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

The Plastic Packaging Market Report is Segmented by Packaging Type (Rigid Packaging Type, Flexible Packaging Type), Material (Polyethylene, PET, Polypropylene, Polystyrene and EPS, PVC, Others), End-User Industry (Food, Beverage, Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals, and More), Distribution Channel (Direct Sales, Indirect Sales), and Geography. The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Global Plastic Packaging Market Size and Share

Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

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

Global Plastic Packaging Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The plastic packaging market size reached USD 493.42 billion in 2025 and is projected to attain USD 579.95 billion by 2030, expanding at a 3.28% CAGR over the forecast period. Robust e-commerce activity, rising convenience-food consumption, and cost-competitive advantages over alternate substrates underpin sustained demand even as regulatory scrutiny intensifies. Incumbents able to fund chemical-recycling lines, redesign packs for tethered-cap rules, and meet high recycled-content thresholds secure competitive insulation while smaller converters confront escalating compliance costs. Concurrently, logistics inflation elevates the value proposition of lightweight flexible formats that trim freight bills, strengthening supplier contracts in e-commerce, food, and healthcare channels. Consolidation accelerates as scale becomes prerequisite for funding advanced R&D and closed-loop supply agreements.

Key Report Takeaways

  • By packaging type, flexible formats led with 54.65% revenue share in 2024; the segment is also the fastest growing at a 4.56% CAGR to 2030.
  • By material, polyethylene accounted for 42.32% of plastic packaging market share in 2024, but polypropylene records the highest projected CAGR at 5.79% through 2030.
  • By end-user industry, food commanded 28.43% share of the plastic packaging market size in 2024, whereas healthcare and pharmaceuticals are forecast to expand at a 6.64% CAGR to 2030.
  • By distribution channel, direct sales captured 65.32% share of the plastic packaging market size in 2024, while indirect channels are advancing at a 4.85% CAGR through 2030.
  • Regionally, Asia-Pacific held 41.23% of global revenue in 2024 and is growing at a 7.02% CAGR, outpacing all other geographies.

Segment Analysis

By Packaging Type: Flexible Dominance Accelerates

Flexible formats commanded 54.65% of 2024 sales and are forecast to grow at 4.56% annually through 2030, expanding the plastic packaging market far faster than rigid alternatives. Fuel cost inflation and dimensional-weight freight tariffs reinforce a structural migration toward pouches, mailers, and wrap films that cut outbound logistics charges. Films and wraps gain further traction as converters deploy mono-material options that satisfy EPR frameworks without compromising shelf life. Rigid bottles, jars, and trays retain indispensability where structure or premium shelf presence is paramount, yet their share gradually declines as resealable zippers, spouts, and stand-up formats erode historical feature advantages. Integrated suppliers offering both formats secure higher wallet share as brand owners streamline vendor bases.

Rigid-package sub-segments confront margin pressure when resin spikes outpace pass-through ability, whereas flexible peers mitigate exposure through lighter gram-weight per unit. Glass and metal replacements remain niche, limited to beverages and canned foods. Tray makers preserve relevance in food-service channels where oven-safe or microwave-ready features command price premium. Overall, flexibles’ dual leadership in volume and growth cements their central role in driving the plastic packaging market over the forecast horizon.

Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

By Material: Polypropylene Gains on Performance

Although polyethylene held 42.32% plastic packaging market share in 2024, polypropylene’s superior 5.79% CAGR positions it as the fastest-advancing resin family. PP’s higher heat resistance, improved clarity, and better seal integrity facilitate mono-material solutions that meet recyclability mandates while safeguarding food safety. [3]Klöckner Pentaplast, “Recyclable High-Barrier Films,” kpfilms.comPET protects its beverage stronghold owing to established bottle-to-bottle recycling loops, yet mechanical-recycling limitations cap recycled content without costly chemical-recycling capacity additions. PVC, polystyrene, and other styrenics retreat under stricter environmental rules and brand-owner deselection, opening space for bio-based and specialty co-polymer niches.

Chemical-recycling economics further favor resins with stable depolymerization pathways; hence PET and PP attract greater capex, while PS and PVC projects struggle to clear investment hurdles. Resin suppliers differentiate through application engineering teams that guide converters during material transitions, a service highly prized amid evolving EPR frameworks and FDA food-contact rules.

