Glass-to-Plastic Packaging Market 2025: PET, Bio-Based Plastics, and the Shift...

Glass-to-Plastic Packaging Market Trends 2025: AI Integration and Bio-PET Bottles Revolutionize Industry

From 2025 to 2034, the global glass-to-plastic packaging market is set for a massive revenue upswing, with projections of growth reaching hundreds of millions of dollars. In 2025, Asia Pacific led the glass-to-plastic packaging market, with plastic bottles, PET material, food & beverages, FMCG, and manufacturers as dominant segments, while North America and e-commerce channels are set for fastest growth ahead.

Last Updated: 11 July 2025 Category: Advanced Packaging Insight Code: 5678 Format: PDF / PPT / Excel

The glass-to-plastic packaging market is booming, poised for a revenue surge into the hundreds of millions from 2025 to 2034, driving a revolution in sustainable transportation.The consumer preferences for lightweight & durable packaging material, rapid growth of the e-commerce & organized retail, and rapid technological advancement in recycling technologies are expected to boost the growth of the global glass-to-plastic packaging market over the forecast period.

Plastic packaging is far cheaper to produce and transport than glass, which makes it a more budget-friendly option for mass-produced goods, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses. Sustainability is playing a crucial role in the packaging industry, encouraging businesses to invest in sustainable plastics such as PET, bioplastics, and biodegradable plastics to represent a strong commitment to a greener future. Additionally, the glass-to-plastic packaging market is growing at a remarkable rate in various developing and developed regions, particularly Asia Pacific, driven by the availability of raw materials, low labour cost, and increasing demand for plastic packaging across various industries for multiple applications.

Key Takeaways

  • By region, Asia Pacific held the largest share of 42% in 2024.
  • By region, North America is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period.
  • By product type, the plastic bottles segment accounted for the dominating share of 38% in 2024
  • By product type, the plastic vials & tubes segment is expected to witness a significant share during the forecast period.
  • By material type, the PET segment held a dominant presence in the market in 2024 with 45%.
  • By material type, the bio-based segment accounted for considerable growth in the global glass-to-plastic packaging market over the forecast period.
  • By application, the food & beverages segment held the major market share of 40% in 2024.
  • By application, the pharmaceutical & skincare segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of between 2025 and 2034.
  • By end-use industry, the FMCG segment registered its dominance with 50% over the global glass-to-plastic packaging market in 2024.
  • By end-use industry, the healthcare & beauty industries segment is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period.
  • By distribution, the manufacturers & contract packers segment contributed the biggest market share of 43% in 2024.
  • By distribution, the e-commerce platforms for bulk packaging is expanding at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

Market Overview

The glass-to-plastic packaging market refers to the transition and market dynamics associated with replacing traditional glass packaging (bottles, jars, containers) with plastic alternatives across various industries. This shift is driven by the need for lightweight, shatter-resistant, cost-effective, and flexible packaging solutions. Plastic packaging, especially PET, HDPE, and PP, is increasingly preferred in food & beverage, personal care, pharmaceuticals, and household products due to improved durability, reduced transportation costs, and enhanced customization. However, sustainability concerns and regulatory pressures are prompting innovations in recyclable and bio-based plastics.

Key Metrics and Overview

Metric Details
Growth Drivers Lightweight materials, e-commerce expansion, cost-effectiveness, recyclable & sustainable plastics
Leading Region Asia Pacific
Market Segmentation By Product Type, By Material Type, By Application, By End-Use Industry, By Distribution Channel and By Region Covered
Top Key Players Amcor Plc, Berry Global Inc., Graham Packaging Company, Plastipak Holdings, Inc., Alpla Group, Comar LLC, Gerresheimer AG
  • The ongoing technological improvements in innovative plastic packaging designs to enhance the aesthetic appeal of plastic products are expected to promote the growth of the glass-to-plastic packaging market during the forecast period.
  • The rising shift from glass to plastic packaging is mainly driven by the lightweight, cost-effectiveness, durability, versatility, and the elimination of the risk of breakage during transportation, contributing to the overall growth of the market.
  • The increasing popularity of PET, bioplastics, and biodegradable plastics makes them an attractive choice for businesses aiming to reduce their carbon footprint and align with the circular economy principles, accelerating the market’s revenue during the forecast period.
  • The rising adoption of plastic packaging across various industries for numerous applications such as food & beverages, personal care & cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, household chemicals, industrial & automotive fluids, baby & childcare products, and others is propelling the growth of the glass-to-plastic packaging market in the coming years.

How is AI Integration Impacting the Growth of the Glass-to-plastic Packaging Market?

