United Kingdom Packaging Market Size and Share

United Kingdom Packaging Market (2025 - 2030)
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United Kingdom Packaging Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The United Kingdom packaging market size reached USD 60.94 billion in 2025 and is forecast to climb to USD 68.18 billion by 2030, expanding at a 2.27% CAGR. Current momentum reflects a mature yet steadily evolving landscape shaped by post-Brexit border rules, tighter environmental mandates, e-commerce acceleration and pronounced cost inflation. Structural adjustments under the Border Target Operating Model raised compliance workloads and stretched lead times, prompting producers to localize inputs and automate customs documentation. Parallel expansion of the United Kingdom Plastic Packaging Tax and full roll-out of Extended Producer Responsibility sharpened the focus on recyclability, driving rapid substitution toward paper, mono-material plastics and bio-based films. Flexible formats gained share as online retail reached 31.3% of national sales, and value-added printing capabilities helped brands target niche audiences cost-effectively. Consolidation continued, highlighted by International Paper’s USD 7.54 billion acquisition of DS Smith, which created the region’s largest corrugated supplier but intensified antitrust scrutiny.

Key Report Takeaways

  • By packaging type, plastic held 48.54% of United Kingdom packaging market share in 2024 while paper is projected to expand at a 4.89% CAGR through 2030.
  • By packaging format, flexible solutions accounted for 54.86% of the United Kingdom packaging market size in 2024; rigid alternatives are forecast to grow at 3.75% CAGR to 2030.
  • By end-use sector, food applications led with 28.82% revenue share in 2024, whereas e-commerce packaging is advancing at a 5.64% CAGR through 2030.

Segment Analysis

By Packaging Type: Plastic Dominance Faces Sustainability Pressure

Plastic accounted for 48.54% of the United Kingdom packaging market share in 2024, underpinned by its versatility across food, beverage and personal-care categories. Rigid PET bottle light-weighting shaved 25% material mass over the decade while integration of post-consumer resin boosted recycled content credibility. Yet tightening tax thresholds and retailer zero-plastic pledges pivot growth toward paper, which delivers the fastest 4.89% CAGR through 2030 on expanding e-commerce corrugated volumes. The United Kingdom packaging market size for paper substrates will continue to widen as mono-material designs simplify curbside recycling.

Glass and metal regained relevance in premium drinks due to infinite recyclability and high perceived quality, contributing 3.2% and 4.1% respective annual growth. Beverage can volumes surged as craft breweries exploited aluminum’s light weight and rapid chilling properties, offsetting higher input costs via volume efficiencies. Meanwhile, bio-polymer films entered specialty applications where compostability commands price premiums. These shifts indicate that plastic’s leadership persists but erodes marginally as sustainability criteria increasingly influence material selection within the United Kingdom packaging market.

United Kingdom Packaging Market: Market Share by Packaging Type

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

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By Packaging Format: Flexible Solutions Capture Convenience Demand

Flexible formats captured 54.86% of United Kingdom packaging market size in 2024, benefiting from 60-70% material savings compared with rigid equivalents. Stand-up pouches penetrated pet food, baby food and household cleaner segments, combining resealability with shelf impact. Digital print modularity shortened time-to-shelf, empowering SME brands to execute seasonal promotions without large inventories. Consequently, flexible packaging posts a 3.75% CAGR through 2030 as e-commerce parcel density and consumer convenience expectations advance.

Rigid options remain essential in pressurized beverage, pharmaceutical and industrial chemical applications demanding superior barrier and crush resistance. Innovation centers on resin engineering and optimised preform geometries to reduce weight while preserving strength. Hybrid structures pairing rigid bases with flexible lids blur categorical boundaries, illustrating how format choice adapts to performance, channel and legislative drivers inside the United Kingdom packaging market.

By End-use Industry: Food Security Drives Packaging Innovation

Food applications generated 28.82% of 2024 demand, anchored by extended shelf life and contamination protection priorities. Vacuum skin packs curbed protein spoilage, while modified-atmosphere lidding prolonged produce freshness. Beverage producers substituted clear PET with rPET content exceeding 50%, aligning with retailer recycling targets and lowering carbon footprints. E-commerce exhibits the strongest 5.64% CAGR as direct-to-consumer shipments and rapid-grocer models escalate.

Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical segments expanded through population aging and self-care trends, necessitating child-resistant, tamper-evident and senior-friendly closures. Personal care brands invested in refill pods and concentrated formats that slash packaging intensity. Industrial sectors adopted UN-approved drums with IoT sensors for traceability and reverse-logistics management, signaling broader digitization across the United Kingdom packaging market.

United Kingdom Packaging Market: Market Share by End-use Industry

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

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Geography Analysis

England contributes roughly 84% of United Kingdom packaging demand, reflecting population concentration and extensive manufacturing footprints. London and the South East favor premium substrates for luxury retail, beauty and giftware, whereas the Midlands hosts automotive and FMCG plants reliant on bulk industrial packaging. Port-centric regions such as Dover, Felixstowe and Southampton absorbed elevated customs checks post-Brexit, extending inbound lead times and inflating buffer-stock requirements.

Scotland leverages its whisky heritage to promote high-quality flint and amber glass, with Diageo investing in lightweight bottle lines and onsite furnace electrification. Renewable power availability positions the Central Belt as an attractive base for energy-intensive recycling operations. Wales capitalizes on historic steel capacity to support metal can production, while Northern Ireland serves cross-border food processors with integrated corrugated and chilled-chain solutions despite regulatory complexity.

Regional labor dynamics influence cost structures: London and South East wages exceed Northern England and Wales by 15-20%, incentivizing capacity shifts toward lower-cost zones. Government leveling-up grants encouraged greenfield investments in the North East for corrugated and flexographic printing lines, balancing regional growth and reducing carbon miles. Collectively, these patterns underscore geographic fluidity as converters optimize networks to serve the evolving United Kingdom packaging market efficiently.

Competitive Landscape

The top five suppliers control about 35% of United Kingdom packaging value, indicating moderate concentration and leaving scope for agile mid-tier specialists. International Paper’s acquisition of DS Smith consolidated corrugated leadership and delivered procurement synergies, but drew attention from the Competition and Markets Authority.[3]Competition and Markets Authority, “Merger Investigations,” GOV.UK Smurfit WestRock’s USD 180 million plant upgrade expanded e-commerce-centric converting capacity, reinforcing speed-to-market capabilities.

Mondi’s proprietary barrier coatings unlock recyclable mono-material food wraps, while Sealed Air’s bubble-free cushioning reduces void fill by 90% for parcel shippers. Digital press platforms from Canon and HP enable SKU proliferation without prohibitive tool costs, supporting startup brands and private-label lines. Sustainability credentials increasingly influence tender awards, driving suppliers to certify carbon footprints, validate recycled content, and disclose circular roadmaps.

Labor automation mitigates skilled-worker shortages and maintains consistent quality. Vision-inspection, cobot palletizing and warehouse robotics proliferate, trimming unit labor costs and enhancing traceability. In parallel, data analytics optimize production scheduling, raw-material ordering and energy usage. Collectively, these strategic moves highlight how capital investment, environmental stewardship and customer intimacy shape competition within the United Kingdom packaging market.

United Kingdom Packaging Industry Leaders

  1. International Paper Company

  2. Smurfit WestRock

  3. Amcor plc

  4. Mondi plc

  5. Ball Corporation

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

  • December 2024: Ball Corporation inaugurated a USD 200 million beverage-can plant in Wakefield, adding 2 billion-unit annual output.
  • November 2024: Sealed Air introduced bubble-free protective packaging that cuts single-use plastic air pillows by 90% across United Kingdom fulfillment sites.
  • October 2024: Crown Holdings invested USD 85 million to lightweight food-can lines in Wantage, reducing steel usage 15%.
  • September 2024: Huhtamaki achieved Forest Stewardship Council certification for United Kingdom paperboard operations, validating sustainable fiber sourcing.

