Food packaging has become a central element in the competitiveness and sustainability strategy of the agri-food industry. The year 2024 has arrived with a firm push towards the ecological and technological transformation of the sector. Packaging companies have played a key role in this shift, developing solutions that combine efficiency, food safety and environmental responsibility.
Industry growth and the need for new solutions
Current data indicates a steady increase in demand for food packaging, especially in sectors such as fresh, prepared and ready-to-eat products. This growth has been accompanied by a shift in consumer profiles, with increasing demand for healthier, more sustainable, and easier-to-store and transport products.
In this context, companies in the sector have focused their efforts on innovation: development of biodegradable materials, integration of recycling solutions, and design of reusable or compostable packaging. The objective: reduce waste and offer alternatives aligned with European sustainability policies.
Key food packaging trends in 2024
This year, several trends stand out that are reshaping the future of food packaging:
- Active sustainability: Companies are accelerating the shift to lower-impact materials such as recycled plastics, bioplastics and cellulose-based packaging. There is also a strong focus on reducing material thickness to minimise raw material usage.
- Smart automation: The integration of automated systems for error detection, digital labelling and quality control has become standard practice. This increases traceability and food safety.
- Active and smart packaging: Solutions are being developed that allow the packaging to interact with the product or consumer, such as freshness indicators, QR codes with nutritional information, and active preservation systems.
- Digitalisation of processes: Companies are investing in technologies such as real-time monitoring, big data and IoT to manage the supply chain and control production processes.
Sustainability: concrete actions from the sector
Packaging companies have adopted ambitious strategies to meet environmental and climate goals:
- Design for recycling: Eco-design has become a priority. Multilayer materials that are difficult to recycle are being replaced by mono-material packaging that is easier to manage post-consumption.
- Certifications and traceability: Companies seek environmental certifications (such as FSC or ISO 14001) and implement traceability systems to ensure transparency throughout the product lifecycle.
- Circular economy: Many Catalan companies have integrated material recovery processes and created closed-loop systems for industrial reuse of packaging and containers.
- Cross-sector collaboration: Clusters like the Packaging Cluster have fostered partnerships between manufacturers, technology centres and the food sector to accelerate sustainable innovation.
Automation and digitalisation as competitive factors
Another major axis of transformation in the sector is automation. Packaging lines are now faster, more efficient and smarter, with systems that allow for rapid format changes, anomaly detection and overall plant performance improvement.
Digitalisation also enables real-time data collection on production conditions, safety and energy efficiency, facilitating strategic decision-making.
Supporting technologies and cross-cutting applications
At GasN2, we provide specific technological solutions for the food packaging sector, which has benefited from our gas generators and gas mixtures. These technologies enable more demanding and sustainable processes, improving final product quality.
The year 2024 marks the consolidation of trends that will shape the future of food packaging. Sustainability is no longer a distant goal—it is now an operational reality, while technology continues to drive change.
The sector has demonstrated great adaptability and innovation, creating solutions that not only respond to current demands but also anticipate future market needs. Packaging is no longer a passive element but becomes an active tool for quality, safety and efficiency.
