PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1931317
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1931317
Flexible paper packaging encompasses the use of non-rigid paper-based materials for packaging, offering cost-effective and customizable alternatives. It's employed in the packaging and preservation of pharmaceuticals, food, beverages, and non-food items, gaining popularity due to its efficacy and affordability.
Primary packaging types within flexible paper packaging include pouches, roll stock, shrink sleeves, wraps, and others. Flexible pouches, as single-use containers, are typically composed of plastic, metal foil, and occasionally paper. Various printing technologies such as rotogravure, flexography, digital printing, and others are utilized across applications in food, spirits, beverages, healthcare, beauty, personal care, and various other sectors.
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 flexible paper packaging market by increasing costs of imported specialty paper, coatings, inks, and printing machinery used across pouches, wraps, and rollstock formats. Packaging manufacturers in North America and Europe are most affected due to reliance on imported raw materials, while Asia-Pacific faces export-related pricing pressure. These tariffs are increasing production costs and affecting pricing strategies. However, they are also encouraging regional paper sourcing, domestic printing investments, and innovation in cost-efficient sustainable packaging solutions.
The flexible paper packaging market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides flexible paper packaging market statistics, including flexible paper packaging industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a flexible paper packaging market share, detailed flexible paper packaging market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the flexible paper packaging industry. This flexible paper 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 flexible paper packaging market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $69.59 billion in 2025 to $73.71 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in packaged food consumption, expansion of retail and e-commerce packaging demand, increasing adoption of paper over plastic materials, advancements in paper coating technologies, rising focus on cost-efficient packaging solutions.
The flexible paper packaging market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $91.28 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing demand for recyclable packaging formats, increasing regulatory pressure on plastic reduction, expansion of smart and functional paper packaging, rising investments in sustainable packaging infrastructure, increasing customization in flexible packaging design. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of paper-based sustainable packaging, rising demand for lightweight flexible packaging formats, growing use of digital and custom printing technologies, expansion of food-grade flexible paper solutions, enhanced focus on shelf-life optimization.
The growing demand for processed food is expected to drive the expansion of the flexible paper packaging market in the coming years. Processed food refers to food products that undergo mechanical or chemical processing to preserve them or modify their characteristics. These products are commonly packaged in boxes or bags and typically contain multiple ingredients. Flexible paper packaging is widely used to enclose processed food items, helping protect them from tampering and contamination caused by physical, chemical, or biological factors while maintaining product freshness and safety. For example, in April 2024, according to data published by the National Association of Convenience Stores, a US-based trade association, total convenience industry sales reached $859.8 billion in 2023. In-store sales accounted for $327.6 billion, with the average basket size increasing by 3.7% to $7.80, while foodservice sales represented 26.9% of in-store sales, reflecting a 1.3 percentage point increase compared with the previous year. Therefore, the rising demand for processed food is contributing to the growth of the flexible paper packaging market.
Companies operating in the flexible paper packaging market are increasingly adopting new technologies, such as mono-material packaging solutions, to maintain their competitive position. Mono-material technology represents an innovative and sustainable approach to flexible packaging that enhances recyclability without compromising product protection or cost efficiency. For instance, in May 2023, Huhtamaki Oyj, a Finland-based food packaging specialist, developed an advanced mono-material technology for flexible packaging applications. This solution offers three material options-paper, polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP) retort-with mono-material content reaching up to 95% for PE and at least 90% for paper and PP. The technology ensures strong protective barriers, recyclability, and affordability, delivering reliable packaging solutions for food products and household essentials while supporting sustainability goals.
In June 2024, Coveris Holdings S.A., an Austria-based manufacturing company, acquired HADEPOL FLEXO Sp. z o.o. for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Coveris aimed to strengthen its flexible packaging capabilities and expand its presence in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly by enhancing its offerings for bakery and confectionery customers. HADEPOL FLEXO Sp. z o.o. is a Poland-based manufacturer specializing in flexible paper and film-based packaging solutions for bakeries, supermarkets, and confectionery products.
Major companies operating in the flexible paper packaging market are Mondi PLC, Smurfit Kappa Group PLC, Stora Enso Oyj, DS Smith PLC, WestRock Company, Graphic Packaging International Corporation, Huhtamaki Oyj, Sonoco Products Company, Sappi Limited, Ahlstrom-Munksjo Oyj, Nippon Paper Industries Co Ltd, Oji Holdings Corporation, International Paper Company, Packaging Corporation of America, Mayr Melnhof Karton AG, Metsa Board Oyj, Lecta Group, Koehler Paper Group, Billerud AB, Asia Pulp and Paper Group
North America was the largest region in the flexible paper packaging market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the flexible paper 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 flexible paper packaging market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The flexible paper packaging market consists of sales of coated kraft paper, uncoated kraft paper, sack kraft paper, gift wraps. 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.
Flexible Paper 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 flexible paper 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 flexible paper 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 flexible paper 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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