Green Packaging Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

The Green Packaging Market Report is Segmented by Packaging Type (Recycled Content Packaging, Reusable Packaging, Degradable Packaging), Material (Paper and Paperboard, Glass and More), Packaging Function (Primary, Secondary, and More), End User Industry (Food, Beverage, and More), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa).

Green Packaging Market Size and Share

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Compare market size and growth of Green Packaging Market with other markets in Packaging Industry

Green Packaging Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The green packaging market size stood at USD 352.03 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 460.49 billion by 2030, expanding at a 4.55% CAGR.This steady growth results from converging forces: binding regulations such as the European Union’s PPWR, corporate net-zero packaging targets, and cost reduction from recycled feedstocks. Europe leads in policy stringency, mandating full recyclability by 2030, compulsory digital traceability, and step-wise recycled-content quotas. Asia-Pacific delivers the fastest incremental demand as India, South Korea, and Japan combine expanding consumption with escalating bans on single-use plastics. At the company level, megamergers such as Smurfit Kappa–WestRock and Novolex–Pactiv Evergreen signal that global scale now underpins compliance, R&D, and multi-material capabilities. Technology breakthroughs—particularly digital watermarking and advanced polymer chemistry—remove earlier quality and speed constraints in closed-loop recycling.

Key Report Takeaways

  • By packaging type, recycled-content formats controlled 60.35% of green packaging market share in 2024; degradable packaging is forecast to accelerate at a 7.94% CAGR to 2030.
  • By Material, Rigid and Flexible Recyclable Plastics retained 68.24% share in 2024, whereas Biopolymers are expanding at a 8.45% CAGR.
  • By end-user industry, the food sector held 61.35% of revenue in 2024 and is advancing at a 6.73% CAGR through 2030, supported by brand commitments from Nestlé and PepsiCo.
  • By packaging function, primary applications retained 70.34% share in 2024, whereas secondary applications are expanding at a 6.32% CAGR on the back of e-commerce logistics optimization.
  • By geography, Europe dominated with a 36.54% share of the green packaging market in 2024, while Asia-Pacific is projected to post the quickest 8.32% CAGR through 2030.

Segment Analysis

Recycled-content solutions retained 60.35% of the green packaging market in 2024, supported by mature collection systems for paper, metal, glass, and PET. Degradable formats, while smaller now, are pacing a 7.94% CAGR and benefit from imminent bans on single-use plastics. The current green packaging market supports investment in both streams because recycling delivers immediate cost advantages whereas degradables future-proof against stricter end-of-life rules. Primary adopters in FMCG select recycled PET for bottle-to-bottle loops, while QSR chains pilot seaweed-based straws that degrade in marine settings. Industrial players leverage reusable drums and crates, demonstrating that longevity and material circularity can coexist within a single green packaging market architecture.

Start-ups in refill logistics deploy IoT-tagged containers that cycle through 30 uses before refurbishment, driving total cost downward across high-density urban corridors. The green packaging market size for reusable systems is projected to climb alongside mass-retail initiatives such as Germany’s PFAND scheme. In parallel, Loop and På(fyll) extend deposit-and-return models into beauty and household segments, evidence that consumer convenience can align with circularity mandates. Collectively, the interplay of recycled, degradable, and reusable designs diversifies revenue pools while creating hedges against raw-material shocks.

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Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Material: plastics remain dominant but biopolymers accelerate

Recyclable PET, HDPE, and PP combine for 68.24% of 2024 revenue thanks to wide curbside coverage and bottle-grade rPET demand from beverage majors. Mechanical and chemical recycling expansions announced by Indorama and Eastman supply the feedstock required to reach EU recycled-content thresholds. However, PLA and PHA post an 8.45% CAGR, leveraged by policy bans, corporate pilots, and new blends that achieve freezer-grade barrier properties. Paper and paperboard regain share via nano-cellulose coatings that repel grease and water, giving quick-service restaurants an alternative to fluorinated chemistries. The green packaging market size for advanced fibre substrates is projected to expand fastest in e-commerce channels where dimensional quality outranks visual shelf appeal.

