Henkel Adhesive Technologies says it sees great opportunities in Asia-Pacific’s packaging market. With a spotlight on food safety, the global flexible packaging market is expected to significantly grow, fueled especially by soaring demand in the region. Echoing with this gratifying development, Henkel take series of initiatives, including recently held innovation & Food Safety in flexible packaging seminar in Thailand, and flexible laminates technical forum in Indonesia, to present its technological advancements and innovative breakthroughs which will support local industry.

The global market for consumer flexible packaging is estimated to be worth $91.7 billion in 2015[1], and is forecast to grow at an annual average rate of 4.4% during the period 2015–2020, reaching $114 billion by 2020[2]. Amongst all regions, Asia Pacific accounts for the highest demand, with a continuous growth,  supported by the development of various industries, such as food & beverages, personal care and pharmaceuticals, and increasing acceptance of ‘supermarket culture’. The rise of a middle class that possess a stronger desire for safe food containers, quality products with growing focus on convenience and sustainability, also has a positive impact on the development. Among all these industries and growing needs, food is projected to account for almost three-quarters of global consumer flexible packaging consumption in 2015.

Henkel Adhesive Technologies offers high-performance adhesive solutions for food packaging to help improving food safety and quality by meeting the needs and demands of the flexible packaging technology. When it comes to the protection of sensitive contents, particularly those intended for human consumption, against quality loss, deterioration or migrating substances, adhesives carry a special importance, with its reliability and safety, to all the issues relating to food contact.

Henkel’s adhesives used in the food packaging has absolutely no adverse effect on the contents, while matching the materials being joined. The resultant composite produces necessary barrier effect to prevent migration of substances from both the outside to the inside, and from the inside to the outside. The specific prop­erties of Henkel adhesives ensure the stability of conve­nient packaging and shield the contents from a multitude of unwanted influ­ences, which are not only capable of dealing with mechanical stress along logistics chain, but also environmental factors such as light, heat and cold; whether the package is cooked in microwave ovens or placed in freezer storage.

Henkel currently supplies 130,000 customers worldwide with several thousands of products, tailored over 40 technologies to accurately help food producers comply with a large number of national and international regulations. Partnering with these customers, we also reach for higher standards of future needs by continuingly expanding our capability in next-generation technologies such as Nano Barrier Coating. Being part of a comprehensive development strategy, “Food Safe Packaging” knowledge transfer platform is also updated regularly, along with regional seminars and forums. We believe these efforts, in which experts from Henkel, local offices and food producers address questions and issues of concern to key stakeholders, benefit both industry and consumers.