Table of Contents for United Kingdom 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 Rising e Commerce driven demand for corrugated and flexible mailers
    • 4.2.2 Shift towards recyclable and biobased materials due to United Kingdom Plastic Tax
    • 4.2.3 Premiumization and luxury packaging demand from millennials and tourism
    • 4.2.4 Growing FMCG private label expansion in discount channels requiring cost-efficient packaging
    • 4.2.5 Growth of dark kitchens and quick commerce creating single-portion packaging needs
    • 4.2.6 Adoption of digital printing for short runs enabling customization for SME brands
  • 4.3 Market Restraints
    • 4.3.1 High raw-material price volatility for resins and paper
    • 4.3.2 Strict United Kingdom regulations on single-use plastics and Extended Producer Responsibility costs
    • 4.3.3 Supply-chain disruptions post-Brexit impacting imported packaging components
    • 4.3.4 Labor shortages in manufacturing and logistics escalating operational costs
  • 4.4 Industry Value Chain Analysis
  • 4.5 Technological Outlook
  • 4.6 Regulatory Landscape
  • 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
  • 4.8 Impact of Macroeconomic Factors

5. MARKET SIZE AND GROWTH FORECASTS (VALUE)

  • 5.1 By Packaging Type
    • 5.1.1 Plastic Packaging
    • 5.1.1.1 By Type
    • 5.1.1.1.1 Rigid Plastic Packaging
    • 5.1.1.1.1.1 By Material Type
    • 5.1.1.1.1.1.1 Polyethylene (PE)
    • 5.1.1.1.1.1.2 Polypropylene (PP)
    • 5.1.1.1.1.1.3 Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
    • 5.1.1.1.1.1.4 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
    • 5.1.1.1.1.1.5 Polystyrene (PS) and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
    • 5.1.1.1.1.1.6 Other Material Types
    • 5.1.1.1.1.2 By Product Type
    • 5.1.1.1.1.2.1 Bottles and Jars
    • 5.1.1.1.1.2.2 Caps and Closures
    • 5.1.1.1.1.2.3 Trays and Containers
    • 5.1.1.1.1.2.4 Other Product Types
    • 5.1.1.1.1.3 By End-use Industry
    • 5.1.1.1.1.3.1 Food
    • 5.1.1.1.1.3.2 Beverage
    • 5.1.1.1.1.3.3 Pharmaceutical
    • 5.1.1.1.1.3.4 Cosmetics and Personal Care
    • 5.1.1.1.1.3.5 Industrial
    • 5.1.1.1.1.3.6 Other End-use Industry
    • 5.1.1.1.2 Flexible Plastic Packaging
    • 5.1.1.1.2.1 By Material Type
    • 5.1.1.1.2.1.1 Polyethylene (PE)
    • 5.1.1.1.2.1.2 Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP)
    • 5.1.1.1.2.1.3 Cast Polypropylene (CPP)
    • 5.1.1.1.2.1.4 Other Material Types
    • 5.1.1.1.2.2 By Product Type
    • 5.1.1.1.2.2.1 Pouches and Bags
    • 5.1.1.1.2.2.2 Films and Wraps
    • 5.1.1.1.2.2.3 Other Product Types
    • 5.1.1.1.2.3 By End-use Industry
    • 5.1.1.1.2.3.1 Food
    • 5.1.1.1.2.3.2 Beverage
    • 5.1.1.1.2.3.3 Pharmaceutical
    • 5.1.1.1.2.3.4 Cosmetics and Personal Care
    • 5.1.1.1.2.3.5 Industrial
    • 5.1.1.1.2.3.6 Other End-use Industry
    • 5.1.1.2 By Product Type
    • 5.1.1.2.1 Bottles and Jars
    • 5.1.1.2.2 Pouches and Bags
    • 5.1.1.2.3 Bulk-Grade Products
    • 5.1.1.2.4 Other Product Types
    • 5.1.1.3 By End-use Industry
    • 5.1.1.3.1 Food
    • 5.1.1.3.2 Beverages
    • 5.1.1.3.3 Cosmetics and Personal Care
    • 5.1.1.3.4 Pharamceuticals
    • 5.1.1.3.5 Industrial
    • 5.1.1.3.6 Other End-use Industry
    • 5.1.2 Paper Packaging
    • 5.1.2.1 By Product Type
    • 5.1.2.1.1 Folding Carton
    • 5.1.2.1.2 Corrugated Boxes
    • 5.1.2.1.3 Liquid Paperboard
    • 5.1.2.1.4 Other Product Type
    • 5.1.2.2 By End-use Industry
    • 5.1.2.2.1 Food
    • 5.1.2.2.2 Beverages
    • 5.1.2.2.3 E-commerce
    • 5.1.2.2.4 Other End-use Industry
    • 5.1.3 Container Glass
    • 5.1.3.1 By Color
    • 5.1.3.1.1 Green
    • 5.1.3.1.2 Amber
    • 5.1.3.1.3 Flint
    • 5.1.3.1.4 Other Colors
    • 5.1.3.2 By End-use Industry
    • 5.1.3.2.1 Food
    • 5.1.3.2.2 Beverage
    • 5.1.3.2.2.1 Alcoholic
    • 5.1.3.2.2.2 Non-Alcoholic
    • 5.1.3.2.3 Personal Care and Cosmetics
    • 5.1.3.2.4 Pharmaceuticals (excluding Vials and Ampoules)
    • 5.1.3.2.5 Perfumery
    • 5.1.4 Metal Cans and Containers
    • 5.1.4.1 By Material Type
    • 5.1.4.1.1 Steel
    • 5.1.4.1.2 Aluminum
    • 5.1.4.2 By Product Type
    • 5.1.4.2.1 Cans
    • 5.1.4.2.2 Drums and Barrels
    • 5.1.4.2.3 Caps and Closures
    • 5.1.4.2.4 Other Product Type
    • 5.1.4.3 By End-use Industry
    • 5.1.4.3.1 Food
    • 5.1.4.3.2 Beverage
    • 5.1.4.3.3 Chemicals and Petroleum
    • 5.1.4.3.4 Industrial
    • 5.1.4.3.5 Paints and coatings
    • 5.1.4.3.6 Other End-use Industry
  • 5.2 By Packaging Format
    • 5.2.1 Flexible
    • 5.2.2 Rigid
  • 5.3 By End-use Industry
    • 5.3.1 Food
    • 5.3.2 Beverage
    • 5.3.3 Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare
    • 5.3.4 Personal Care and Cosmetics
    • 5.3.5 Industrial
    • 5.3.6 E-commerce
    • 5.3.7 Other End-use Industry