Glass and metal’s infinite recyclability secures niche positions in premium beverages and cosmetics where brand equity offsets weight penalties. Aluminum trends up as Ball Corporation’s 85% recycled-content target guarantees contracted demand. Conversely, multilayer laminates lose share because disassembly costs outweigh recycling value, propelling brand owners to mono-material PE or PP solutions. Material substitution decisions thus hinge on balancing functionality, cost, and compliance within each green packaging market application.

By End-User Industry: food sector determines pace and direction

Food applications accounted for 61.35% of revenue in 2024 and are expanding at a 6.73% CAGR, largely because shelf-life, flavour integrity, and safety remain non-negotiable. Nestlé pilots digital watermarking on pet-food sachets to guarantee correct polymer streams while eliminating aluminium layers. Beverage bottlers increase rPET uptake in jurisdictions with deposit systems, thus lifting green packaging market share metrics for recycled plastics. Pharmaceuticals adopt multilayer paper-foil hybrids with tamper-evident features, meeting stringent barrier needs without defaulting to PVC. Beauty brands shift toward refill pods sold in aluminium or paper cartridges, reducing plastic intensity per use by up to 70% and aligning with net-zero marketing narratives.

E-commerce and retail packaging seize attention as breakage reduction and dimensional efficiency improve last-mile economics. Corrugated mailers with on-demand sizing reduce void fill and greenhouse gas emissions, capturing brand loyalty among sustainability-aware online shoppers. Active antimicrobial sachets embedded in produce packs extend freshness, contributing to food-loss mitigation goals that regulators increasingly embed into waste directives. In short, each demand vertical interprets the green packaging market toolbox through its own technical and marketing lens.

Green Packaging Market: Market Share by End-User Industry
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By Packaging Function: primary formats drive consumer perception

Primary containers own 70.34% of 2024 sales because the unit that reaches shoppers most strongly shapes brand value. The green packaging market leverages shelf-front real estate to showcase recycled-content logos and QR-enabled provenance data. Secondary packaging, growing at 6.32% CAGR, gains from omnichannel commerce where goods travel longer and face higher drop counts. Automated fit-to-size box machinery minimises corrugate usage and pairs with bio-based hot-melt adhesives that cut fossil inputs by one-third. Tertiary and transport formats chase cost and durability, gravitating to reusable plastic pallets and RFID-tagged totes that track cycle counts and carbon savings.

Digital twin technology now links primary and tertiary layers, enabling inventory and returns optimisation. Operators feeding real-time data into warehouse management systems can adjust material ordering and cleaning cycles, reinforcing cost logic for reusable fleets. Consequently, packaging functions converge into data-rich ecosystems that fine-tune sustainability and efficiency within the wider green packaging market.

Geography Analysis

Europe maintained a 36.54% share in 2024, propelled by the PPWR mandate that compels full recyclability by 2030 and 30% recycled plastic content. Germany’s deposit return rate surpasses 98%, ensuring high-quality PET for bottle-to-bottle loops, while France’s 2025 reuse legislation accelerates refill infrastructure. Nordic innovators deploy fibre-based barriers and digital watermarks, setting functional benchmarks for the region’s sophisticated retail networks. Complex cross-border compliance, however, burdens SMEs that must align labelling, recycled-content, and reporting standards across 27 jurisdictions.

Asia-Pacific delivers the fastest 8.32% CAGR through 2030 as population density and urban consumption surge. India’s packaging sector aims for USD 204.81 billion by 2025 and enforces QR-code traceability to curb informal recycling practices. Japan’s premium brands adopt bio-PET in cosmetic bottles, while South Korea records over 90% food-waste separation, enabling compostable packaging end-of-life processing. China’s export-oriented converters move to meet EU compliance so they can retain market access, cascading stricter specifications through regional supply bases. Rapid uptake, though, strains bio-resin supply, fostering joint ventures in Thailand and Indonesia to localise PLA capacity. [4]Invest India, “Paper & Packaging,” Invest India, investindia.gov.in

North America shows mixed momentum. California’s EPR rules mandate 50% recyclable or reusable design by 2030 and incentivise refill pilots from big-box retailers. Canada’s Plastics Pact reaches 50% design-for-recycling but still struggles with downstream sorting infrastructure. Meanwhile, mergers such as Novolex–Pactiv Evergreen embed scale advantages in navigating disparate state laws. Mexico’s integration into US supply chains draws investment in recycled-paper mills, aligning cost and sustainability imperatives. These dynamics position the continent to advance selectively, with leadership pockets clustered where regulation, consumer sentiment, and infrastructure intersect.

