The packaging industry continues to be a hotbed of innovation, with activity driven by healthy living, digitisation, convenience and growing importance of technologies such as active packaging, connected packaging and near field communication (NFC). In the last three years alone, there have been over 310,000 patents filed and granted in the packaging industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in Packaging: Magnetic Lids.

However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilising and reaching maturity. 

Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have. 

80+ innovations will shape the packaging industry 

According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the packaging industry using innovation intensity models built on over 87,000 patents, there are 80+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry. 

Within the emerging innovation stage, web dispensers for rotary baggage wrappers, multilayer laminated packaging, and oxygen blocking laminate packaging are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Water-soluble packaging films, cartridge type beverage dispensers, and medical syringe packaging are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are detachable drawer-and-shell type containers and barrier coated containers, which are now well established in the industry. 

Innovation S-curve for the packaging industry

Magnetic lid is a key innovation area in packaging 

Magnetic lids have emerged as a key innovation in the packaging industry. They provide the advantage of keeping the food item free from contamination by lifting canning lids from hot water without using human contact. 

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 190+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established packaging companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of magnetic lids. 

Key players in magnetic lids – a disruptive innovation in the packaging industry  

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of different applications identified for each relevant patent and broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators. 

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of different countries each relevant patent is registered in and reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’. 

Patent volumes related to magnetic lids

AptarGroup is one of the leading patent filers in magnetic lids. Some other key patent filers in the magnetic lids include Berry Global Group, Crown, Silgan, and Sonoco Products. 

Unilever developed an all-inclusive deodorant for people with visual impairments and upper limb motor disabilities under its brand “Degree”. The new packaging involves the use of magnetic closure for easily taking the cap off and putting it back on. 

Stanpac leads the pack in terms of application diversity, followed by Toyo Seikan Group and Berry Global Group in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Philip Morris International held the top position, followed by Stanpac and Kimberly-Clark. 

Magnetic lids will form a good-to-have innovation in the packaging industry as they provide convenience to customers in terms of storage along with stability and quality. 

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the packaging industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Packaging.

GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.