Protective Packaging Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The Protective Packaging Market is segmented by Material Type (Plastic, Paper and Paperboard), Product (Rigid, Flexible, and Foam), End-user Vertical (Food and Beverage, Industrial, Pharmaceutical, Consumer Electronics, Beauty and Home Care), and Geography.

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Protective Packaging Market Size

Global Protective Packaging Market Industry Summary
Study Period 2019 - 2029
Base Year For Estimation 2023
CAGR 5.40 %
Fastest Growing Market Asia Pacific
Largest Market Asia Pacific
Market Concentration Low

Major Players

Global Protective Packaging Market Industry Major Players

*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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Protective Packaging Market Analysis

The protective packaging market was valued at USD 30.56 million in 2020, and it is expected to reach a value of USD 41.65 million by 2026 at a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period of 2021 to 2026. Logistics and material handling technology, with its development and innovation, has played a significant role in the evolution and adoption of new generation packaging products. These protective packaging products have evolved to be smart, and the reduction in the price of sensors, networks, and communicating devices has augmented the market.

  • The increasing trend of online purchasing by consumers drives the changes in product design, packaging, picking, fulfillment, and shipping. As a result, product protection is considered one of the most critical issues. The exponential growth of e-commerce, combined with the technological advancements in packaging material options, is primarily changing the way most companies choose the right solution. The main points considered are the performance, cost considerations driven by material improvements, packaging needs, delivery systems that create on-demand packaging, and sustainability
  • Several businesses have attempted to streamline and optimize their packaging solutions in the past few years, which resulted in the evolution of protective packaging. The old traditional methods are still considered to be effective and commonly used. However, the recent advancements in materials and equipment have boosted the adoption of protective packaging into the next generation. Moreover, automated packaging solutions are witnessing an increase in the adoption, as they reduce labor and waste while increasing processing speeds for high volume packaging.'
  • The market is witnessing constant efforts and increased investment to develop eco-friendly and sustainable packaging materials, which can be recycled and reused. The paper mailers are gaining traction due to their eco-friendly qualities, such as better suitability for recycling. This is one of the significant trends in the developed markets, such as North America, where stringent environmental regulations are in place, and recycling programs are extensively employed.
  • Also, the increasing demand for consumer electronics across various regions and increasing smartphone penetration, the need for protective packaging of these products is rising, as the vendors aim to deliver their products to consumers without any damage. The proper selection of protective packaging solutions primarily depends on the type of product that is being packaged, such as consumer electronics and food, as well as the environmental conditions from which the product should be protected. Selection factors may include product type, material, specifications, and other features
  • Specific to market demand, the new -age protective packaging materials have led to increased customer retention and sustainability. In the present market scenario, product manufacturers are intensively focusing on creating a positive experience for their end-users. Customer retention for a business is beneficial as a satisfied customer is highly worthy of the company's image and helps gain the trust of prospective and potential customers.

Protective Packaging Market Trends

This section covers the major market trends shaping the Protective Packaging Market according to our research experts:

Plastic-based Protective Packaging is Expected to Occupy Significant Market Share

  • Plastic remains the most used raw material for packaging, and hence, it occupies the highest market share among all the raw materials deployed by the manufacturers in the packaging industry. Plastic provides the flexibility of being cost-effective to manufacturers. Its inert nature to the contents being stored in it has allowed it to be utilized for packaging products in specific industry verticals.
  • Plastic continues to be the most used material for the protective packaging of products across various industries. Advanced packaging materials, such as polypropylene, can provide a high barrier against contamination and temperatures, thereby protecting the packaged product from being damaged. The wide adoption of plastic packaging in the food and beverage industry, which includes bags, pouches, shrink films, sleeves, and tubes, primarily owing to their flexibility, low weight, and durability, are some of the factors that may continue to create demand for the plastic protective packaging solutions.
  • However, there has been a significant rise in demand from consumers for eco-friendly products to be used for packaging. This has led to a critical decline in the usage of plastics in the packaging industry. Manufacturers have emphasized meeting the consumer demands by addressing the environmental concerns and developing products that can be recycled, with bio- and oxo-degradable options venturing into the market.
Protective Packaging Market: Share of E-commerce Sales in total U.S. Retail sales, in(6), (2015-2019)