By End-User Industry: Healthcare Leads Growth

Food retained a dominant 28.43% share of the plastic packaging market size in 2024, yet healthcare and pharmaceuticals dominate growth charts with a 6.64% CAGR through 2030. Aging populations, rising chronic-disease drug regimens, and biotech cold-chain requirements elevate demand for blister packs, IV bags, and prefilled syringes with stringent sterility and barrier specifications. Regulatory-approval cycles lock in incumbent materials and vendors, enabling premium pricing that offsets resin inflation. Beverage packaging follows food in volume but secures margin uplift via specialty closures and on-the-go formats. Cosmetics and personal-care hold steady as premiumization allows pass-through of higher material costs.

Industrial users such as electronics and automotive represent niche value pools where electrostatic and chemical-resistance properties justify specialized resin blends. Across sectors, value creation shifts from volume to technical performance, favoring suppliers with deep application knowledge and regulatory affairs support.

Global Plastic Packaging Market: Market Share by End-user Industry
Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

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

By Distribution Channel: Direct Sales Maintain Control

Direct contracts between resin producers or large converters and brand owners constituted 65.32% of 2024 turnover. Complex regulatory, barrier, and recyclability requirements necessitate tight collaboration on pack design and resin selection, reinforcing direct engagement. Distributors, however, grow faster at 4.85% CAGR by aggregating demand from SME converters and servicing emerging markets where manufacturers lack in-country presence. Digital platforms blur channel lines, enabling manufacturers to reach small buyers online while outsourcing fulfillment.

Omnichannel approaches gain favor as consolidated suppliers rationalize sales resources post-merger, increasingly leaning on distributors for geographic reach. Technical service remains direct-sales’ differentiator, particularly for pharmaceutical and food safety-critical accounts. Distributors, in response, invest in application-development centers to avoid commoditization.

Geography Analysis

Asia-Pacific controlled 41.23% of global revenue in 2024 and is expanding at 7.02% CAGR, making it the undisputed engine of plastic packaging market growth. China accounts for the lion’s share, though stricter waste-import rules and carbon-neutrality pledges compel local producers to invest in recycling capacity. India, Vietnam, and Indonesia record double-digit volume gains as organized retail and e-commerce penetration deepens. Currency volatility and geopolitics prompt multinational brand owners to diversify sourcing into ASEAN nations, reducing overreliance on any single country.

North America manifests steady mid-single-digit expansion underpinned by pharmaceutical demand, fresh-produce logistics, and the build-out of advanced-recycling hubs. State-level plastic-waste legislation adds complexity, yet it simultaneously opens opportunities for recycled and mono-material innovators. Canada’s forthcoming nationwide EPR framework accelerates shift toward recyclable packs, encouraging cross-border partnerships.

Europe, the epicenter of EPR and tethered-cap mandates, experiences modest value growth but exerts outsized influence on global design standards. High labor and energy costs incentivize process automation and resin lightweighting, while regulators push recycled-content thresholds that drive chemical-recycling investments. Eastern European converters attract reshoring projects as brands seek regional proximity without Western Europe’s cost base, spurring capital inflows into Poland and Hungary.

Latin America and the Middle East & Africa trail in share but register pockets of rapid expansion. Brazil benefits from agrifood exports that require barrier packaging, whereas GCC nations leverage petrochemical integration to export competitively priced resin. African markets begin to legislate single-use bans, creating fertile terrain for flexible producers that can deliver low-gram-weight, high-barrier solutions at affordable price points.

Global Plastic Packaging Market CAGR (%), Growth Rate by Region
Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

Competitive Landscape

Industry concentration edges upward as scale economies in R&D and recycling elevate barriers to entry. Amcor’s USD 8.43 billion acquisition of Berry Global created the world’s largest diversified converter, targeting USD 650 million in annual synergy by integrating extrusion, lamination, and printing assets. The combined entity channels expanded cash flow into mono-material film R&D and global healthcare-packaging capacity, strengthening negotiating leverage with resin suppliers.

Technology arms races extend beyond converters. Resin producers accelerate investments in pyrolysis and depolymerization plants to secure closed-loop feedstock and lock in strategic customers. Patent filings for barrier-coating chemistries and compatibilizer additives grew 40% in 2024, reflecting intensified intellectual-property battles. Integrated players able to internalize both resin and converting operations capture margin at multiple value-chain nodes, while smaller converters without proprietary formulations face commoditization.

