Market Dynamics
Drivers
Growing demand for environmentally-friendly and sustainable products Conventional paper for writing, printing books, notebooks, packages, etc., is made from wood pulp. Wood pulp and paper production is no longer sustainable due to the large number of trees that are being felled for raw materials. The rate at which trees are consumed is much faster than their growth. To supply the paper industry, large areas of forest have been cleared. Uncontrolled deforestation reduced the carbon sink for the entire world. This has led to the current climate crisis. There is now a renewed focus on producing and consuming environmentally friendly, affordable, high-quality products such as stone paper. Stone paper helps reduce the dependence on trees and contributes to sustainable development. These are high-quality papers with features like water resistance, recycling, and high pull strength. Printing, packaging, and writing are all possible with these products. Even books and notebooks, as well as cardboard, are made from them. In the FMCG, packaging, logistics, and food and beverage sectors, they are used. The growing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable products will drive growth in the global stone paper market.
Restraints
Stone papers are expensive in comparison to conventional paper. The concept of stone paper and its commercialization is still in the early stages. Multiple stages are involved in the processes, from acquiring raw materials to providing after-market services. Complex systems and procedures are also used. The production of these products is difficult, in contrast to the well-established and tried-and-tested wood pulp paper industry. Stone papers are expensive, which makes them inaccessible to the vast majority of people around the world. The enormous availability of conventional papers and their extensive network of retailers and distributors offer a cheaper option to the average consumer. The high retail prices of stone paper will alienate a large majority of people and limit the growth of this market.
Opportunities
Growing demand for packaged goods –In developing countries, the rise in urbanization has led to a greater demand for packaged foods and beverages. The e-commerce boom, as well as the increasing internet usage, has also increased the demand for packaging material, which ultimately led to the expansion of the packaging industry. As retail chains that offer pre-packaged products become more common in developing countries, the market for stone paper is expected to grow. The market for stone papers will grow as the need to adopt sustainable models of development increases due to the increasing threat of climate change. Stone paper production does not require wood pulp. The use of wood pulp in traditional papers led to the unsustainable cutting down of trees, which ultimately harmed the environment. Stone paper is an environmentally friendly and sustainable practice due to the huge global demand for packaging. Accordingly, the expanding food and beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care and packaging sectors in developing countries are expected to offer exciting prospects for the market.
Challenges
Technological limitations in producing stone papers –The characteristics and qualities of a conventional paper can’t be replicated by a stone paper due to the restrictions. Stone paper, for example, does not print well on home printers. Stone paper is degraded by prolonged exposure to sunlight or UV, which makes it less reliable and durable. Temporary technologies cannot bring production to the same level as conventional paper. The global stone paper industry has been negatively affected by the shift to automation and digitization. The technological limitations will, therefore, limit the growth of the global stone-paper market.
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