PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1929992
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1929992
E-commerce packaging refers to the materials and techniques used to package products sold online for shipment and delivery to customers. It is essential for protecting items during transit, improving the customer experience, and reinforcing brand identity.
The main types of e-commerce packaging products include corrugated boxes, poly bags, tapes, protective packaging, mailers, and others. Corrugated boxes, made from fluted paperboard between two flat liners, are durable and cost-effective, making them well-suited for safeguarding goods during e-commerce shipping. Packaging is classified into flexible and rigid types, and a variety of materials are used, such as plastics, corrugated board, paper and paperboard, and wood. These packaging products cater to numerous end-use industries, including electronics and appliances, apparel and accessories, beauty and personal care, home and kitchen, food and beverages, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, among others.
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
Tariffs are impacting the e-commerce packaging market by increasing costs of imported corrugated board, plastic films, adhesives, and packaging machinery. Online retailers and fulfillment centers in North America and Europe are most affected due to reliance on imported packaging inputs, while Asia-Pacific faces cost pressure on export-oriented packaging production. These tariffs are increasing operational costs and packaging expenses. However, they are also encouraging regional packaging production, local material sourcing, and innovation in sustainable and lightweight e-commerce packaging solutions.
The e-commerce packaging market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides e-commerce packaging market statistics, including e-commerce packaging industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a e-commerce packaging market share, detailed e-commerce packaging market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the e-commerce packaging industry. This e-commerce packaging market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The e-commerce packaging market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $98.34 billion in 2025 to $114.36 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of online retail platforms, expansion of last-mile delivery networks, increasing demand for damage-free shipping, availability of low-cost packaging materials, growth of fulfillment center infrastructure.
The e-commerce packaging market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $207.17 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.0%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing adoption of recyclable packaging materials, rising focus on cost-efficient packaging designs, expansion of cross-border e-commerce trade, growing investments in smart packaging technologies, increasing emphasis on customer experience enhancement. Major trends in the forecast period include rising demand for protective and lightweight packaging solutions, increasing adoption of corrugated and flexible packaging, growing focus on sustainable e-commerce packaging, expansion of customized and branded packaging, enhanced integration of automated packaging systems.
The increase in online shopping is expected to drive growth in the e-commerce packaging market moving forward. Online shopping involves purchasing goods or services via the internet using web browsers or mobile applications. This growth is largely due to greater internet and smartphone penetration, which makes it easier for consumers to browse, compare, and buy products anytime and anywhere. E-commerce packaging plays a crucial role in ensuring products are delivered securely, creating a positive unboxing experience, and reinforcing brand identity. For example, in February 2025, the Census Bureau, a US government agency, reported that total e-commerce sales in 2024 were estimated at $1,192.6 billion, representing an 8.1% increase (+-1.1) from 2023. E-commerce made up 16.1% of total retail sales in 2024, up from 15.3% the previous year. Hence, the growth of online shopping is fueling the expansion of the e-commerce packaging market.
Leading companies in the e-commerce packaging market are focusing on innovative products like resealable packaging solutions to improve customer convenience, reduce product returns, and promote sustainable packaging. Resealable e-commerce packaging is designed for online retail shipments, allowing customers to easily open and reseal the package for returns or reuse. This reduces the hassle of return shipping, enhances customer convenience, and supports sustainability by lowering the need for extra packaging materials. For instance, in January 2025, DS Smith Plc, a UK-based fiber packaging manufacturer, introduced Tape Back, a packaging solution that eliminates single-use plastic tear strips in e-commerce packaging. Tape Back uses a single glue strip that works for both initial shipment and potential returns, significantly cutting material waste and encouraging sustainable returns. This design simplifies the returns process for both suppliers and consumers while improving recyclability by removing non-recyclable plastics, aligning with DS Smith's commitment to sustainability and circular packaging in the e-commerce industry.
In April 2025, American Box Company, a US-based manufacturer, acquired Covenant Packaging for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition aims to combine expertise and resources to enhance packaging solutions, strengthen customer supply chains, and foster growth and innovation under a unified brand in the corrugated packaging market. Covenant Packaging Inc., also US-based, specializes in custom corrugated box e-commerce packaging solutions.
Major companies operating in the e-commerce packaging market are WestRock Company, International Paper Company, Amcor plc, Stora Enso Oyj, Mondi plc, DS Smith plc, Huhtamaki Oyj, RAJA Group, Oliver Inc., PakFactory Inc., Packhelp, The Packaging Company, XpressPac Inc, Allpack Group Ltd, Packlane Inc., Pakko Pty Ltd, Salazar Packaging Inc., Smurfit Kappa Group plc, Maco Pkg
Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the e-commerce packaging market in 2025. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the e-commerce packaging market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.
The countries covered in the e-commerce packaging market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The e-commerce packaging market consists of sales of mailer boxes, folding cartons, shipping envelopes, bubble wrap, corrugated inserts and shipping labels. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
E-Commerce Packaging Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses e-commerce packaging market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for e-commerce packaging ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The e-commerce packaging market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
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