Flexible Packaging for Beverage Market Insights in 2025

Flexible Packaging for Beverage Market 2025 Asia Pacific Leads with 36% Share and North America Set for Strong Growth

From 2025 to 2034, the global flexible packaging for beverage market is set for a massive revenue upswing, with projections of growth reaching hundreds of millions of dollars. In 2024, Asia Pacific led with 36% share, while North America is set for strong growth. Stand-up pouches (46%), PET/PE films (39%), and juices/dairy drinks (42%) dominated, with retail packaging at 54%, and emerging segments poised for high CAGR by 2034.

Last Updated: 11 August 2025 Category: Packaging Forms Insight Code: 5762 Format: PDF / PPT / Excel

The flexible packaging for beverage market is booming, poised for a revenue surge into the hundreds of millions from 2025 to 2034, driving a revolution in sustainable transportation. The increasing consumers preferences due to convenience and transportability has influenced the development of market.

Major Key Insights of the Flexible Packaging For Beverage Market

  • By region, Asia Pacific dominated the global market by holding more than 36% of the market share in 2024.
  • By region, North America is expected to grow at a notable CAGR from 2025 to 2034.
  • By packaging format, the stand-up pouches segment contributed the biggest market share of 46% in 2024.
  • By packaging format, the spouted pouches & stick packs segment is expected to expand at a significant CAGR in between 2025 and 2034.
  • By material type, the PET/PE multi-layer films segment dominated the market with 39% share in 2024.
  • By material type, the paper-based & recyclable mono-materials segment will be expanding at a significant CAGR in between 2025 and 2034.
  • By beverage type, the juices & dairy-based drinks segment held the major market share of 42% in 2024.
  • By beverage type, the RTD coffee, energy drinks & nutritional shakes segment is projected to grow at a CAGR in between 2025 and 2034.
  • By end-user industry, the food & beverage brands segment contributed the biggest market share of 48% in 2024.
  • By end-user industry, the plant-based startups & contract packagers segment is expanding at a significant CAGR in between 2025 and 2034.
  • By distribution channel, the retail packaging segment dominated the market with the share of 54% in 2024.
  • By distribution channel, the e-commerce & convenience/travel packaging segment will be expanding at a significant CAGR in between 2025 and 2034.

Market Overview

The flexible packaging for beverage market focuses on the design, production, and use of lightweight, flexible packaging formats that serve as primary packaging-directly containing and preserving beverages. These formats include stand-up pouches, spouted pouches, stick packs, sachets, and occasionally lidding films. This market segment is driven by increasing consumer demand for convenience, single-serve and on-the-go beverages, as well as the industry’s push toward sustainable, low-waste packaging. Flexible packaging offers benefits such as reduced material usage, better shelf appeal, lower carbon footprint in transportation, and greater barrier performance.

Rising Demand for Sustainable Packaging

Increasing Convenience and Functionality

  • With the increasing demand for convenient and functional packaging has enhanced innovation in this market.

Rising Smart Packaging Demand

How Can AI Improve the Flexible Packaging for Beverage Market?

The incorporation of AI in the flexible packaging for beverage market plays an important role to enhance customer experience, improving efficacy, and sustainable production. It can optimize the efficacy and production of the flexible packaging such as pouches, bottles, and several others. It helps to customize intricate designs and optimize the production process by controlling the quality of the packaging. Advanced technology help market players to focus on smart packaging for tracking of the products. It improves products packaging and provides convenience to the customers.

Market Dynamics

Market Driver

Increasing Convenience for Consumers Boost the Market Development

The increasing convenience for consumers has driven the flexible packaging for beverage market to grow significantly. The growing consumers preferences for ready-to-drink beverages choices which need less preparation. Therefore, beverage producers are responding by accepting flexible packaging resolutions that improve product availability and usability. Moreover, the importance on sustainability is reforming market dynamics. Many market players are committed to decreasing their carbon footprints, causing to the growth of biodegradable and recyclable flexible packaging resources. This rapid shift toward environment-friendly choices is not only beneficial for the atmosphere but also bring into line with customer values.

