Europe Plastic Packaging Market

Europe Plastic Packaging Market Size

The Europe plastic packaging market size was valued at USD 93.86 billion in 2024, and the market size is expected to reach USD 149.26 billion by 2033 from USD 98.82 billion in 2024. The market is growing at a CAGR of 5.29%.

The growth of the European market is attributed to the rising population in Europe, which leads to higher packaging per person ratio. Even though the zeitgeist of the time was about reducing the usage of plastics, it still remains one of the most preferred materials for packaging in Europe and in the majority of countries all around the world. food packaging, beverage, lamination, etc., are various industries in which plastic still dominates even after the introduction of various composite materials. The ease of availability and cheap price is the biggest driving factor for Europe's plastic packaging market. 

The recent emergence of bioplastics has enhanced the usage of those materials and provided a cheap and environment-friendly alternative to plastic. These factors hinder the growth of the market. The government norms that are focused on restricting the usage of plastic are also a key factor that is slowing down the industry.

MARKET SEGMENTATION

This research report on the Europe plastic packaging market has been segmented and sub-segmented into the following categories.

By Type

• Rigid plastic packaging
• Flexible plastic packaging

The flexible packaging segment is expected to grow at a CAGR between 3 to 4% in the forecasted period. This segment has a vast application in industries like medical, industrial packaging, etc. The food takeaway sector has also proliferated in the Western European region and is triggering great demand for the plastic packaging market.

By Product

• Bags
• Pouches
• Cans
• Bottles

By End-User

• Food and Beverages
• Pharmaceutical
• Healthcare
• Retail
• Personal and Home Care

The food and Beverage industry has proliferated in the European region as manufacturers are always looking to expand their business operations and improve their product portfolio. Alcoholic beverage demand is burgeoning, and it is likely to boost the industry. Another aspect for which plastic is popular is its inactivity towards other chemicals. Hence, it is extensively used in the laboratory packaging industry. The beer industry in Germany is one of the largest in the world and the demand for Plastic packaging has been steadily growing.

By Country

• UK
• France
• Spain
• Germany
• Italy
• Russia
• Sweden
• Denmark
• Switzerland
• Netherlands
• Turkey
• Czech Republic
• Rest of Europe

Western European countries have dominated the plastic packaging market in the past and are continuing to do so now. Germany, France, the UK, and Italy together account for over 50% of the market share. Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Denmark have adopted recycling plastic as their primary source of packaging. These countries have achieved more than 70% recyclability in the past few years and are aiming to hit the 90% mark.

KEY MARKET PLAYERS

AMCOR Plc, RPC Group Limited, Sonoco Products Company, and Constantia Flexibles GmbH are some of the major players in the European plastic packaging market.

RECENT HAPPENINGS IN THE MARKET

• In 2019, Amcor completed the acquisition of Bemis Company Inc. This acquisition brought additional capabilities and added another dimension to their existing portfolio. This will also generate considerable value for the shareholders.
• In October’19, Coveris introduced its Duralite R, a next-generation shrink film that can be completely recyclable. As a part of its existing sustainability journey to deliver recyclable flexible packaging solutions, it also covers a new shrink film that provides a fully circular solution to meet both the environmental and legislative demands of the future.