Food and beverage is the dominant market within the packaging industry. Consider the wide array of packages that fill a single grocery store — from corrugated boxes, plastic clamshells, and stand-up pouches to resealable tubs and moisture-resistant boxes. More than just containers, these packaging formats are designed for specific uses — such as promoting aesthetic appeal and brand recognition, or monitoring temperature and prolonging shelf life.

Demand is expected to rise for produce, meat, seafood, and poultry packaging through 2019. In addition, the demand for active and intelligent packaging is forecast to increase, with the growing need for more advanced packaging technologies such as specialized gas scavenging and moisture control. In this post, three research analysts from the Freedonia Group, an international market research company owned by MarketResearch.com, weigh in to highlight key packaging trends and interesting new developments to watch.

As the U.S. economy continues to recover from the effects of the recession, landscaping products such as lighting, pavers, heating elements, and synthetic turf will see increased demand from consumers and professionals. Healthy annual growth of 5.3 percent is forecasted through 2019. In 2014, decorative products were the largest category, with outdoor lighting receiving increased attention.

To find out what's in store for 2016, read on to learn about three major trends that are shaping the $6.3 billion industry for landscaping products in the U.S.

In 2015, the manufacturing and construction industries experienced high growth in profits and innovation. A number of trends gained momentum including the Internet of Things, next-shoring, and an increase in commercial buildings, single-family homes, and manufacturing plant construction.

To sustain and even surpass this year’s growth, companies will need to understand the trends that are expected to impact these industries in 2016. A range of factors such as e-commerce, robotics, security concerns, and green initiatives will influence these industries in the year to come. Read on to learn more.  

In September, construction spending reached its highest level in 7-½ years, according to U.S. News & World Report. On Monday, the Commerce Department reported that construction increased 0.6 percent to $1.09 trillion.

The construction of single-family homes rose 1.3 percent, and the construction of condominiums and apartments grew 4.9 percent.

In fact, the apartment and condominium construction industry has had one of the quickest recoveries within the residential construction industries since 2010, according to IBISWorld.

Corn, Modified & Clean Label Starches

The starch processing industry has transformed into a bioprocessing industry to meet the demands of a multitude of market segments, such as food, industrial, bioplastics and biochemicals-based renewable sources, with highly efficient and sophisticated biochemical and engineering processes that produce a multitude of products from corn, one of the most significant crops in world. 

Householder developments are developments undertaken by homeowners which require planning permission. These include, for example, building extensions, porches, roof extensions and any alterations to homes and gardens that are not covered by permitted development rights. There are a number of situations where planning permission is not needed, (permitted developments) such as smaller extensions, conservatories of a certain size and so on.

For the past few years, talk of 3D printing and all the different things it can do has amazed the scientific community and the rest of the world. But now, 3D printing is impacting the lives of children in need in an entirely new way.

The UK Lighting market was estimated to be worth over £1.7 billion in 2014, with a positive outlook in 2015 for good growth of around 8-9%. Key drivers of this growth include the following:

• Returning confidence in the new housebuilding market
• Growth in consumer confidence for the repair and maintenance sector
• Recovery within the private commercial construction sector
• Growth of the LED lighting sector

As 2015 arrives, so do new trends in the Manufacturing and Construction industries. Both are expected to see new changes to the industry business models as new factors contribute to the growth of the sectors, including new technologies and boosts in the economy.

It is difficult to go more than a few days at the moment without reading something about 3D printing. Everything from body parts to food can now be printed. I even read just this week that it is now possible to print an entire house. 3D printing seems to be the next "big thing" and will revolutionise manufacturing, and, whilst it may not replace mass manufacturing any time soon, for small runs or niche products it will be mainstream before we know it. So, this got me thinking: haven't we been here before?