Market Challenges and Restraints

Increasing Charges Associated Hindered the Market Growth

The increasing charges associated with raw resources, mainly petroleum-based plastics, can hinder effectiveness for producers. The charges of plastics observed significant fluctuations, affecting the overall charge structure of flexible packaging resolutions. Moreover, regulatory challenges surrounding food security and packaging morals may also execute limitations on market development.

Market Opportunity

Rising E-commerce and Online Shopping Influenced the Opportunities of the Market

The beverage flexible packaging market is suitable with opportunities for invention and development. The progress of e-commerce and online shopping offerings an exclusive option for flexible packaging resolutions to flourish. As customers progressively to online platforms for their beverage acquisitions, the demand for lightweight, sturdy packaging that can withstand transport encounters is on the growth. The growing approval of health-aware beverages, such as functional drinks and organic juices, creates an opportunity for manufacturers to grow specialized flexible packaging that stresses freshness and component transparency. By accepting innovative technologies such as smart packaging, which includes NFC technology and QR codes, companies can occupy customers while offering detailed product data.

Segmental Insights

Packaging Format Insights

Why Stand-Up Pouches Segment Dominated The Flexible Packaging For Beverage Market In 2024?

The stand-up pouches segment dominated the flexible packaging for beverage market in 2024 due to rising demand for sustainability and convenient packaging. Increasing customer preference for packaged beverages and the concentrate on recyclable resources further drive the market development. Stand-up pouches also help packers and trades in making e-commerce plans and strong potentials of preventing items from outwardness. With its comfort of utilizing for the consumers, many advantages, and operative marketing and storage profits for producers and retailers, the stand-up pouch has taken businesses by a huge increment.

The spouted pouches & stick packs segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period of 2025 to 2034. This segment is growing rapidly due to increasing portability and convenience. These type of packaging offer benefits over traditional packaging such as cans and bottles and comprise ease to use, smaller ecological footprint, and decreased wastage.

Material Type Insights

Why PET/PE Multi-Layer Films Segment Dominated The Flexible Packaging For Beverage Market In 2024?

The PET/PE multi-layer films segment dominated market in 2024 due to its cost-efficacy and superior barrier properties. It offers excellent barrier to beverages from moisture and oxygen by working as a robust and flexible sealant layer. This segment provides safety to the beverages comprising soft drinks, water, and other liquids. The rising emphasis towards sustainable packaging promotes this market.

The paper-based & recyclable mono-materials segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period of 2025 to 2034. This segment is experiencing significant growth due to recyclability and sustainability packaging demand. The rising demand for customized packaging for several beverages has influenced the adoption of this segment.

Beverages Type Insights

Why Juices & Dairy-Based Drinks Segment Dominated The Flexible Packaging For Beverage Market In 2024?

The juices & dairy-based drinks held the largest share of the flexible packaging for beverage market in 2024 due to increasing demand for convenient packaging. It offers several benefits such as lightweight, leak-proof, and attract brands for marketing strategies. This type of packaging help to maintain the freshness of the juices and diary-based drinks. The versatility of such packaging has allowed the packaging of such beverages and enhances the demand for this segment.

The RTD coffee, energy drinks & nutritional shakes segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period of 2025 to 2034. This segment is growing rapidly due to increasing demand for functional packaging for beverages. RTD beverages comprising coffee, nutritional shakes, and energy drinks which require packaging that can protect these from external adverse conditions.

End-User Insights

Why Food & Beverage Brands Segment Dominated the Flexible Packaging For Beverage Market in 2024?

The food & beverage brands segment dominated the flexible packaging for beverage market in 2024 due to rising demand for on-the-go packaging. There is a huge demand for resealable packaging which provide convenience to the consumers. These are lightweight and portable packaging which encourage brands to adopt such packaging rapidly. The rising online order for prepared food and beverages has influenced the acceptance of this market.

