Faced with overlapping pressures including supply chain uncertainties, stricter environmental regulations and upgraded demands from clients, how can leading packaging enterprises tackle these challenges, break free from homogeneous competition and deliver greater value to partners?
The 2026 Flexible Packaging Technology Annual Conference hosted by Guangdong Packaging Association Information Committee was held from July 21 to 23. Li Jun, General Manager of the Film Division at HySum, delivered a speech titled Highlighting Packaging Value via Material Innovation Amid New Industry Landscape. Focusing on three major challenges confronting the packaging sector, he elaborated on four innovation directions: functionalization, localization, sustainability and lightweight design.
The packaging industry is currently confronted with three core pressures:
- Supply chain risks stemming from reliance on imported high-end packaging materials
- Tightening environmental policies across global markets
- Comprehensive upgrading of customized requirements from brand owners
Packaging has long transcended its basic functions of product protection and logistics transportation. It has evolved into an integrated value carrier that integrates freshness preservation, product safety, user convenience, brand image presentation and end-to-end supply chain collaboration.
In response to shifting industry trends, HySum has put forward four material-oriented solutions to overcome industrial bottlenecks:
Functionalization: Boost the added value of packaging
Focusing on high-barrier performance, wide temperature resistance, antibacterial properties and intelligent traceability technology, we upgrade packaging from passive protection to active safety management for packaged products.
Localization: Strengthen overall supply chain resilience
We advance the domestic substitution of core raw materials such as EVOH, elevating self-sufficiency and independent controllability of key packaging materials.
Sustainability: Develop eco-friendly packaging systems
We devote efforts to biodegradable materials, PCR recycled resins and mono-material packaging solutions including all-PET, all-PP and all-PE structures to fulfill global sustainable development goals.
Lightweight Design: Reduce material consumption without compromising performance
Via structural optimization, material upgrading and auxiliary material simplification, we cut down material usage while fully retaining original packaging performance.
Most prevalent industrial pain points originate from material limitations. Moving forward, relying on our integrated capabilities covering film extrusion, precision coating and aluminum vacuum deposition, HySum will further deepen R&D into high-performance functional films and sustainable packaging systems, delivering robust material support for the high-quality advancement of the flexible packaging industry worldwide.