| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
| Market Size (2025) | USD 1.18 Trillion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 1.44 Trillion |
| CAGR (2025 - 2030) | 3.92% |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia Pacific |
| Largest Market | Asia Pacific |
| Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Packaging Market Analysis
The Packaging Market size is estimated at USD 1.18 trillion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 1.44 trillion by 2030, at a CAGR of 3.92% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
The packaging market is set to undergo a significant transformation spurred by factors such as sustainability, technological innovations, evolving consumer preferences, and shifting market dynamics. There is a rising preference for materials that are biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable. In response, companies are increasingly adopting sustainable practices in their packaging to align with consumer expectations and regulatory mandates.
- The packaging industry is evolving toward sustainable solutions, driven by consumer preferences, government regulations, and environmental commitments from companies. Companies are adopting mono-material packaging and plant-based films to meet environmental regulations and reduce their carbon footprint.
- According to the India Brand Equity Foundation, in February 2025, the paper packaging industry operates through a well-established network of over 900 paper units with an installed capacity of 4.99 million tons. India's paper manufacturing base includes 861 paper mills, of which 526 are currently operational.
- Major e-commerce companies in China are implementing measures to minimize packaging waste and increase cardboard box reuse. Cainiao (Alibaba Group's logistics arm), JD.com, and SF Express have established programs to reduce plastic usage and adopt recyclable packaging materials. Logistics companies are transitioning to recycled and biodegradable paper-based packaging to meet consumer and regulatory requirements. Cainiao announced in 2024 that it sources over 70% of its shipping boxes from recycled paper, reducing landfill waste by millions of tons annually.
- Various drivers shape the growth, demand, and sustainability of the paper and glass packaging markets. Heightened awareness of environmental issues has led consumers to favor sustainable packaging. Paper and glass, recognized for their recyclability, are increasingly chosen over plastic. Global government regulations are curbing plastic use and championing recyclable materials, amplifying the demand for paper and glass packaging. End-user industries, such as the food and beverage sector, are major consumers of paper and glass packaging. While glass is the go-to for beverages like juices and alcohol, paper dominates in food wrapping and takeaway containers.
- The market faces challenges from evolving regulatory standards due to environmental concerns. Governments worldwide are implementing regulations to minimize environmental waste and improve waste management processes in response to public concerns about plastic packaging waste.
Packaging Market Trends
Paper and Paperboard Packaging Witness Major Growth
- In the paper packaging realm, sustainability remains a key focus area. Companies are increasingly transitioning from plastics to environmentally friendly materials, such as paper and cardboard, which offer biodegradability and recyclability. If you are exploring innovative solutions, molded fiber packaging is worth considering, as it is gaining traction for applications in electronics, food, and beauty products due to its recyclability and composability.
- Folding cartons serve as essential packaging solutions across food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and luxury goods industries, combining product protection with brand visibility. These cartons, constructed from durable and lightweight materials, ensure product safety throughout the storage, shipping, and handling processes. The printable surfaces accommodate high-quality, full-color graphics for logos, product information, and visual elements that improve shelf presence.
- The increasing demand for sustainable packaging has led to a rise in trade shows and events focused on innovations in the folding carton industry. The upcoming folding carton show in India in May 2025 highlights advancements in packaging production processes such as printing, cutting, folding, creasing, and gluing. Exhibitions also feature sustainable materials, including folding carton equipment, inks, adhesives, and rigid box-making machinery, helping manufacturers align with regulatory requirements across various industries.
- The paper and paperboard packaging in North America shows steady growth, driven by e-commerce expansion, consumer demand for sustainable packaging solutions, and regulations limiting plastic usage. Paper and paperboard materials offer cost-effective and versatile packaging options across the food and beverage, retail, and personal care industries. The market benefits from ongoing developments in packaging design, technology improvements, and enhanced recycling capabilities.
- For instance, food and beverage retail sales in the United States reached USD 1,000.6 billion in 2024 from USD 985.3 billion as per the United States Census Bureau. This creates opportunities for paper and paperboard packaging companies, with the expansion of consumer preference for recyclable and biodegradable materials driving demand for sustainable packaging solutions. Packaging manufacturers can capitalize on this trend by providing corrugated boxes, folding cartons, and custom-designed packaging that serves both retail and online food sales channels.