Bio-based start-ups and chemical-recycling specialists attract venture funding but confront commercialization hurdles such as feedstock aggregation and scale economics. Partnership models emerge, with large converters taking equity stakes in disruptive recyclers to guarantee offtake. Equipment suppliers like Husky Technologies and Sidel embed tethered-cap tooling capabilities into new mold platforms, creating switching costs for converters considering alternative OEMs. Overall, competitive advantage pivots on the ability to provide turnkey solutions that satisfy regulatory, sustainability, and performance requirements.

Global Plastic Packaging Industry Leaders

  1. Mondi plc

  2. Huhtamaki Oyj

  3. Amcor plc

  4. Sealed Air Corporation

  5. Sonoco Products Company

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Global Plastic Packaging Market
Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.
Need More Details on Market Players and Competitors?
Download PDF

Recent Industry Developments

  • January 2025: Amcor completed its USD 8.43 billion merger with Berry Global, aiming for USD 650 million in annual synergies.
  • November 2024: ExxonMobil announced a USD 200 million expansion of advanced-recycling capacity at its Baytown and Beaumont sites targeting 1 billion lb annual output by 2027.
  • October 2024: Klöckner Pentaplast introduced recyclable barrier flow-wrap films with 95% single-material content.
  • October 2024: Accredo Packaging unveiled a 100% bio-based resin pouch derived from sugarcane for food applications.

Table of Contents for Global Plastic 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 E-commerce boom demanding durable last-mile packs
    • 4.2.2 Surge in convenience-food and beverage consumption
    • 4.2.3 Cost-competitive performance versus alternate substrates
    • 4.2.4 Expansion of chemical-recycling infrastructure
    • 4.2.5 Shift to mono-material films for EPR compliance
    • 4.2.6 EU tethered-cap rule driving specialty closures volume
  • 4.3 Market Restraints
    • 4.3.1 Global single-use plastic bans and taxes
    • 4.3.2 Volatile petro-feedstock prices
    • 4.3.3 Brand owners pivoting to paper-based flexibles
    • 4.3.4 Refill/reuse models cannibalising volume growth
  • 4.4 Supply-Chain Analysis
  • 4.5 Regulatory Outlook
  • 4.6 Technological Outlook
  • 4.7 Porter's Five Forces Analysis
    • 4.7.1 Threat of New Entrants
    • 4.7.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers
    • 4.7.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
    • 4.7.4 Threat of Substitutes
    • 4.7.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry
  • 4.8 Investment Analysis

5. MARKET SIZE AND GROWTH FORECASTS (VALUE)

  • 5.1 By Packaging Type
    • 5.1.1 Rigid Packaging Type
    • 5.1.1.1 Bottles and Jars
    • 5.1.1.2 Caps and Closures
    • 5.1.1.3 Trays and Containers
    • 5.1.1.4 Other Product Types
    • 5.1.2 Flexible Packaging Type
    • 5.1.2.1 Pouches and Bags
    • 5.1.2.2 Films and Wraps
    • 5.1.2.3 Other Product Types
  • 5.2 By Material
    • 5.2.1 Polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE)
    • 5.2.2 Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
    • 5.2.3 Polypropylene (PP)
    • 5.2.4 Polystyrene and EPS
    • 5.2.5 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
    • 5.2.6 Others (EVOH, Bioplastics, etc.)
  • 5.3 By End-user Industry
    • 5.3.1 Food
    • 5.3.2 Beverage
    • 5.3.3 Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
    • 5.3.4 Cosmetics and Personal Care
    • 5.3.5 Other End-user Industry
  • 5.4 By Distribution Channel
    • 5.4.1 Direct Sales
    • 5.4.2 Indirect Sales
  • 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 PLC
    • 6.4.3 Sealed Air Corporation
    • 6.4.4 ALPLA Group
    • 6.4.5 International Paper
    • 6.4.6 Pact Group
    • 6.4.7 Plastipak Holdings Inc.
    • 6.4.8 Huhtamaki Oyj
    • 6.4.9 UFlex Limited
    • 6.4.10 Constantia Flexibles
    • 6.4.11 Tetra Pak International SA
    • 6.4.12 Novolex
    • 6.4.13 Anchor Packaging LLC
    • 6.4.14 Liquibox (Olympus Partners)
    • 6.4.15 Quadpack Industries SA
    • 6.4.16 Dart Container Corporation
    • 6.4.17 American Packaging Corporation
    • 6.4.18 Printpack Inc.
    • 6.4.19 Winpak Ltd.
    • 6.4.20 Sigma Plastics Group
    • 6.4.21 Sonoco Products Company
    • 6.4.22 Transcontinental Inc.
    • 6.4.23 Greif, Inc.
    • 6.4.24 Coveris Group
    • 6.4.25 Nampak Ltd.