In the rapidly evolving digital era, the integration of AI in glass-to-plastic packaging holds great potential to impact the growth of the glass-to-plastic packaging market by improving manufacturing efficiency, reducing material wastage, and improving sustainability.  AI-powered solutions in glass-to-plastic packaging make the process faster, efficient, and cost-effective. By harnessing the power of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence, organizations can create more affordable, sustainable, and consumer-friendly packaging solutions while meeting the evolving consumer demands and regulatory requirements. AI-driven vision systems can effectively detect defects in packaging at high speeds, which ensures that only flawless products reach the market.

Market Dynamics

Driver

Rising Consumer Preference for Lightweight Packaging Materials

The growing consumer preference for lightweight packaging materials is expected to boost the growth of the glass-to-plastic packaging market during the forecast period. Plastic production reached nearly 413.8 million metric tons, nearly 40% of which was used in packaging applications in 2023. Consumers around the world are increasingly seeking lightweight, durable, and sustainable alternatives such as PET, bioplastics, and others. As compared to glass packaging, plastic offers various benefits in terms of price, performance, ease of use, and sustainability benefits for a variety of industries, including food, beverage, home care, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. Moreover, the rising investment by key players to deliver innovative solutions in better packaging with plastic, bolstering the market’s expansion in the coming years.

Restraint

Rising Awareness of the Environmental Impacts

The rising awareness of the environmental impacts of plastic pollution is anticipated to projected to hamper the market's growth. Several governments around the world have implemented stringent regulations on the use of single-use plastic, as it creates plastic pollution in the ecosystem. In addition, glass packaging can be designed with excellent finishes that enhance product appeal. Such factors are likely to limit the expansion of the global glass-to-plastic packaging market.

Opportunity

How is E-commerce Sector Offering Opportunities for Glass to Plastic Packaging Market?

The rising expansion of the e-commerce sector, particularly in developed and developing nations, is projected to offer lucrative growth opportunities to the glass-to-plastic packaging market in the coming years. The market has witnessed that the rapid growth of e-commerce necessitates robust plastic packaging owing to its lightweight, cost-effectiveness, durability, and versatility to protect goods during transit. E-commerce companies often prefer lightweight and flexible plastic packaging to reduce transportation costs. In addition, several sustainability efforts are taken by the e-commerce sector, such as incorporating recycled content in plastic packaging and increasing the usage of bioplastics to reduce environmental impact.

Segmental Insights

Product Insights

The plastic bottles dominated the glass-to-plastic packaging market in 2024. The growth of the segment is mainly driven by the rising replacement of glass bottles with plastics owing to its less expensive than glass, lightweight, and longer life cycle. Plastic bottles are gaining rapid traction in the food industry by replacing glass bottles for a wide variety of beverages, oils, and other. Plastic bottles lead to lower transportation costs and reduced breakage risks as compared to glass bottles.

On the other hand, the plastic vials & tubes segment is expected to grow at a notable rate during the forecast period. The growth of the segment is mainly driven by the rising demand for plastic packaging, as they are less prone to breakage during handling or transportation, while glass packaging is often considered more susceptible to shattering. plastic tubes are widely used for various applications creams, lotions, and pastes. In the pharmaceutical industry, plastic vials are widely used to store medication in the form of powders, liquids, and capsules.

Material Insights

The PET segment held a dominant presence in the glass-to-plastic packaging market in 2024, owing to the increasing consumer awareness of sustainability issues, which has led to prefer eco-friendly packaging. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is lighter than glass, which significantly results in lowering the transportation costs and reducing the breakage risk during handling or transportation.  PET is cost-effective, can be easily molded into various shapes and sizes, making it an attractive option for companies to meet diverse product needs.

On the other hand, the bio-based plastics segment is expected to grow at a notable rate. The growth of the segment is mainly driven by the rising environmental awareness and growing consumer demand for eco-friendly packaging alternatives. Bio-based plastics packaging is primarily derived from renewable resources and is increasingly gaining popularity across various industries such as food service, consumer goods, and other industries.

Application Insights

The food & beverage segment dominated the glass-to-plastic packaging market. In food & beverage, plastics play a crucial role in replacing traditional glass packaging. Plastic packaging is economical, lighter weight, and offers greater flexibility in design. This can include juices, dairy, sauces, condiments, and others. On the other hand, the pharmaceuticals & skincare segment is growing at the fastest CAGR, owing to the rising consumer preference for plastic packaging over glass. Plastics are increasingly gaining immense popularity in the pharmaceuticals & skincare industry as a replacement for glass packaging. The major applications of plastic packaging in high-end skincare and pharmaceutical & include syrups, eye drops, topical gels, shampoo, conditioner, lotions, creams, face serums, and others.