Europe is Expected to Execute a Steady Growth Rate

  • The e-commerce industry has already established itself as a significant sales channel for a comprehensive portfolio of products, ranging from food and beverages to consumer electronics and home and beauty care products in the European region. Additionally, the rising online sales have helped in the growth of the market for protective packaging solutions, as these solutions enable the vendors to ensure the safe delivery of their products sold online
  • Further, technological advancements, leading to the development of recyclable materials for protective packaging, have majorly driven the demand for these effective and sustainable packaging solutions in various countries in the region. This increasing demand for sustainable protective packaging solutions is expected to drive the growth of the market.
  • The European region has a significant consumer electronics industry, which is supported by the high technological connectivity environment. With the advancing technology, the rising trend of smart homes and offices is augmenting the demand for consumer electronics, driving the market.
  • Furthermore, the vendors in the region are focusing on product innovation. For instance, in September 2019, Macfarlane launched a biodegradable packaging protection solution for wine bottles. The Flexi-Hex product is primarily made from recycled materials, and it is biodegradable and plastic-free. Its design comprises a concertina style honeycomb sleeve protector that forms an impact-resistant layer around bottles for protection.
  • Some of the major drivers for the growth of the protective packaging market in Europe include increased emphasis on product quality, steady rise in manufacturing output across Europe, and growth in end-user verticals, such as food and beverage, healthcare, and beauty and personal care
  • For instance, Germany is one of the leading markets in the protective packaging industry in Europe. Low supply and decreasing profit margins led to a considerable transformation in the German packaging industry, enabling manufacturers/vendors to adopt creative and innovative packaging solutions to boost sales. High employment levels and the robust economic situation have increased Germany's purchasing power, thus fueling the demand for the packaging industry in the region.
  • The development of recyclable materials for protective packaging has driven the consumer demand for effective and sustainable packaging solutions in the country. This demand for packaging is expected to drive the growth of the market in the country.
  • Additionally, the product manufacturers are likely to continue to exert a higher demand for packaging firms to reduce their prices to retain the balance between innovation and product costs. Greater consumer awareness, the emergence of new materials, and R&D operations undertaken by market incumbents are expected to pave the way for innovative products over the forecast period.
Protective Packaging Market- Growth Rate by Region (2020 2025)

Protective Packaging Industry Overview

The competitive landscape of the protective packaging market is moderately fragmented and consists of various vendors providing these products and solutions. Vendors in the market are focusing on merger and acquisition activities to capture the market share.

  • May 2019 - Sealed Air Corporation announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Automated Packaging Systems Inc. (APS), a manufacturer of automated bagging systems, for an overall price of USD 510 million. APS is anticipated to bring highly complementary and additive capabilities to Sealed Air Corp., including expertise in engineering, automation technology, and sustainability, which may strengthen the company's protective packaging solutions.
  • June 2019 - Warburg Pincus, a global private equity firm, agreed to acquire Pregis LLC, a protective packaging materials and automated systems manufacturer, from Olympus Partners, headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.

Protective Packaging Market Leaders

  1. Intertape Polymer Group Inc.

  2. Sealed Air Corporation

  3. Sonoco Products Company

  4. Smurfit Kappa Group plc

  5. DS Smith plc

*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Global Protective Packaging Market Industry Concentration
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Protective Packaging Market Report - Table of Contents

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    1. 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition

    2. 1.2 Scope of the Study

  2. 2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

  3. 3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

  4. 4. MARKET INSIGHTS

    1. 4.1 Market Overview (Addendum on Void Reduction)

    2. 4.2 Market Drivers

      1. 4.2.1 Increasing Trend of E-Commerce

    3. 4.3 Market Restraints

      1. 4.3.1 Alternative Forms of Packaging

    4. 4.4 Industry Attractiveness - Porter's Five Forces Analysis

      1. 4.4.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

      2. 4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Consumers

      3. 4.4.3 Threat of New Entrants

      4. 4.4.4 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry

      5. 4.4.5 Threat of Substitute Products

    5. 4.5 Industry Value Chain Analysis

    6. 4.6 Assessment of COVID-19 impact on the industry

  5. 5. MARKET SEGMENTATION

    1. 5.1 By Material Type

      1. 5.1.1 Plastic

      2. 5.1.2 Paper and Paperboard

      3. 5.1.3 Other Material Types

    2. 5.2 By Product

      1. 5.2.1 Rigid

        1. 5.2.1.1 Corrugated Paperboard Protectors

        2. 5.2.1.2 Molded Pulp

        3. 5.2.1.3 Insulated Shipping Containers

        4. 5.2.1.4 Other Product Types

      2. 5.2.2 Flexible

        1. 5.2.2.1 Protective Mailers

        2. 5.2.2.2 Bubble Wraps

        3. 5.2.2.3 Air Pillows/Air Bags

        4. 5.2.2.4 Paper Fill

        5. 5.2.2.5 Other Flexible Materials(Foil Pouches/Bags, Stretch and Shrink Films, etc.)

