The folding carton market size is expected to post a CAGR of over 5% during the period 2019-2023, according to the latest market research report by Technavio. 

What's driving growth? The rise in e-commerce, the demand for recycled materials - and 'smart' folding cartons.

 A senior analyst at Technavio, says, “Other factors such as the increase in the need for recyclable and sustainable packaging, growth in the e-commerce sector, and the adoption of eco-friendly materials for manufacturing folding cartons will have a significant impact on the growth of the folding carton market value during the forecast period.” 

'Smart' Folding Cartons & Digital Printing

The development and growing popularity of 'smart' folding cartons -- and digital printing -- will drive the growth of the folding carton market, experts say.

Technavio states, "Digital printing is likely to gain traction in the folding carton market owing to the need for fast turnaround and personalized packaging from various brands."

The company continues, "Several retailers, brands, and their supply chain partners are experiencing a rise in demand for folding cartons with appealing graphics to attract consumers. The availability of various types of digital carton presses is also increasing the use of digital printing technology. Thus, with the rise in demand for digitally printed folding cartons, there will be a simultaneous increase in market growth for folding cartons during the forecast period."

Advances in Printed Electronics Technology

Advances in the printed electronics technology are making the development of smart packaging economical.

Smart folding cartons enable vendors to track the package throughout the delivery process, as they provide customers with product information using QR codes or feature individualized design and messages for customers.

The incorporation of several technologies such as QR codes, NFC, RFID, and embedded barcodes will help in gaining customer trust through improved customer experiences.