Deliveries by tube manufacturers organised in the European Tube Manufacturers Association (etma) fell by 1.3% in 2024 to a total volume of around 11.5 billion units. The most important end consumer markets developed differently.
While deliveries to the dental care, food and household sectors increased by around nine per cent, three per cent and ten per cent respectively, demand fell from the pharmaceutical and cosmetics markets, which dominate in terms of volume, by around two per cent and eight per cent respectively.
„Consumer uncertainty due to ongoing inflation and the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip led to a negative mood and increased savings behaviour among consumers in 2024. This also had a noticeable impact on demand for cosmetics, which is the most important end consumer market for the tube industry. In addition, there was a certain shift in demand towards the private label sector due to the shrinking purchasing power of consumers.“
Zoran Joksic, etma President
Trend towards less complex packaging structures
The provisions of the recently published EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) are clearly aimed at increasing the recyclability of packaging and improving design for recycling. In particular, the ambitious performance levels for recyclability will most likely lead to a Trend towards less complex, mono-material packaging structures lead. The packaging industry must rise to this challenge and offer innovative packaging solutions in order to realise the best possible recyclability. The PPWR also Ambitious requirements for the minimum content of recycled material in plastic packaging.
„This will be a major challenge for the plastic packaging industry. Competition for high-quality post-consumer recycled material will become even tougher. In this context, further investment in the infrastructure for material and chemical recycling of plastic packaging and greater efforts by EFSA to authorise recycling processes for polyolefins for food contact materials are of utmost importance.“ Gregor Spengler, etma Secretary General
Moderate outlook for the first half of 2025
Due to the persistently difficult political and economic conditions, the European tube industry is expecting with demand remaining stable at best in the first half of 2025.. „One positive aspect is that the availability of labour has improved slightly in those countries where other relevant industries are suffering and laying off workers. The Packaging industry, which has proven to be very resilient to cyclical changes in the economy, has become a kind of „safe harbour“ for employees. This is good news, because in the medium term, one of the most important strategic challenges for tube manufacturers will be to ensure that the expertise of the boomer generation, which is gradually leaving the company, is transferred to the next generation,“ summarises Zoran Joksic.
Source: Etma
