PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1931612
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1931612
Single-use packaging refers to packaging that is designed for one-time use, providing non-repetitive packaging materials for various commodities. It is utilized to reduce packaging costs in industries and can be easily recycled. Single-use packaging is commonly employed in packaging commodities such as food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, personal care and cosmetics, among others. The materials used in single-use packaging include paper, paperboard, plastic, glass, and other disposable or recyclable materials.
The primary product categories within the single-use packaging market are rigid packaging and flexible packaging. Rigid packaging is characterized by its strength and inability to bend or be forced out of shape. It provides structure and support for products and includes materials such as corrugated and paperboard boxes, plastic bottles and boxes, aluminum cans, and glass jars. These materials are employed across various industries, including food, beverage, personal care, pharmaceuticals, and others. The single-use packaging market encompasses different material types, such as paper and paperboard, plastic, glass, and 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 single-use packaging market by increasing costs of imported plastic resins, paperboard, specialty films, coatings, and packaging machinery. Food, beverage, and pharmaceutical packaging producers in North America and Europe are most affected due to reliance on imported raw materials, while Asia-Pacific faces higher export-related cost pressures. These tariffs are increasing packaging costs and influencing pricing strategies. However, they are also encouraging domestic material production, recycling infrastructure development, and innovation in sustainable and biodegradable single-use packaging solutions.
The single-use packaging market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides single-use packaging market statistics, including single-use packaging industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a single-use packaging market share, detailed single-use packaging market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the single-use packaging industry. This single-use 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 single-use packaging market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $35.44 billion in 2025 to $38.53 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of packaged food and beverage consumption, expansion of pharmaceutical packaging needs, increasing use of disposable packaging formats, availability of low-cost plastic materials, rising demand for convenience packaging.
The single-use packaging market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $53.3 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing regulatory pressure on sustainable packaging, growing adoption of biodegradable materials, expansion of circular economy packaging models, rising demand for eco-friendly disposables, increasing investments in recyclable packaging technologies. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of recyclable packaging materials, rising demand for flexible single-use packaging, growing focus on lightweight packaging solutions, expansion of food and beverage disposable packaging, enhanced focus on cost-optimized packaging designs.
The single-use packaging market is also expected to experience growth due to the rise of the e-commerce industry. E-commerce platforms, which facilitate electronic purchasing of products and services, heavily rely on single-use packaging for protection, customization, and cost-effective solutions. According to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau in August 2023, retail e-commerce sales in the United States reached approximately $277.6 billion in the first quarter of 2023, marking a 2.1% increase compared to the same period in 2022. The surge in e-commerce activities contributes to the increased demand for single-use packaging.
Major companies in the single-use packaging market are also developing plastic-free sustainable packaging products to align with environmental concerns. In July 2023, Pixelle Specialty Solutions, a US-based company, introduced the ARMOR brand, a lineup of plastic-free barrier paper solutions. ARMOR offers diverse capabilities, such as oxygen, aroma, mineral oil, chocolate, OGR, and moisture vapor barriers, contributing to sustainable packaging alternatives. This effort aligns with the industry's commitment to long-term environmental responsibility.
In April 2025, Novolex Holdings, Inc., a U.S.-based provider of food, beverage, and specialty packaging products, acquired Pactiv Evergreen, Inc. for $6.7 billion. Through this acquisition, Novolex Holdings, Inc. aimed to broaden its packaging portfolio and expand its production footprint, strengthening its position in the food and beverage packaging sector with a more diversified range of substrates and enhanced capabilities in sustainable and disposable packaging. Pactiv Evergreen, Inc. is a U.S.-based supplier of fresh foodservice and fresh-beverage cartons, as well as single-use packaging products.
Major companies operating in the single-use packaging market are Amcor plc, Sealed Air Corporation, Tetra Pak International S.A., Mondi Group, WestRock Company, Dart Container Corporation, Winpak Ltd., Gualapack S.p.A., Transcontinental Inc., Berry Global Group, Huhtamaki Group, Smurfit Kappa Group, Graphic Packaging Holding Company, Reynolds Group Holdings, Pactiv Evergreen, Uflex Limited, Printpack Inc, DS Smith Plc, BillerudKorsnas AB, SIG Group AG
Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the single use packaging market in 2025. The regions covered in the single-use 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 single-use packaging market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The single-use packaging market consists of sales of disposable and glass packaging. 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.
Single-Use 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 single-use 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 single-use 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 single-use 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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