The plant-based startups & contract packagers segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period of 2025 to 2034. This segment is growing rapidly due to convenient and sustainable packaging solutions. This is the affordable packaging solutions available for several beverages packaging. Contract packagers provide special facilities such as high-pressure processing (HPP) which increase food shelf life and help to store it safely.

Distribution Channel Insights

Why Retail Packaging Segment Dominated the Flexible Packaging For Beverage Market in 2024?

The retail packaging segment dominated the market in 2024 due to huge demand for pouch packaging. The increasing demand for beverage packaging in pouches are boosting innovation in this market. The potential to customise packaging according to its demand for brands has influenced the growth of this market. Plastic packaging is highly utilized in this sector that require bulk production.

The e-commerce & convenience/travel packaging segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period of 2025 to 2034. This segment is growing significantly due to rising online ordering trend. This market offers portable, convenient, and cost-effective packaging solutions which raise its demand in this segment.

Regional Insights

Flexible Packaging for Beverage Market Share 2024 (%)

Rising Demand for Beverages in Asia Pacific Promote Dominance

Asia Pacific held the largest share of the market in 2024, due to increasing consumption of beverages. This market is driven because of the huge consumption of packaged beverages and the existence of major manufacturers of beverage. The increasing focus towards sustainability and recycling initiatives in this region has influenced the acceptance of environment-friendly packaging resolutions.

North America’s Rising Health Trends and Sustainable Packaging Practices Support Growth 

North America expects the significant growth in the flexible packaging for beverage market during the forecast period. This market is growing significantly in this region due to increasing health trends and sustainable packaging practices for beverages packaging. The changing lifestyle of people has also boosted the growth of this market profoundly.

Top Companies in the Flexible Packaging for Beverage Market

Flexible Packaging for Beverage Market Top Key Players

Latest Announcements by the Flexible Packaging for Beverage Market

  • In June 2025, Ashish Saxena, Joint President – Packaging Films Business, UFlex Limited, expressed, “Since our commencement, it is our goal to introduce advanced sustainable packaging solutions. We are happy to share our new launch the single-pellet solution which will change the game I food & beverages packaging industry by following EPR compliance mentioned under new FSSAI guidelines.” 

New Advancements in the Flexible Packaging for Beverage Market

  • In May 2025, Oroville Flexible Packaging, declared the authorized launch of their new packaging system, “Oroflex,” which is a sustainable flexible packaging, plastics, and recycling process. It is a flexible packing solution which is developed for selling and foodservice customers with inclusive, customized, domestic producers and recycling facilities along transparent audit marks that provide sufficient support to customers’ operational efficacy and sustainability goals.
  • In January 2025, Mondelēz collaborated with Jindal Films and Amcor to introduce the new packaging resolution, which is recycle-ready and integrates Amcor’s Amfiniti recycled plastic. It contains 80% recycled packaging materials, and the brand is well-known for developing environment-friendly recyclable packaging.

Flexible Packaging for Beverage Market Segments

By Packaging Format

  • Stand-Up Pouches
    • Plain or zippered
    • With high-barrier films for oxygen/light protection
  • Spouted Pouches
    • Used for liquid beverages needing resealability
    • Common in juices, smoothies, dairy-based, and baby drinks
  • Stick Packs 
    • Single-serve, slim-format packs
    • Mostly for powdered beverages (e.g., coffee, electrolytes, vitamins)
  • Sachets
    • Pillow-type or flat sachets
    • For concentrates, creamers, and powdered beverage mixes
  • Lidding Films
    • Sealing layer for single-serve beverage cups or portion packs
    • Used with rigid cups (e.g., yogurt drinks, liquid supplements

 By Material Type

  • Polyethylene (PE)
    • LDPE & LLDPE for sealing and flexibility
  • Polypropylene (PP)
    • Heat-resistant and rigid films for lidding and pouches
  • Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
    • Offers strength and clarity for laminates
  • Aluminum Foil Laminates
    • For high-barrier applications (e.g., juices, dairy)
  • Paper-Based or Bio-Based Films (Emerging)
    • Compostable or recyclable options gaining popularity