End-use Industry Insights

The FMCG segment accounted for the highest revenue share in 2024. Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies are rapidly shifting from glass to plastic owing to several factors such as cost-effectiveness, versatility, and lightweight properties.  Companies are heavily investing in sustainable plastics such as PET, bioplastics, and biodegradable plastics. Additionally, the adoption of PCR plastic into packaging significantly lowers dependency on virgin plastic production and aligns with the principle of the circular economy.

On the other hand, the healthcare & beauty segment is expected to grow at a significant rate. Plastic packaging is increasingly becoming popular in the healthcare & beauty segment owing to its versatility, ease of use, affordability, and eliminating the risk of breakage during transportation. Plastic can be molded into various shapes and sizes, making it suitable for various products such as lotion, serum, creams, hair oils, and others. Plastic packaging is usually cheaper to produce and transport than glass, which offers a more budget-friendly option for numerous brands.

Distribution Channel Insights

The manufacturers & contract packers segment accounted for the dominating share in 2024. Manufacturers are primarily involved in producing the plastic packaging materials in the glass-to-plastic packaging market, such as plastic films, plastic containers, plastic bottles, and others. Contract packers generally handle the packaging services for other companies, which include filling, assembly, and labelling.  On the other hand, the e-commerce platforms for bulk packaging segment are expected to witness a significant share during the forecast period. E-commerce businesses around the world are widely using plastic packaging for bulk shipments, often in the form of poly mailers or other plastic packaging such as accessories, clothing, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other non-fragile products, mainly due to its cost-effectiveness and protective qualities against moisture and damage during transit. Moreover, plastic packaging is lightweight, which assists in lowering the shipping costs.

Regional Insights

Which Region Dominated the Glass-to-Pastic Packaging Market in 2024?

Asia Pacific held the largest share of the glass-to-plastic packaging in 2024. The region has a strong presence in plastic packaging, driven by the availability of raw materials, expertise, and surging investments of key players to deliver innovative packaging solutions with plastic. The growth of the region is mainly attributed to the presence of prominent key players, increasing consumer inclination for lightweight packaging products, rising improvement in recycling technologies, rapid urbanization & industrialization, expansion of manufacturing capabilities, and rising adoption of bio-based plastics to boost environmental sustainability.

In addition, the rapid growth of e-commerce & organized retail in the region, particularly in countries like China, Japan, India, South Korea, and others leading to higher plastic consumption.  Furthermore, rising demand from various end-use industries for plastic packaging, including FMCG, healthcare & pharmaceuticals, cosmetics & beauty, household care, and others, is expected to boost the glass-to-plastic packaging market’s growth in the region.

On the other hand, North America is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period. The growth of the region is driven by the rising research and development efforts by prominent players to improve the properties of plastic packaging, the rising expansion of the e-commerce sector, evolving consumer preference for lightweight packaging, and increasing investments in recycling infrastructure. The market is experiencing increasing adoption of PET, bioplastics, and biodegradable plastics lowers the carbon footprint, driven by the government sustainability initiatives, and aligns with circular economy principles.

Glass-to-plastic packaging is gaining immense popularity in the region as plastics are generally more cost-effective, lightweight, versatile, less shipping cost as compared to glass, which makes them the most preferrable option among businesses aiming to seeking for budget friendly packaging options. This combination of factors is expected to accelerate the revenue of the glass-to-plastic packaging market in the North American region.

Glass-to-Plastic Packaging Market Key Players

Glass-to-Plastic Packaging Market Companies

Latest Announcements by Market Leaders

  • In February 2025, Kashima City, Refinverse, Mitsubishi Chemical, Toyo Seikan Group, Kewpie, and Kasumi announced a comprehensive collaboration agreement for a six-party partnership to support closed-loop recycling of plastic packaging – Japan’s first circular economy for dressing bottle caps. In this pilot project, each of the six partners will pass materials to the next partner to promote the recycling of plastic through the supply chain. (Source: Food and Drink Technology)

Recent Developments

  • In September 2024, CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and Murdoch University launched The Bioplastics Innovation Hub, an $8 million collaboration that will work with industry partners to develop a new generation of 100 per cent compostable plastic.  The Bioplastics Innovation Hub aims to revolutionise plastic packaging by developing biologically derived plastic that can break down in compost, land, or water. CSIRO Research Program Director stated that their primary focus is the development of 100% compostable, bio-derived packaging for use as sprays, films, bottles, caps, and wrappers, which are engineered to fully break down in compost, land, and in aquatic environments. (Source: CSIRO)
  • In November 2024, Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL), a global sustainable chemical producer, announced a partnership with Suntory, ENEOS Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Iwatani, and Neste. Together, they will launch the world’s first commercial bio-PET bottles using ISCC+ certified bio-paraxylene. This collaboration is a significant milestone for sustainable packaging. The new PET bottles are made from used cooking oil, helping reduce CO2 emissions. The plan includes producing 45 million bottles, with potential expansion in the future. (Source: Indian Chemical News)