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Asia Pacific to Register Major Growth
- The demand for paper and paperboard packaging in the Asia Pacific region is increasing due to the rapid growth of e-commerce. As online shopping expands, businesses require paper and paperboard solutions to deliver products securely to consumers. Corrugated packaging provides the strength, durability, and cost-effectiveness needed to protect products during transit. The rise in home deliveries and large-sized shipments has made corrugated boxes an efficient packaging solution.
- For instance, India's e-commerce industry is projected to grow from USD 102 billion in 2023 to USD 300 billion by 2030, as per the India Brand Equity Foundation.
- Similarly, according to the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM), Vietnam's e-commerce market is projected to reach USD 31 billion in 2024, with online retail sales accounting for more than USD 20 billion. VECOM forecasts the e-commerce market to expand to nearly USD 40 billion in 2025 and approximately USD 100 billion in 2030.
- The expansion of e-commerce has established paper and paperboard packaging as a significant growth driver in the Asia Pacific packaging industry, as it provides efficient, secure, and environmentally sustainable delivery solutions.
- Companies are expanding their regional production facilities and manufacturing capabilities to meet the growing consumer demand. This expansion includes setting up new production lines, upgrading existing facilities, and implementing advanced manufacturing technologies to increase output volumes.
- For instance, in March 2025, Oji India Packaging Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Japan's Oji Group, inaugurated its fifth manufacturing facility in India at Sri City, Andhra Pradesh. This new 43,000-square-meter facility specializes in corrugated boxes and packaging accessories, providing sustainable and high-quality packaging solutions to the South Indian market.
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Packaging Industry Overview
The packaging market experiences rivalry due to the presence of both global and regional players, steady market growth, a focus on product differentiation, and ongoing industry consolidation.
Global corporations leverage their scale, broad portfolios, and innovation to compete, while regional players emphasize niche markets and customer relationships, creating a dynamic competitive environment.
Traditionally seen as a mature market, the sector is now shifting toward innovation and differentiation. Companies invest in R&D to develop new designs, improve functionality (e.g., easy-open ends, resealable features), achieve lightweighting for sustainability, and enhance packaging aesthetics. This focus on differentiation heightens rivalry as firms aim to offer unique value propositions.
The market is highly fragmented, with a mix of large multinational corporations and numerous small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating across various regions. These companies compete intensely based on factors such as price, product quality, innovation, sustainability, and customer service.
Packaging Market Leaders
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International Paper Company
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Mondi plc
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Smurfit Westock plc
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Oji Holdings Corporation
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UFlex Limited
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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Packaging Market News
- March 2025: LyondellBasell, a global leader in the chemical industry, announced the launch of Pro-fax EP649U, an advanced polypropylene impact copolymer developed for the rigid packaging market. Designed specifically for thin-walled injection molding, this product aims to enhance efficiency in food packaging applications.
- February 2025: Berry Global Group, Inc. teamed up with Mars, a leader in snacks and treats, to transition its pantry jars for M&M’S, SKITTLES, and STARBURST brands to 100% recycled plastic packaging, excluding the jar lids. This milestone furthers the collaboration between Berry and Mars, which aims to develop packaging with recycled content. The pantry jars, available in 60-, 81-, and 87-ounce sizes, are widely recyclable.
Packaging Industry Segmentation
Packaging refers to wrapping or bottling products to protect them from damage during transportation and storage. It keeps a product safe and marketable and helps to identify, describe, and promote it.
