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October 2025
The Europe food packaging market is forecast to grow from USD 83.64 billion in 2025 to USD 124.83 billion by 2034, driven by a CAGR of 4.55% from 2025 to 2034. The rising consumption of packaged food products for convenience has boosted the market. Presence of strict sustainability guidelines, health and safety concern, and improved shelf life has promoted the market to grow significantly. The rising number of working individuals has raised the demand for packaged food products. This market is dominating in Germany due to the presence of advanced food processing and packaging industries.
The Europe food packaging refers to the production and commercialization of materials and solutions used to protect, preserve, transport, and display food products across the supply chain in Europe. These solutions include flexible packaging, rigid packaging, paper & board, glass, metal, and innovative bio-based materials. Market growth is driven by consumer preference for convenience and sustainable packaging, stringent food safety regulations, and innovations in active and intelligent packaging.
The incorporation of AI technology in the Europe food packaging market plays an important role in enhancing safety and sustainability. It is widely used in the optimization of materials for eco-friendly packaging development. It promotes unique packaging pattern with the help of generative AI which utilize less materials. It enhances the quality of the packaging and safety of the products. The real-time traceability and tracking process is the major role of AI in this packaging industry.
The major raw materials utilized in this market are metal, glass, plastic, paper & paperboard.
The major components used in this market are ethylene regulator, oxygen and moisture scavengers, and antimicrobial packaging.
This segment plays a crucial role in enhancing the safety, sustainability, and convenience.
Increasing Demand for Convenience
The increasing demand for convenience has influenced the demand for the Europe food packaging market. Convenient packaging of foods is extensively utilized as they are transportable, have a longer shelf-life, and are ready-to-eat food products. These comprise a wide variety of goods like desserts, snacks, frozen foods, and beverages. These products usually need less training and are helped hot in ready-to-eat vessels. Growing demand for prepared snacks because of sitting lifestyles is anticipated to enhance the demand for cooked food products, resulting in the development of the industry. In totaling, the upsurge in throwaway pay per capita and the rise in the quantity of workers augmented economic development. Currently, the demand for fast-food is growing because of the lifestyle of customers. This huge demand has manufactured it easier for food producers to generate products that have enhanced nutritional charges.
High Quality Maintenance
High quality maintenance of the packages to enhance the protection of the food products has hindered the development of the market. The demand for enhancing shelf life of the food products required improved formulation of the packages which costs high and has become the major factor behind restricted enhancement of the market.
Busy Lifestyle of People
Busy lifestyle of people has raised several opportunities for growth of the market. The rising number of working individuals has raised the demand for packaged ready-to-eat food with longer shelf life which has raised the opportunities to grow for this market. Huge adoption for eco-friendly packaging has enhanced the demand for such packaging which can be easily recycled and biodegradable. There is a huge demand for processed food products with convenient packaging to consume while travelling has enhanced packaging industry with innovation and wide range of choices.
The plastic segment dominated the Europe food packaging market share in 2024 due to its breakage resistance, flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and light weight. It also offers products protection against spoilage of food. Maximum plastic resins utilized in packing and it can be recycled. Both rigid and flexible packaging provide innovative chances. For instance, modified air packaging (MAP) supports in preserving the freshness of food products and enhance the shelf-life of food products by reducing spoilage. Enhancing water feeding has resulted in amplified demand for plastic packages, which can be useful to the develop economy.
The PLA / bio-based plastics segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period. This segment is growing due to increasing demand of the customers for eco-friendly packaging. Strict regulation of the European countries towards packaging of food products has pushed this segment to grow significantly. Advancement in the production of PLA/ bio-based plastics formulation has influenced the demand for this segment. These are majorly used for their flexibility and rigidity as well.
The bakery & confectionery segment held the largest share of the market share in 2024 due to rising demand for dessert. This segment is majorly utilized for confectionery and sweets, comprising savoury pastries, chewing gum, croissants, chocolates, savoury pastries, and candies. Consumption of more food products will result in economic development. Moreover, growing demand for gluten-free substitutes has activated the development of this segment.
The ready-to-eat & convenience foods segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period. This segment is growing rapidly due to increasing demand for portable packaging. Evolving lifestyle of the consumers and rising urbanization has fuelled the demand for this packaging sector. A rising emphasis on ecological concern is influencing the acceptance for such packaging.
The protective packaging segment held the largest share of the market in 2024 due to increasing concern towards food safety. The increasing online ordering trend required enhanced material packaging of the fragile products. Continuous innovation in this sector has raised the demand for this segment. Presence of online delivery platforms has enhanced the accessibility of the consumers has pushed major market players towards this segment. The major driver for this segment is the increasing concern of the consumers.
The active & intelligent packaging segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period. This segment is growing rapidly due to sustainability, increasing food safety, and convenience. Increasing awareness towards quality of fuels adoption has evolved the demand for this segment. The continuous innovation in this sector with sensor to observe the quality of the food products has raised the demand for such packaging.
Germany held the largest share of the market in 2024, due to the presence of strict ecological guidelines. Ecological regulations such as the Packaging Act influence the investment in sustainable packaging. The rapid growth in food & beverage sector of this region has raised the demand for this market. Consumers are strongly aware about sustainable packaging, generating robust demand for biodegradable and eco-friendly packaging choices. Advancement in packaging technology has influence the extension of shelf life of the food products and encourage the adoption of such packaging.
France has well-established market players focusing towards the development of innovative packaging sector with sustainability of food packages. The rising consumption of fresh food has raised the pressure of developing packages that maintain the integrity of the food products. Due to the increasing awareness towards adverse effect of the packages on the environment has enhanced the demand for biodegradable packaging. The presence of major market players helps to introduce innovative packaging and meet huge demand of the consumers.
Eastern Europe expects the significant growth in the market during the forecast period. This market is growing due to increasing industrialization has enhanced innovation process in this market. Rising online food ordering trend has also influenced the adoption of superior quality packaging of food products. High consumption of cooked food products has evolved the demand for this packaging market.
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By Material Type
By Application / Food Type
By Packaging Functionality
October 2025
October 2025
October 2025
October 2025
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