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 International Paper Company
    • 6.4.2 Smurfit WestRock
    • 6.4.3 Amcor plc
    • 6.4.4 Mondi plc
    • 6.4.5 Ball Corporation
    • 6.4.6 Crown Holdings Inc.
    • 6.4.7 Sealed Air Corporation
    • 6.4.8 Sonoco Products Company
    • 6.4.9 Graphic Packaging International LLC
    • 6.4.10 Greif Inc.
    • 6.4.11 Silgan Holdings Inc.
    • 6.4.12 AptarGroup Inc.
    • 6.4.13 Huhtamaki Oyj
    • 6.4.14 Tetra Pak International SA
    • 6.4.15 CAN-PACK UK Ltd.
    • 6.4.16 Ardagh Group S.A.
    • 6.4.17 RPC Group Ltd.
    • 6.4.18 Klckner Pentaplast Ltd.
    • 6.4.19 Coveris Holdings S.A.

7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

  • 7.1 White-space and Unmet-need Assessment
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United Kingdom Packaging Market Report Scope

Packaging is part of the multifaceted system that provides products from the point of manufacture to the point of consumption. Its principal purpose is to guard and ensure the safe and secure delivery of the product in its flawless and perfect condition to the end user (manufacturer or consumer). Its role in a circular economy is to sustain a product's value for as long as required and to help remove product waste.

The packaging market in the United Kingdom is segmented by end-user vertical (food, beverage, healthcare, cosmetics, personal care and household care, and industrial), plastic packaging (material type (polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate), type (rigid plastic packaging (bottles and jars, trays, and containers), flexible plastic packaging (pouches and bags, films, and wraps))), and packaging material type (paper (carton board, containerboard, and linerboard), glass, and metal). The market sizes and forecasts are provided in terms of value (USD) for all the above segments.