The packaging market is segmented by packaging type (plastic packaging (rigid plastic packaging (material type (polyethylene (PE - high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE)), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (pet), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS) and expanded polystyrene (eps) , other material types ), product type (bottles and jars (containers), caps and closures, bulk-grade products - IBC, crates, pallets, drums, other product types), end-user industry (food, beverage, industrial and construction, automotive, cosmetics and personal care, other end-user industries), flexible plastic packaging ((material type (polyethylene (PE)), biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), cast polypropylene (CPP), other material types), product type (pouches, bags, films and wraps), end user industry (food, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and personal care, other end-user industries), region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East And Africa, Latin America), paper and paperboard (product type (folding carton and rigid boxes, corrugated boxes and containers, single-use paper products (bags and pouches, cups, and trays among others), end-user industry (food, beverage, industrial and electronics, cosmetics and personal care, healthcare, other end-user industries), region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East And Africa, Latin America), metal packaging (product type (cans (food, beverage, aerosols, and others), caps and closures, other product types )), region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East And Africa, Latin America), container glass (end-user industry (food, beverage (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), personal care and cosmetics, pharmaceuticals)), region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East And Africa, Latin America). The market sizes and forecasts are provided in terms of value in USD for all the above segments.
| By Packaging Type | Plastic Packaging | Rigid Plastic Packaging | By Material Type - (Polyethylene Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE - High-density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE)) Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Polystyrene (PS) and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Other Material Types | |
| By Product Type - (Bottles and Jars (Containers), Caps and Closures, Bulk-Grade Products - IBC, Crates & Pallets, Others Products Types) | ||||
| By End-User Industry - (Food, Beverage, Industrial and Construction, Automotive, Cosmetics and Personal Care, Other End-user Industries) | ||||
| Flexible Plastic Packaging | By Material Type - (Polyethylene (PE), Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) Cast Polypropylene (CPP) Other Material Types) | |||
| By Product Type - (Pouches, Bags, Films and Wraps) | ||||
| By End User Industry - (Food, Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics and Personal Care, Other End-user Industries) | ||||
| By Region - (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Latin America) | ||||
| Paper and Paperboard | By Product Type - (Folding Carton and Rigid Boxes Corrugated Boxes and Containers Single-use Paper Products (Bags and Pouches, Cups, and Trays among others)) | |||
| By End-user (Food, Beverage, Industrial & Electronic, Cosmetics & Personal Care, Healthcare, Others end user industry) | ||||
| By Region - (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Latin America) | ||||
| Metal Packaging | By Product Type - (Cans (Food, Beverage, Aerosols, Others), Caps and Closures, Other Product Types) | |||
| By Region - (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Latin America) | ||||
| Container Glass | By End-user - (Food, Beverage (Alcoholic, Non-Alcoholic), Personal Care and Cosmetics, Pharmaceuticals) | |||
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Packaging Market Research FAQs
How big is the Packaging Market?
The Packaging Market size is expected to reach USD 1.18 trillion in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 3.92% to reach USD 1.44 trillion by 2030.
What is the current Packaging Market size?
In 2025, the Packaging Market size is expected to reach USD 1.18 trillion.
Who are the key players in Packaging Market?
International Paper Company, Mondi plc, Smurfit Westock plc, Oji Holdings Corporation and UFlex Limited are the major companies operating in the Packaging Market.
Which is the fastest growing region in Packaging Market?
Asia Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2025-2030).
Which region has the biggest share in Packaging Market?
In 2025, the Asia Pacific accounts for the largest market share in Packaging Market.
What years does this Packaging Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the Packaging Market size was estimated at USD 1.13 trillion. The report covers the Packaging Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Packaging Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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Packaging Industry Report
The packaging market is witnessing significant growth, fueled by the surge in demand for sustainable and recyclable materials, with the paper and paperboard segment leading due to its eco-friendliness. The expansion of the organized retail sector further boosts the market, necessitating efficient, aesthetically pleasing packaging solutions. Trends towards flexible and rigid packaging cater to diverse industry needs, with advanced printing technologies like flexography enhancing innovation. Regionally, Europe, the US, and Africa show robust growth, each presenting unique opportunities. Europe excels in diversity and sustainability, the US focuses on convenience for busy lifestyles, and Africa's consumer market drives demand for various packaging solutions. The industry's evolution is driven by sustainability, innovation, and consumer preferences, indicating a future shaped by the pursuit of environmentally friendly, efficient packaging aligned with modern lifestyles. For detailed market insights, Mordor Intelligence™ offers comprehensive analysis and forecasts, available for download as a free report PDF.
