In today’s food industry, manufacturers face many challenges: keeping products fresh longer, protecting them during transport, meeting consumer expectations, and handling regulatory and sustainability demands. One packaging solution playing an important role is multilayer film packaging (for example, multilayer LDPE films) that combines different layers of plastic to meet performance needs.
In this blog we’ll explore what food manufacturers are looking for in multilayer films, review current trends, share real data, and offer insights into how you—as a manufacturer of flexible packaging and surface-protection films—can position your products and services to meet these needs.
What Food Manufacturers Want from Multilayer Films?
Food manufacturers are looking for packaging films that deliver several key features:
- Strong barrier properties: To keep out oxygen, moisture, and unwanted flavors/odors, helping foods (like dairy, bakery, and snacks) stay fresh.
- Flexibility and processing ease: Films must perform well on filling and sealing machines and be consistent and reliable.
- Cost-efficient logistics: Lightweight films reduce shipping/handling costs; films that allow optimum film thickness without sacrificing protection.
- Sustainability & regulatory compliance: Increasingly, manufacturers want packaging that supports recyclability, uses fewer resources, and complies with local and international regulations.
- Brand appearance and convenience: Manufacturers want films that support printing/branding, attractive packaging, and convenience features (resealable closures, easy-open, and clear windows).
- Shelf-life extension & waste reduction: Films that help prolong shelf life reduce waste for manufacturers and retailers, which is a strong selling point.
Current Market & Trend Data
Here are some recent data points and trends that reflect what the market is doing and what the food manufacturers face:
- The global food-packaging films market was valued at about USD 65.78 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 106.13 billion by 2032.
- The multilayer flexible packaging market is forecast to grow from around USD 45.2 billion in 2025 to USD 72.9 billion by 2035 (CAGR ~4.9%).
- The food-end-use segment accounts for roughly 35% of the multilayer flexible packaging market in 2025.
- Another source estimates the multilayer flexible packaging market size at USD 167.1 billion in 2024 and projects it to be ~USD 269.6 billion by 2034 (CAGR ~4.9%).
- Research on biopolymer-based multilayer films shows increasing interest in films combining layers for active packaging (e.g., films with antimicrobial or oxygen-scavenging layers) in the food sector.
- The food-packaging films market (all films) is projected to grow from USD 44.01 billion in 2025 to USD 55.41 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~4.71%).
What this means for food manufacturers:
- They are going to see more availability of high-barrier, high-performance films.
- They will feel more pressure for sustainability, recyclability, and lighter-weight materials.
- The shift to convenience foods, e-commerce, and fast delivery is increasing demand for films that protect during shipping and display well on shelves.
- New technologies (like active/biopolymer layers and smart packaging) are becoming more realistic rather than purely experimental.
Conclusion
For food manufacturers, choosing the right multilayer film is more than just picking a supplier. It’s a strategic choice that affects shelf life, brand experience, cost, sustainability, and supply-chain resilience. By aligning film performance with these priorities, you gain a competitive edge in an evolving market. At Girdhar Roll Wrap, we stand ready to partner with you—drawing on our manufacturing strength, technological capability, and nationwide presence—to meet your multilayer film packaging needs.
Reference
- Future Market Insights (2025): Multilayer Flexible Packaging Market Outlook 2025–2035.
- Fortune Business Insights (2024): Global Food Packaging Films Market Report.
- MDPI Journal (2024): Research on Biopolymer-Based Multilayer Films for Food Packaging.