The international market research and consultancy firm has analysed the directive. "Most EU member states have regulations in place to reduce plastic bag consumption," reads the summary of the market research report, "paper shopping bags are often exempt from these regulations; their manufacturers may be able to be beneficiaries of the EU directive."

  According to Ceresana, bags made from PE film, other plastic films, woven plastics and paper will approach 8.77 million tonnes in the European region by 2024. Polyethylene (PE) is by far the single most used material, and implementation of the EU directive on reducing the use of lightweight plastic shopping bags varies among member states. "At the moment, the EU is again urging Greece, Italy, Poland and Cyprus to implement stricter directives," Ceresana said, "and the position and urgency is different from country to country to begin with."

  A growing number of EU countries are actively banning certain types of shopping bags, or with the help of special taxes and fees, to adjust demand. Lightweight plastic shopping bags made from PE are the main target, while shopping bags made from bioplastics are often exempt from such bans and taxes. Such plastic bags are usually made from renewable resources, such as corn or starch, or at least biodegradable raw materials.

In the EU, consumer acceptance of bioplastics is increasing. This spring, the European Commission again commented positively on the use of bioplastics in the shopping bag packaging sector. "Despite the rapid development of the market in the last few years, bioplastics are still not the ultimate and most ecological solution for a long time," says Ceresana, "for example, composting of bioplastics still does not work perfectly in commonly used facilities. "

  Ceresana points out that heavy-duty and industrial packaging has gained in importance over the last few years. Certain segments of this market are starting to replace traditional paper bags with plastic bags. In animal feeding or building materials, paper bags still play an important role, but, given the various performance aspects, bags made of PE have the potential to gain more market share in the future.

  However, Ceresana comments that heavy-duty conventional plastic bags made from plastic film face competitive pressure from flexible bags for bulk material handling. Flexible container bags are made from a stable plastic, usually PP, which can hold up to 2,500 litres. "They are often used as packaging for the transport of construction materials, fertilisers, grain or other bulk commodities," says Ceresana. "The development of the market for heavy-duty bags depends to a large extent on the economic situation in a country and the development of the construction industry. "

  Another market segment Ceresana analyses is stand-up pouch packaging, a form of packaging that is becoming very popular in the retail sector. "Mainly as an alternative to metal and glass cans, but sometimes also to rigid plastic packaging," the study notes, "one advantage of flexible plastic bags is their ability to adapt to the size of the packaged item, helping to optimise the size of the package. In addition, this packaging can be made microwaveable."

  As technology improves, better printing is possible on this type of packaging, which is also contributing to the market demand for stand-up pouches. In addition, form-take-seal machinery enables all processes to be carried out in one step, increasing throughput and also improving product quality.

  The study also notes that the world's largest bag makers include Amcor, Bimax Europe, British Polyethylene Industries, Sealed Air USA, Pulle Group and Kappa Group.