry

If anything can decouple folding carton market performance from strict dependence on consumer segment trends, it probably is technical innovation. According to Smithers Pira, the three key technologies that will add value in the folding carton market between now and 2018 are anti-counterfeiting systems, barrier coating technologies, and retail-ready packs (shipping containers that double as packages for retail display). The need for brand differentiation will spur adoption of QR codes, holographic images, Fresnel lenses, and other visual attention-getters for packages, the research organization says.