Green Packaging Market CAGR (%), Growth Rate by Region
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Competitive Landscape

The green packaging market remains fragmented, yet recent M&A is raising concentration in core substrates. Smurfit WestRock, now a USD 34 billion paper-based giant, fields 500-plus converting plants across 40 countries and leverages R&D scale to embed barrier-coated fibre in beverage carriers. Novolex’s USD 6.7 billion merger with Pactiv Evergreen secures choke-point positions in food-service disposables, enabling full-portfolio bids that bundle compostable trays, recycled paper bags, and mono-material films. Aluminum can-makers Ball and Ardagh maintain high entry barriers via patented alloy and D&I manufacturing assets, anchoring a near-duopoly in beverage applications.

Technology differentiation pivots on digital watermarking, smart sensors, and chemical recycling IP. Digimarc’s sorting codes, licensed to OMRON, grant early-mover access to closed-loop data that converters exploit for design validation. Marine Innovation’s seaweed matrix patents deliver marine-degradable solutions, winning Korean convenience-store pilots that validate niche but high-visibility channels. Fiber packaging start-ups targeting molded-pulp premium cosmetics brands capture venture funding as luxury players prioritise tactile unboxing experiences with reduced plastic. Larger incumbents hedge via minority stakes—Amcor recently invested in Amylum Systems’ foamed bio-polymer sheets—to keep option value on disruptive chemistries.

Regional specialists persist where logistics or regulation favours proximity. European SMEs producing insulated mushroom-mycelium liners or Nordic fibre trays command local loyalty thanks to shorter lead times and circular supply loops. In emerging markets, flexible-pack converters retrofit extruders for 30% recycled content, an easier lift than full material changeover. These strategic moves reveal a green packaging market balancing consolidation for compliance muscle with niche agility for innovation speed.

Green Packaging Industry Leaders

  1. Amcor PLC

  2. Crown Holdings, Inc.

  3. Mondi Group

  4. International Paper

  5. Sealed Air Corporation

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Green Packaging Market Concentration
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Recent Industry Developments

  • April 2025: Novolex completed its merger with Pactiv Evergreen, forming a USD 6.7 billion food-and-beverage packaging leader focused on sustainable solutions.
  • February 2025: CMC Packaging Automation and Mondi partnered to develop sustainable e-commerce packaging designs tailored for rapid fulfilment operations.
  • July 2024: Smurfit Kappa and WestRock closed their USD 34 billion merger, creating Smurfit WestRock, a top-three global paper-based packaging supplier.
  • June 2025: Green Bay Packaging invested USD 1 billion to expand recycled kraft linerboard capacity in Arkansas.

Table of Contents for Green Packaging Industry Report

1. INTRODUCTION

  • 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
  • 1.2 Scope of the Study

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4. MARKET LANDSCAPE

  • 4.1 Market Overview
  • 4.2 Market Drivers
    • 4.2.1 Stringent bans on single-use plastics
    • 4.2.2 Corporate ESG and net-zero packaging pledges
    • 4.2.3 Cost savings from light-weighting and recycling
    • 4.2.4 Digital watermarking enabling high-speed sortation
    • 4.2.5 Rapid roll-out of closed-loop refill logistics
  • 4.3 Market Restraints
    • 4.3.1 Bio-based feedstock supply constraints
    • 4.3.2 Higher unit costs vs. legacy packaging
    • 4.3.3 Barrier-property limitations in compostables
    • 4.3.4 Patchy composting / anaerobic-digestion infra
  • 4.4 Supply-Chain Analysis
  • 4.5 Regulatory Landscape
  • 4.6 Technological Outlook
  • 4.7 Porter's Five Forces Analysis
    • 4.7.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
    • 4.7.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
    • 4.7.3 Threat of New Entrants
    • 4.7.4 Threat of Substitutes
    • 4.7.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry

5. MARKET SIZE AND GROWTH FORECASTS (VALUE)

  • 5.1 By Packaging Type
    • 5.1.1 Recycled-Content Packaging
    • 5.1.1.1 Paper
    • 5.1.1.2 Metal
    • 5.1.1.3 Plastic
    • 5.1.1.4 Glass
    • 5.1.2 Reusable Packaging
    • 5.1.2.1 Drums
    • 5.1.2.2 Plastic Crates and IBCs
    • 5.1.2.3 Pallets and Dunnage
    • 5.1.3 Degradable Packaging
    • 5.1.3.1 Compostable Biopolymers
    • 5.1.3.2 Edible and Water-soluble Films
  • 5.2 By Material
    • 5.2.1 Paper and Paperboard
    • 5.2.2 Glass
    • 5.2.3 Metals (Al, Steel)
    • 5.2.4 Rigid and Flexible Recyclable Plastics
    • 5.2.5 Biopolymers (PLA, PHA, Starch blends)
  • 5.3 By End-User Industry
    • 5.3.1 Food
    • 5.3.2 Beverage
    • 5.3.3 Pharmaceutical
    • 5.3.4 Personal Care and Cosmetics
    • 5.3.5 E-commerce and Retail
    • 5.3.6 Other End-User Industry
  • 5.4 By Packaging Function
    • 5.4.1 Primary
    • 5.4.2 Secondary
    • 5.4.3 Tertiary / Transport
  • 5.5 By Geography
    • 5.5.1 North America
    • 5.5.1.1 United States
    • 5.5.1.2 Canada
    • 5.5.1.3 Mexico
    • 5.5.2 Europe
    • 5.5.2.1 Germany
    • 5.5.2.2 United Kingdom
    • 5.5.2.3 France
    • 5.5.2.4 Italy
    • 5.5.2.5 Spain
    • 5.5.2.6 Russia
    • 5.5.2.7 Rest of Europe
    • 5.5.3 Asia-Pacific
    • 5.5.3.1 China
    • 5.5.3.2 India
    • 5.5.3.3 Japan
    • 5.5.3.4 South Korea
    • 5.5.3.5 Australia and New Zealand
    • 5.5.3.6 Rest of Asia-Pacific
    • 5.5.4 Middle East and Africa
    • 5.5.4.1 Middle East
    • 5.5.4.1.1 United Arab Emirates
    • 5.5.4.1.2 Saudi Arabia
    • 5.5.4.1.3 Turkey
    • 5.5.4.1.4 Rest of Middle East
    • 5.5.4.2 Africa
    • 5.5.4.2.1 South Africa
    • 5.5.4.2.2 Nigeria
    • 5.5.4.2.3 Egypt
    • 5.5.4.2.4 Rest of Africa
    • 5.5.5 South America
    • 5.5.5.1 Brazil
    • 5.5.5.2 Argentina
    • 5.5.5.3 Rest of South America

6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

  • 6.1 Market Concentration
  • 6.2 Strategic Moves
  • 6.3 Market Share Analysis
  • 6.4 Company Profiles (includes Global level Overview, Market level overview, Core Segments, Financials as available, Strategic Information, Market Rank/Share for key companies, Products and Services, and Recent Developments)
    • 6.4.1 Amcor PLC
    • 6.4.2 Mondi Group
    • 6.4.3 Tetra Pak International SA
    • 6.4.4 International Paper Co. (DS Smith PLC)
    • 6.4.5 Smurfit WestRock
    • 6.4.6 Ball Corporation
    • 6.4.7 Crown Holdings Inc.
    • 6.4.8 Ardagh Group SA
    • 6.4.9 Sealed Air Corporation
    • 6.4.10 Sonoco Products Co.
    • 6.4.11 Uflex Ltd.
    • 6.4.12 Plastipak Holdings Inc.
    • 6.4.13 Brambles Ltd. (CHEP)
    • 6.4.14 IFCO Systems
    • 6.4.15 Menasha Corporation
    • 6.4.16 Emerald Packaging
    • 6.4.17 Elopak ASA

7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

  • 7.1 White-space and Unmet-Need Assessment
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Global Green Packaging Market Report Scope

Green packaging, also known as sustainable packaging, makes use of materials and manufacturing methods for the packaging of goods that has a significantly low impact on both energy consumption and the environment.