7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

  • 7.1 White-space and Unmet-need Assessment
You Can Purchase Parts Of This Report. Check Out Prices For Specific Sections
Get Price Break-up Now

Global Plastic Packaging Market Report Scope

The plastic packaging market is segmented into rigid plastic packaging (by material type [polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and other material types), product (bottles and jars, trays and containers, and other products], end-user industry [food, beverage, healthcare, cosmetics and personal care, and other end-user industries] and geography (North America {Material, End User- Industry, Countries[United States, Canada]}, Europe {Material, End User- Industry, Countries [United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe]}, Asia-Pacific {Material, End User- Industry, Countries[China, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, Rest of Asia-Pacific]}, Latin America {Material, End User- Industry, Countries [Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Rest of Latin America]}, and Middle East and Africa {Material, End User- Industry, Countries [United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Rest of Middle East and Africa]}). It is also segmented into flexible plastic packaging (by material type [polyethylene (PE), bi-orientated polypropylene (BOPP), cast polypropylene (CPP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), and other material types], product type [pouches, bags, films and wraps, and other product types], end-user industry [food, beverage, cosmetics and personal care, healthcare, and other end-user industry] and geography (North America {Material, End User- Industry, Countries [United States, Canada]}, Europe {Material, End User- Industry, Countries[United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe], Asia-Pacific {Material, End User- Industry, Countries[China, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, Rest of Asia-Pacific]}, Latin America {Material, End User- Industry, Countries [Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Rest of Latin America]}, and Middle East and Africa{Material, End User- Industry, Countries[United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Rest of Middle East and Africa]}. The Industry size and market forecasts are provided in terms of volume (tonnes) for all the above-mentioned segments.

By Packaging Type Rigid Packaging Type Bottles and Jars
Caps and Closures
Trays and Containers
Other Product Types
Flexible Packaging Type Pouches and Bags
Films and Wraps
Other Product Types
By Material Polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE)
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
Polypropylene (PP)
Polystyrene and EPS
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Others (EVOH, Bioplastics, etc.)
By End-user Industry Food
Beverage
Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
Cosmetics and Personal Care
Other End-user Industry
By Distribution Channel Direct Sales
Indirect Sales
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
Rigid Packaging Type Bottles and Jars
Caps and Closures
Trays and Containers
Other Product Types
Flexible Packaging Type Pouches and Bags
Films and Wraps
Other Product Types
By Material
Polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE)
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
Polypropylene (PP)
Polystyrene and EPS
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Others (EVOH, Bioplastics, etc.)
By End-user Industry
Food
Beverage
Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
Cosmetics and Personal Care
Other End-user Industry
By Distribution Channel
Direct Sales
Indirect Sales
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
Need A Different Region or Segment?
Customize Now

Key Questions Answered in the Report

What is the current size of the plastic packaging market?

The market is valued at USD 493.42 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 579.95 billion by 2030.

Which segment is growing fastest within the plastic packaging market?

Flexible packaging is expanding at a 4.56% CAGR, leading growth among all packaging-type segments.

Why is polypropylene gaining share against polyethylene?

Polypropylene offers better heat resistance, clarity, and barrier properties, enabling mono-material solutions that comply with strict recyclability mandates.

How are regulations influencing packaging design in Europe?

EU rules on tethered caps and EPR recycling targets push manufacturers toward specialty closures and mono-material films that meet recyclability thresholds.

What role does chemical recycling play in future supply chains?

Chemical recycling produces virgin-quality polymer from post-consumer waste, unlocking 100% recycled-content packs for food and healthcare applications and lowering resin procurement costs for early adopters.

Page last updated on: November 11, 2024

Global Plastic Packaging Market Report Snapshots