United Kingdom Corrugated Packaging - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The United Kingdom Corrugated Packaging Market size is estimated at USD 4.07 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 4.63 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 2.59% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Depending on the application, corrugated packaging is found in different styles, shapes, and sizes. Due to its 100% recyclability and cost-effectiveness, it is widely used in the packaging industry.

Key Highlights

• Corrugated boards are highly versatile and can take various forms other than the box. It still is the most commonly used packaging material in the UK. They are slowly replacing flexible plastic bags due to sustainability issues. Moreover, corrugated boxes act as a perfect base to hold several types of printing techniques. Due to this, companies tend to prefer corrugated packaging as a marketing tool. Also, it is used for a very wide range of food, grocery, and manufactured products.
• According to the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI ), association Papers and board consumption in the United Kingdom reached 10 million metric tons in 2021, a slight increase compared to 2020. Packaging is the most consumed type of paper and board in the UK.
• The United Kingdom has encouraged manufacturers to take responsibility for using sustainable packaging solutions. Corrugated boards have always been a popular choice of packaging due to their strength, cushioning, and protective, flexible, and recyclable properties.
• Moreover, corrugated boxes are becoming the packaging of choice across a wide range of industries, from transportation and e-commerce services to the food and drinks industry in the region. The demand for convenience foods is on the rise due to the busy lifestyle of people. The rise of e-commerce, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has heightened the need for corrugated packaging solutions in the country.
• Growing government regulations for companies to adopt sustainable packaging materials to reduce packaging waste further drives the demand for corrugated board packaging. For instance, in November 2021, the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers (FEFCO), which represents the corrugated packaging industry across Europe, including the United Kingdom, released its corrugated packaging recyclability guidelines aimed at optimizing recyclability via design parameters for paper and board packaging.
• However, paper cannot be recycled indefinitely, as the fibers get weaker when recycled and need to be replenished. The paper industry heavily depends on a supply of high-quality fibers that come from sustainable sources and are responsibly sourced. This, in turn, could hinder market growth in the forecast timeframe.
• The demand for corrugated packaging in the UK is witnessing significant growth due to the demand for transport packaging of essential products, such as packaging for food and other consumer products, medical and pharmaceutical and tissues, and hygiene products.

United Kingdom Corrugated Packaging Market Trends

E-commerce Industry Expected to Stimulate Demand

• The e-commerce industry in the UK is witnessing a significant transformation in consumer behavior owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has boosted e-commerce business as it has changed the way consumers shop. Consumers prefer to buy online rather than shopping at physical stores. Also, the recent economic slowdown has negatively influenced e-commerce package/retail sales; e-commerce retail sales have continued to rise, providing significant potential for corrugated packaging suppliers.
• Additionally, several e-commerce firms such as Amazon, Tesco, Argos, Currys, and others have benefited from using corrugated-based packaging. These corrugated boxes can help the company achieve savings of 7%-36%, depending on the box size, and can manufacture boxes with 30% greater stacking strength and crush resistance while using lighter-weight materials for the bottom panel of the box.
• According to Web retailer, in 2021, the United Kingdom was the third-largest e-commerce market globally. Online retail sales reached USD 131 billion annually, behind only China and the United States. Additionally, the UK is one of the most developed markets for e-commerce globally, with online sales making up 23% of total UK retail sales.
• Moreover, according to Office for National Statistics (UK), The United Kingdom is one o the leading market in Europe for online shopping. The revenue of e-commerce in the United Kingdom amounted to GBP 129 billion in 2021, compared to GBP 112.7 billion in 2015, which is 15% higher than in 2015.

Fresh Food and Produce Industry Expected to Gain Significant Traction

• The food industry is rapidly moving towards eco-friendly packaging by adopting corrugated board packaging solutions. The increasing concern towards hygiene in food packaging has mandated several standards for the packaging industry and stimulated the adoption of eco-friendly packaging solutions.
• Fruit packing necessitates extreme caution due to the product's fragile and perishable nature. Regarding rigid fruit transport packaging, corrugated fiberboard (CFB) is the most environmentally friendly solution. Corrugated boxes have recently gained a large following among fruit exporters because of their improved adaptability for air, sea, and road transport.
• According to the most recent sales figures, health-conscious Britons drive the highest demand for fruit and vegetables this century. Stay-at-home Brits with more free time have spent more at home cooking since the first lockdown began in 2020.
• Similarly, fruit such as apples, pears, and berries witnessed record growth in 2021, while chestnut mushrooms, strong in vitamin D, saw a significant surge in popularity over the last 12 months. Therefore, the United Kingdom's fruit industry presents a huge corrugated box packaging market.
• Additionally, according to Office for National Statistics (UK), the revenue of the industry's manufacture of corrugated paper and paperboard and containers of paper and paperboard in the United Kingdom will amount to USD 6,15 billion by 2025. The steady increase in the demand for corrugated paper and paperboard from 2015 is supported by increasing utilization in numerous industries for packaging.

United Kingdom Corrugated Packaging Industry Overview

The competitive landscape of the United Kingdom Corrugated Packaging Market is fragmented owing to the presence of several regional players and the rapid emergence of new solution providers in the region. Also, several global players are expanding their global presence by expanding their operations in the United Kingdom. The market players are also forming strategic partnerships and collaborations to boost their market presence and gain maximum market traction.

• October 2021 - Smurfit Kappa Group acquired a 600,000-ton containerboard mill Verzuolo in Northern Italy, for a purchase price of EUR 360 million. This mill complements the company's existing operations and is strategically located close to the port of Savona, which delivers significant benefits for the company in logistics and operations.
• June 2021 - Smurfit Kappa Group announced an investment of EUR 24 million to expand its corrugated plant in Rethel, North-East France. The investment will facilitate the consolidation of two existing facilities at that plant and the installation of a new corrugator and conversion equipment.

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