The global green packaging market is segmented by type of packaging (recycled content packaging (paper, metal, plastic, glass), reusable packaging (drums, plastic containers, intermediate bulk containers), degradable packaging), end-user industry (food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, other end-user industry), and geography (North America (United States, Canada), Europe (United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Rest of Asia Pacific), Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of Latin America), Middle-east and Africa (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Rest of Middle-east and Africa)). The report offers market forecasts and size in value (USD) for all the above segments.

By Packaging Type Recycled-Content Packaging Paper
Metal
Plastic
Glass
Reusable Packaging Drums
Plastic Crates and IBCs
Pallets and Dunnage
Degradable Packaging Compostable Biopolymers
Edible and Water-soluble Films
By Material Paper and Paperboard
Glass
Metals (Al, Steel)
Rigid and Flexible Recyclable Plastics
Biopolymers (PLA, PHA, Starch blends)
By End-User Industry Food
Beverage
Pharmaceutical
Personal Care and Cosmetics
E-commerce and Retail
Other End-User Industry
By Packaging Function Primary
Secondary
Tertiary / Transport
By Geography North America United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe Germany
United Kingdom
France
Italy
Spain
Russia
Rest of Europe
Asia-Pacific China
India
Japan
South Korea
Australia and New Zealand
Rest of Asia-Pacific
Middle East and Africa Middle East United Arab Emirates
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
Rest of Middle East
Africa South Africa
Nigeria
Egypt
Rest of Africa
South America Brazil
Argentina
Rest of South America
By Packaging Type
Recycled-Content Packaging Paper
Metal
Plastic
Glass
Reusable Packaging Drums
Plastic Crates and IBCs
Pallets and Dunnage
Degradable Packaging Compostable Biopolymers
Edible and Water-soluble Films
By Material
Paper and Paperboard
Glass
Metals (Al, Steel)
Rigid and Flexible Recyclable Plastics
Biopolymers (PLA, PHA, Starch blends)
By End-User Industry
Food
Beverage
Pharmaceutical
Personal Care and Cosmetics
E-commerce and Retail
Other End-User Industry
By Packaging Function
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary / Transport
By Geography
North America United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe Germany
United Kingdom
France
Italy
Spain
Russia
Rest of Europe
Asia-Pacific China
India
Japan
South Korea
Australia and New Zealand
Rest of Asia-Pacific
Middle East and Africa Middle East United Arab Emirates
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
Rest of Middle East
Africa South Africa
Nigeria
Egypt
Rest of Africa
South America Brazil
Argentina
Rest of South America
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Key Questions Answered in the Report

What is the current size of the green packaging market?

The green packaging market size reached USD 352.03 billion in 2025 and is projected to rise to USD 460.49 billion by 2030.

Which region leads the green packaging market?

Europe holds the largest share at 36.54% thanks to strict EU regulations that mandate recyclability and recycled-content targets.

Which segment is growing the fastest within green packaging?

Degradable packaging shows the highest growth with a 7.94% CAGR to 2030 as bans on single-use plastics intensify.

Why are digital watermarks important in green packaging?

Digital watermarks enable high-speed automated sorting that upgrades recycled material purity and lowers processing costs.

How are companies addressing cost barriers in sustainable packaging?

Firms pursue light-weighting, reuse cycles, and recycled feedstocks to offset higher unit prices of eco-friendly materials.

What recent M&A activity has reshaped the competitive landscape?

The USD 34 billion Smurfit Kappa–WestRock merger and USD 6.7 billion Novolex–Pactiv Evergreen deal illustrate moves toward global consolidation to meet diverse sustainability mandates.

Page last updated on: July 3, 2025

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