Edible Films and Coating Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Material Type (Protein, Polysaccharides, Lipids, Composites), By Application (Fruits and Vegetables, Bakery and Confectionery, Dairy Products, Meat, Poultry, and Seafood, Nutritional Products) and By Region(North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, LATAM) Forecasts, 2022-2030

Edible Films and Coating Market Size

The edible films and coating market size was valued at USD 2.87 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 5.38 billion in 2030 expanding at a CAGR of 7.23% from 2022 to 2030. 

Thin layers of edible materials are sometimes added to food items in the form of films and coatings. These layers play a key part in the meal's ability to be preserved and distributed. Protecting the product against microbial and chemical activity is one of their many responsibilities. The edible coating is a technique that is favourable to the environment that is applied to numerous items in order to manage the processes of oxidation, gas exchange, or the transfer of moisture. When employing edible films and coatings, one of the most significant benefits is that a number of active chemicals may be included into the polymer matrix and taken together with food, which can improve the quality of the meal in terms of both its nutritional value and its overall flavour.

The producers of food products have stepped up their efforts to lengthen the shelf life of their products and to improve the technology that is currently used for packaging, which will, in turn, ensure the safety of food from microbes and the preservation of food from the influence of external factors. As a result, new product developments brought forward by manufacturers are anticipated to make a contribution to the expansion of the edible films and coating market share.

Edible Films and Coating Market Growth Factors

Demand for Edible Packaging is Growing as a Result of Natural Resources

Traditional artificial food packaging materials have a variety of problems, including the fact that they might contaminate the environment and that their production requires the use of resources that are not renewable. The number of people looking for alternate packaging materials and package forms has increased significantly in recent years. Sustainability, the environment, ethics, food safety, food quality, and product costs are all becoming increasingly relevant aspects for modern-day consumers to take into consideration when making purchases of food products, and a number of these issues are regulated by laws governing food packaging All these factors have contributed to the expanding need for edible coatings in the business that deals with food packaging. Since these edible films are manufactured from natural and organic materials, such as wheat gluten, whey protein, maize zein, waxes, cellulose derivatives, and pectins, these edible films are made from fruits, nuts, grains, and vegetables.

Regular plastics are used in the production of oxo-biodegradable plastics, which are then coupled with additives to speed up the biodegradation process. Oxidation, on the other hand, causes the material or product to break down into smaller pieces that are then released into the environment. This is the primary effect that oxidation has. As a consequence of this, a number of businesses are developing edible wrappings in order to lengthen the time that fruits and vegetables may be kept in storage, hence lowering food waste and increasing shelf life. Apeel Sciences, a start-up company based in the United States, developed a product called Apeel, which is an edible existence coating for fruits. Apeel is made from the skins, peels, and seeds of plants, all of which are dietary components.

Edible Films and Coating Market Restraining Factors

The limits of edible coatings

Despite the clear advantages of edible coatings, various barriers make their widespread application impractical. Due to their potent, unique flavour and aroma, the use of propolis-based edible coatings in the food industry is prohibited. Candelilla wax laden with F. cernua active components demonstrated worse sensory acceptability compared to untreated tomato. According to Tahir et al., a high gum edible coating concentration may impair the sensory impressions of coated items. Similar to this, Sucheta et al. discovered that tomatoes coated with composite edible films made of commercial pectin, maize flour, and beetroot powder gradually lost its colour angle in comparison to tomatoes that weren't coated.

Regional Insights

North America: Dominant region

In 2021, North America held the greatest market share, almost 35 percent of total worldwide revenue, and it is anticipated that the region would have a sizeable pace of growth between the years 2022 and 2028. The expansion of the segment's market will be driven by an increase in customers' willingness to pay for products, as well as an increased knowledge of environmentally friendly products, the presence of global companies, and the ease of availability of edible films and coating materials.

Asia-Pacific: Fastest growing region

It is anticipated that Asia Pacific will become the second-largest contributor and the fastest-growing edible films and coating market between the years 2022 and 2028, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.2 percent. The markets for edible films and coatings in this area are mostly driven by companies based in China and Japan. The expansion of the market will be driven by the existence of global companies, the ease with which items can be obtained, and increased worries regarding the environment.

Segmental Analysis

By Material Type

In 2021, polysaccharides material accounted for the lion's share of the market, which was almost 40 percent of total sales. To produce edible films and coatings, common ingredients including starch, cellulose, carrageenan, carboxymethylcellulose, and gums are utilised. Films and coatings made from polysaccharides have moisture barrier qualities that are subpar, although they are somewhat less permeable to oxygen and carbon dioxide. Polysaccharides are well suited for use in fruits and vegetables due to their ability to alter the interior environment of a food product, which in turn results in an increased shelf life for the product.

It is anticipated that the protein category would see the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between the years 2022 and 2028, making it the segment with the most potential for expansion. The market for products based on proteins is garnering an increased attention not only from manufacturing businesses but also from scientists. In edible films and coatings, proteins derived from animals, such as gelatin, and proteins derived from plants, such as soybean protein, wheat gluten, sunflower protein, and others, are utilised.

By Application

Fruits and vegetables had the highest revenue share in the global edible films and coating industry in 2021, which was over 35 percent of the total revenue. Additionally, it is anticipated that this category will be the segment with the highest compound annual growth rate from 2022 to 2028, which will be 8.1 percent. Because they aid to maintain textural qualities, mass transfer in vegetables and fruits, minimise oxidative reactions on fruits and vegetables, and increase glossiness and shine on fruits and vegetables, edible coatings are utilised extensively for these foods.

From the years 2022 to 2028, the edible films and coating market share is anticipated to rise at a rate that is considered to be healthy. The meat, poultry, and seafood sector is the second biggest segment in this market. Products made from meat, poultry, and fish often contain ingredients such starch, carrageenan, chitosan, and gelatin. Consumers prefer to purchase items that are packaged in edible films rather than those that are packaged in synthetic plastic, and the demand for these products is expanding among people who do not follow a vegetarian diet.

Impact of covid-19

When the world witnessed the noble Coronavirus breakout, it disrupted all nations' economies. The government imposed lockdowns to slow the disease's rapid spread. Productions were stopped, all workplaces were closed, public interactions were limited, and temporary manufacturing and trading operations suspensions were implemented globally. Implementing the lockdown and public exchange caused interruption causing a cutting down of the market's operations. The social distancing norms of the government also disrupted the supply chain. Because of lockdowns imposed by the government, businesses and employees could not use the equipment. This forced the farmers to lean towards the help provided by autonomous tractors pushing the autonomous tractor market growth further.

The South Korean nation faced many problems due to the social distancing and public interaction restrictions imposed by the government, which resulted in a workforce shortage. Travel restrictions imposed also restricted the movement of emigrant laborers into the nation. So the country had to ultimately shift towards using autonomous machines to continue their production and operations, to generate income during tough times. But still, during the era of covid, the market had to face a few bumps, such as the level of participation by the companies in the market declined, suppliers and distributors also slowed down their operations, and this negatively affected the farm machinery industry supply chain, resulting in a delay of deliveries of agricultural machinery.

• BASF introduced Joncryl HPB in 2021. (High-Performance Barrier). The company claims that this particular solution is a water-based liquid barrier coating that is crucial to both modern packaging trends and resource preservation. The goal of this new launch was to increase the company's revenue.