The Niche Payoff

The Freedonia report states that demand for folding paperboard boxes will rise 1.8 percent per year through 2014 to $9.4 billion, slower than the corrugated box pace, but competition is stiff between folding cartons and alternative packaging in many markets. Source reduction efforts, many of which involve eliminating or downsizing cartons, also restrain demand, states the report. However, advances in printing and graphics capabilities, as well as a more favorable environmental profile than plastic packaging, will support some gains for folding cartons.