By Beverage Type

  • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
    • Juices & Fruit Drinks
    • Dairy & Plant-Based Milk
    • Bottled Water (limited use)
    • Sports & Energy Drinks
    • Carbonated Soft Drink Powders
    • RTD Coffee & Tea
  • Alcoholic Beverages
    • RTD Cocktails & Spirits in pouches
    • Wine (especially for single-serve or outdoor formats)
  • Functional/Nutritional Beverages
    • Protein Drinks & Meal Replacements
    • Vitamin-Infused Beverages
    • Electrolyte Sachets

By End-Use Industry

  • Food & Beverage Brands
  • Dairy & Plant-Based Drink Producers
  • RTD Coffee, Tea, and Smoothie Brands
  • Nutritional & Sports Supplement Companies
  • Contract Packagers (Co-Packers)
  • Travel & Institutional Beverages (Airlines, Schools, Vending)

By Distribution Channel

  • Retail & Grocery Chains 
  • E-Commerce (D2C Brands)
  • Foodservice & Institutional Supply
  • Convenience & On-the-Go Retail

By Region

  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • UK
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • Sweden
    • Denmark
    • Norway
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Thailand
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Mexico
    • Argentina
  • Middle East and Africa (MEA)
    • South Africa
    • UAE
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Kuwait
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  • Insight Code: 5762
  • No. of Pages: 150
  • Format: PDF/PPT/Excel
  • Last Updated: 11 August 2025
  • Report Covered: [Revenue + Volume]
  • Historical Year: 2021-2023
  • Base Year: 2024
  • Estimated Years: 2025-2034

Meet the Team

Vidyesh Swar is a Senior Research Analyst at Towards Packaging, bringing over 4 years of dedicated expertise in market intelligence and strategic analysis across the dynamic world of packaging technologies and solutions.

Learn more about Vidyesh Swar

Aditi Shivarkar, with 14+ years in packaging market research, specializes in food, beverage, and eco-friendly packaging. She ensures accurate, actionable insights, driving Towards Packaging 's excellence in industry trends and sustainability.

Learn more about Aditi Shivarkar

Related Insights

FAQ's

Growth is fueled by rising demand for convenient, lightweight, and sustainable beverage packaging formats. Consumer preference for on-the-go, single-serve beverages, coupled with brand adoption of recyclable and biodegradable materials, is accelerating market expansion. Sustainability mandates and e-commerce packaging needs further strengthen demand.

AI is optimizing design, production efficiency, and quality control, enabling mass customization and smart packaging integration. Brands are using AI-enabled solutions to enhance tracking, product freshness, and consumer engagement via QR codes and NFC technology. This digital shift is creating competitive differentiation.

Sustainability is now a market entry requirement rather than a differentiator. Companies investing in recyclable mono-materials, compostable films, and closed-loop recycling gain stronger brand equity and regulatory compliance. EPR and FSSAI guidelines in key markets are pushing faster adoption of eco-friendly solutions.

Juices and dairy-based drinks are the largest revenue drivers due to high packaging volumes and freshness requirements. RTD coffee, energy drinks, and nutritional shakes are the fastest-growing, driven by functional beverage demand and packaging that preserves active ingredients.

E-commerce growth is boosting demand for lightweight, durable packaging formats that can withstand shipping stress while maintaining freshness. Customizable and branded flexible packs for direct-to-consumer beverage delivery are becoming a major revenue stream for manufacturers.

Tighter packaging and food safety regulations, especially EPR compliance and new FSSAI guidelines, will drive a shift toward recyclable, compostable, and low-impact materials. Companies proactively adapting will avoid penalties and gain first-mover advantages in sustainable supply chains.

Plant-based beverage startups and contract packaging services present high-growth potential due to increasing demand for niche, health-focused beverages. Flexible packaging tailored to small-batch production and high-pressure processing can secure long-term contracts with emerging brands.