By Packaging Type
Plastic Packaging By Type Rigid Plastic Packaging By Material Type Polyethylene (PE)
Polypropylene (PP)
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Polystyrene (PS) and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
Other Material Types
By Product Type Bottles and Jars
Caps and Closures
Trays and Containers
Other Product Types
By End-use Industry Food
Beverage
Pharmaceutical
Cosmetics and Personal Care
Industrial
Other End-use Industry
Flexible Plastic Packaging By Material Type Polyethylene (PE)
Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP)
Cast Polypropylene (CPP)
Other Material Types
By Product Type Pouches and Bags
Films and Wraps
Other Product Types
By End-use Industry Food
Beverage
Pharmaceutical
Cosmetics and Personal Care
Industrial
Other End-use Industry
By Product Type Bottles and Jars
Pouches and Bags
Bulk-Grade Products
Other Product Types
By End-use Industry Food
Beverages
Cosmetics and Personal Care
Pharamceuticals
Industrial
Other End-use Industry
Paper Packaging By Product Type Folding Carton
Corrugated Boxes
Liquid Paperboard
Other Product Type
By End-use Industry Food
Beverages
E-commerce
Other End-use Industry
Container Glass By Color Green
Amber
Flint
Other Colors
By End-use Industry Food
Alcoholic
Non-Alcoholic
Personal Care and Cosmetics
Pharmaceuticals (excluding Vials and Ampoules)
Perfumery
Metal Cans and Containers By Material Type Steel
Aluminum
By Product Type Cans
Drums and Barrels
Caps and Closures
Other Product Type
By End-use Industry Food
Beverage
Chemicals and Petroleum
Industrial
Paints and coatings
Other End-use Industry
By Packaging Format
Flexible
Rigid
By End-use Industry
Food
Beverage
Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare
Personal Care and Cosmetics
Industrial
E-commerce
Other End-use Industry
By Packaging Type Plastic Packaging By Type Rigid Plastic Packaging By Material Type Polyethylene (PE)
Polypropylene (PP)
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Polystyrene (PS) and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
Other Material Types
By Product Type Bottles and Jars
Caps and Closures
Trays and Containers
Other Product Types
By End-use Industry Food
Beverage
Pharmaceutical
Cosmetics and Personal Care
Industrial
Other End-use Industry
Flexible Plastic Packaging By Material Type Polyethylene (PE)
Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP)
Cast Polypropylene (CPP)
Other Material Types
By Product Type Pouches and Bags
Films and Wraps
Other Product Types
By End-use Industry Food
Beverage
Pharmaceutical
Cosmetics and Personal Care
Industrial
Other End-use Industry
By Product Type Bottles and Jars
Pouches and Bags
Bulk-Grade Products
Other Product Types
By End-use Industry Food
Beverages
Cosmetics and Personal Care
Pharamceuticals
Industrial
Other End-use Industry
Paper Packaging By Product Type Folding Carton
Corrugated Boxes
Liquid Paperboard
Other Product Type
By End-use Industry Food
Beverages
E-commerce
Other End-use Industry
Container Glass By Color Green
Amber
Flint
Other Colors
By End-use Industry Food
Alcoholic
Non-Alcoholic
Personal Care and Cosmetics
Pharmaceuticals (excluding Vials and Ampoules)
Perfumery
Metal Cans and Containers By Material Type Steel
Aluminum
By Product Type Cans
Drums and Barrels
Caps and Closures
Other Product Type
By End-use Industry Food
Beverage
Chemicals and Petroleum
Industrial
Paints and coatings
Other End-use Industry
By Packaging Format Flexible
Rigid
By End-use Industry Food
Beverage
Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare
Personal Care and Cosmetics
Industrial
E-commerce
Other End-use Industry
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Key Questions Answered in the Report

What is the current value of the United Kingdom packaging market?

The United Kingdom packaging market size stands at USD 60.94 billion in 2025.

How fast is the United Kingdom packaging sector expected to grow?

The market is projected to register a 2.27% CAGR, reaching USD 68.18 billion by 2030.

Which material type is expanding the quickest?

Paper packaging leads growth with a 4.89% CAGR thanks to e-commerce and sustainability mandates.

What segment represents the largest share of demand?

Food applications command 28.82% of total demand, reflecting stringent shelf-life and safety needs.

How will e-commerce influence future packaging demand?

E-commerce packaging is forecast to post the fastest 5.64% CAGR, driven by direct-to-consumer shipments and quick-commerce services.

Which United Kingdom policy most affects packaging material choices?

The Plastic Packaging Tax, which charges GBP 200 per tonne on packs containing less than 30% recycled content, strongly encourages recyclable and bio-based alternatives.

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