      3. 5.2.3 Foam

        1. 5.2.3.1 Molded Foam

        2. 5.2.3.2 Foam in Place (FIP)

        3. 5.2.3.3 Loose Fill

        4. 5.2.3.4 Foam Rolls/Sheets

        5. 5.2.3.5 Other Types of Foam (Corner Blocks, etc.)

    3. 5.3 By End-user Vertical

      1. 5.3.1 Food and Beverage

      2. 5.3.2 Industrial

      3. 5.3.3 Pharmaceuticals

      4. 5.3.4 Consumer Electronics

      5. 5.3.5 Beauty and Home Care

      6. 5.3.6 Other End-user Verticals

    4. 5.4 Geography

      1. 5.4.1 North America

      2. 5.4.2 Europe

      3. 5.4.3 Asia-Pacific

      4. 5.4.4 Latin America

      5. 5.4.5 Middle-East & Africa

  6. 6. COMPETITIVE INTELLIGENCE

    1. 6.1 Company Profiles

      1. 6.1.1 Intertape Polymer Group Inc.

      2. 6.1.2 Pregis Corporation

      3. 6.1.3 Riverside Paper Co.

      4. 6.1.4 Sealed Air Corporation

      5. 6.1.5 Signode Protective Packaging Solutions

      6. 6.1.6 Sonoco Products Company

      7. 6.1.7 Smurfit Kappa Group

      8. 6.1.8 Huhtamaki Group

      9. 6.1.9 DS Smith PLC

      10. 6.1.10 International Paper Company

      11. 6.1.11 Pro-Pac Packaging Limited

      12. 6.1.12 Storopack Hans Reichenecker Gmbh

      13. 6.1.13 Crown Holdings Inc.

    2. *List Not Exhaustive

  7. 7. INVESTMENT ANALYSIS

  8. 8. FUTURE OF THE MARKET

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Protective Packaging Industry Segmentation

The two types of materials used for protective packaging are plastic and paper and paperboard. They are designed and constructed to protect the goods from atmospheric, magnetic, and electrostatic vibrations or shocks. The studies under consideration deal with market trends, growth, and estimated numbers of the market segmented by material type, products, and end-user verticals, by geography covering North America, Europe, Asia-pacific, and the Rest of the world.

By Material Type
Plastic
Paper and Paperboard
Other Material Types
By Product
Rigid
Corrugated Paperboard Protectors
Molded Pulp
Insulated Shipping Containers
Other Product Types
Flexible
Protective Mailers
Bubble Wraps
Air Pillows/Air Bags
Paper Fill
Other Flexible Materials(Foil Pouches/Bags, Stretch and Shrink Films, etc.)
Foam
Molded Foam
Foam in Place (FIP)
Loose Fill
Foam Rolls/Sheets
Other Types of Foam (Corner Blocks, etc.)
By End-user Vertical
Food and Beverage
Industrial
Pharmaceuticals
Consumer Electronics
Beauty and Home Care
Other End-user Verticals
Geography
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Latin America
Middle-East & Africa
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Protective Packaging Market Research FAQs

The Protective Packaging Market is projected to register a CAGR of 5.40% during the forecast period (2024-2029)

Intertape Polymer Group Inc., Sealed Air Corporation, Sonoco Products Company, Smurfit Kappa Group plc and DS Smith plc are the major companies operating in the Protective Packaging Market.

Asia Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2024-2029).

In 2024, the Asia Pacific accounts for the largest market share in Protective Packaging Market.

The report covers the Protective Packaging Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The report also forecasts the Protective Packaging Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.

Protective Packaging Industry Report

Statistics for the 2024 Protective Packaging market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Protective Packaging analysis includes a market forecast outlook to 2029 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.

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Protective Packaging Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2024 - 2029)