Glass-to-Plastic Packaging Market Segments

By Product Type

  • Plastic Bottles (replacing glass bottles for beverages, oils)
  • Plastic Jars & Canisters (for sauces, spreads, powders)
  • Plastic Tubes (for creams, lotions, pastes)
  • Plastic Containers & Trays (for ready-to-eat, dairy)
  • Dispensers & Pumps (for personal care and hygiene products)
  • Plastic Vials & Ampoules (in pharmaceutical applications)

By Material Type

  • PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
  • HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
  • PP (Polypropylene)
  • PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
  • Bio-Based & Compostable Plastics (PLA, PHA)
  • Recycled Plastics (rPET, rHDPE)

By Application

  • Food & Beverages (juices, dairy, sauces, condiments)
  • Personal Care & Cosmetics (shampoo, lotions, deodorants)
  • Pharmaceuticals (syrups, eye drops, topical gels)
  • Household Chemicals (cleaners, disinfectants)
  • Industrial & Automotive Fluids
  • Baby & Childcare Products

By End-Use Industry

  • FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods)
  • Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
  • Cosmetics & Beauty
  • Household Care
  • Retail & Private Labels
  • Hospitality & Foodservice

By Distribution Channel

  • Manufacturers & Contract Packers
  • Distributors & Packaging Converters
  • E-commerce Platforms for Bulk Packaging
  • Private Label Brands
  • Retailers (in-house packaging lines)

By Region Covered

  • 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
    • South Africa
  • Middle East and Africa (MEA)
    • UAE
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Kuwait
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  • Insight Code: 5678
  • No. of Pages: 150
  • Format: PDF/PPT/Excel
  • Last Updated: 11 July 2025
  • Report Covered: [Revenue + Volume]
  • Historical Year: 2021-2023
  • Base Year: 2024
  • Estimated Years: 2025-2034

Meet the Team

Yogesh Kulkarni is an experienced Research Analyst specializing in the packaging sector, with a strong foundation in statistical analysis and market intelligence. He currently contributes his expertise to Towards Packaging.

Learn more about Yogesh Kulkarni

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

The market is driven by increasing consumer demand for lightweight, cost-effective, and shatter-resistant packaging materials. The rapid rise of e-commerce and organized retail, combined with advancements in recyclable and bio-based plastic technologies, are further accelerating adoption. PET and bioplastics are especially favored for their durability, sustainability, and low transport cost, helping companies improve both efficiency and environmental impact.

The market is projected to surge into the hundreds of millions by 2034, with strong CAGR led by Asia Pacific and North America. High-volume demand from FMCG, pharmaceuticals, and food & beverage sectors coupled with the shift to bio-based plastics makes it a lucrative space for strategic investors, manufacturers, and packaging converters looking to capitalize on sustainability and efficiency trends.

Asia Pacific held the largest share of 42% in 2025 due to its robust raw material availability, lower labor costs, and rising demand from consumer goods industries. North America is set to grow at the fastest pace owing to government-driven sustainability initiatives, heavy investment in recycling, and growing preference for lightweight packaging among brands and retailers.

Sustainability is a major influence. Regulatory restrictions on single-use plastics are pushing companies to innovate with bio-based and recyclable plastics. Businesses that adopt PET, PLA, and other sustainable materials are better aligned with emerging policies and consumer expectations, ensuring long-term compliance and brand competitiveness.

AI is enhancing manufacturing efficiency, minimizing waste, and improving defect detection through machine vision systems. These technologies allow faster production runs, quality assurance, and reduced downtime making operations more cost-effective while aligning with green packaging standards and boosting ROI for adopters.

Plastic bottles currently dominate due to their versatility and cost-efficiency in beverages and food. However, plastic vials, tubes, and trays are gaining rapid adoption in pharmaceuticals and personal care, thanks to their durability and ease of customization. These segments offer high-margin opportunities as product differentiation and shelf appeal become key.

FMCG leads with 50% market share in 2025, followed by strong growth in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and beauty sectors. The need for cost-effective, transport-friendly, and sustainable packaging is especially pronounced in these industries, making them critical demand drivers for glass-to-plastic solutions.

The surge in e-commerce is driving demand for plastic packaging that is lightweight, durable, and adaptable for bulk shipping. Businesses are increasingly using recyclable poly mailers and plastic containers to optimize logistics and reduce shipping costs, while aligning with consumer expectations for eco-friendly packaging.