PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1931520
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1931520
Plastic-free packaging refers to packaging solutions that eliminate plastic materials, opting for environmentally friendly alternatives. These alternatives are designed to reduce environmental impact, minimize plastic waste, and promote sustainability within the packaging industry.
The primary types of plastic-free packaging include pouches, boxes and cartons, bottles, blisters, trays, and others. Pouches, being flexible and lightweight, are commonly used for liquids, snacks, and ready-to-eat meals, offering convenience in handling, storage, and disposal, making them ideal for various consumer goods. Materials used for plastic-free packaging include paper, glass, metal, aluminum foil, and others. These solutions are employed by various end users, including those in the food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, personal care and cosmetics, consumer goods, and electrical and electronics industries.
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 plastic free packaging market by increasing costs of imported paper pulp, specialty fibers, bio-based coatings, and processing machinery required for sustainable packaging production. Food and consumer goods manufacturers in Europe and North America are most affected due to reliance on imported raw materials, while Asia-Pacific faces higher costs for export-oriented packaging solutions. These tariffs are raising production costs and influencing pricing strategies. However, they are also encouraging local sourcing of raw materials, domestic manufacturing expansion, and innovation in cost-effective plastic free packaging alternatives.
The plastic free packaging market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides plastic free packaging market statistics, including plastic free packaging industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a plastic free packaging market share, detailed plastic free packaging market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the plastic free packaging industry. This plastic free 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 plastic free packaging market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $6.58 billion in 2025 to $7.19 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising environmental awareness among consumers, implementation of plastic reduction policies, increased availability of alternative packaging materials, expansion of sustainable packaging suppliers, growth of eco-conscious consumer brands.
The plastic free packaging market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $10.24 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing bans on single-use plastics, rising investments in sustainable packaging innovation, growing demand from food and beverage brands, expansion of circular economy packaging models, increasing adoption of biodegradable materials. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of paper-based packaging solutions, rising use of compostable and plant-based materials, growing demand for plastic-free food packaging, expansion of recyclable mono-material designs, enhanced focus on regulatory-compliant sustainable packaging.
The increasing popularity of e-commerce and online retail is expected to drive the growth of the plastic-free packaging market in the future. E-commerce refers to the buying and selling of goods and services via the internet, while online retail specifically focuses on the direct sale of products to consumers through digital platforms. The rise of e-commerce and online retail is fueled by factors such as convenience, broader product selections, competitive pricing, and the growing adoption of digital technologies by consumers. Plastic-free packaging benefits e-commerce and online retail by enhancing sustainability, minimizing environmental impact, and meeting consumer demand for eco-friendly options, all while ensuring product safety and appealing to environmentally conscious shoppers. For example, according to data from the United States Census Bureau, in the second quarter of 2024, U.S. retail e-commerce sales reached $291.6 billion, reflecting a 6.7% increase compared to the same quarter in 2023 and a 1.3% rise from the first quarter of 2024. As a result, the growing popularity of e-commerce and online retail is contributing to the growth of the plastic-free packaging market.
Key players in the plastic-free packaging market are focusing on the development of bio-based material innovations, such as seaweed-derived thermoplastic resins, to enhance sustainability, compostability, and provide alternatives to conventional plastics. Seaweed-derived thermoplastic resins are plant-based polymers produced from ocean-farmed seaweed and designed for processing with existing plastic manufacturing equipment, enabling applications such as flexible film production, heat sealing, and compatibility with standard packaging machinery. For example, in February 2024, Sway, a US-based sustainable materials and packaging company, introduced TPSea Flex Film, a seaweed-derived thermoplastic material intended to replace single-use plastic films in flexible packaging. The product features a petroleum-free composition, a compostable end-of-life profile, and processability on standard converting lines. TPSea Flex Film supports environmental sustainability, reduces reliance on plastics, and promotes the adoption of circular packaging solutions.
In December 2024, Cartonpack Group, an Italy-based provider of flexible packaging, acquired a majority stake in FIMAT S.p.A. for an undisclosed amount. With this acquisition, Cartonpack seeks to expand its portfolio of sustainable packaging solutions and strengthen its position in the market for ecological packaging of fresh and perishable products. FIMAT S.p.A. specializes in eco-friendly packaging solutions for fresh and perishable goods using sustainable materials.
Major companies operating in the plastic free packaging market are WestRock Company, International Paper Company, Amcor plc, Tetra Pak International S.A., Huhtamaki OYJ, Mondi plc, Futamura Group, Beatson Clark Limited, Vegware Ltd., TemperPack Technologies Inc., PaperFoam B.V., BioPak Pty Ltd, Pappco Greenware Pvt. Ltd., TIPA Corporation Ltd., Alter Eco Americas PBC, Sulapac Ltd., No Evil Foods Inc., Ecologic Brands Inc., EnviGreen Biotech Pvt. Ltd., Loop Industries Inc.
North America was the largest region in the plastic free packaging market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the plastic free 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 plastic free packaging market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The plastic-free packaging market consists of sales of packaging solutions, rigid packaging, flexible packaging, and hybrid packaging. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, meaning the value of goods sold by manufacturers, whether to other entities (such as wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services provided 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.
Plastic Free 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 plastic free 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 plastic free 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 plastic free 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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