Smart Corrugated Packaging Market Surges USD 501.21 Bn at 4.40% CAGR

Smart Corrugated Packaging Market Key Players, Trends, and Forecast

According to market projections, the smart corrugated packaging industry is expected to grow from USD 325.7 billion in 2024 to USD 501.21 billion by 2034, reflecting a CAGR of 4.40%. In 2024, Europe led the market, with slotted boxes, A-flute, single-wall boards, and MAP tech dominating. From 2025–2034, Asia Pacific, custom-shaped boxes, E-flute, double-wall boards, IoT sensors, and pharma will see strong growth.

Last Updated: 27 June 2025 Category: Others Packaging Insight Code: 5638 Format: PDF / PPT / Excel

The smart corrugated packaging market is forecast to grow from USD 340.06 billion in 2025 to USD 501.21 billion by 2034, driven by a CAGR of 4.40% from 2025 to 2034. The rising demand in the pharmaceutical, food, and several other industries has led to continuous innovation in the smart corrugated packaging market. The slotted boxes are dominating the type of smart corrugated boxes and are highly utilized by the food and beverages sector due to the growing demand for ready-to-eat food, with the increasing number of working individuals. The Europe region is dominating the smart corrugated packaging market due to the growing adoption of sustainable packaging.

Smart Corrugated Packaging Market Size 2024 - 2034

Key Insights

  • In terms of revenue, the market is valued at USD 340.06 billion in 2025.
  • The market is projected to reach USD 501.21 billion by 2034.
  • Rapid growth at a CAGR of 4.40% will be observed in the period between 2025 and 2034.
  • Europe dominated the global market with the largest share in 2024.
  • Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a notable CAGR from 2025 to 2034.
  • By type, the slotted boxes segment contributed the biggest revenue share in 2024.
  • By type, the rigid/die-cut/custom-shaped boxes segment is expanding at a significant CAGR.
  • By flute profile, the A-flute segment held the major revenue share in 2024.
  • By flute profile, the E-flute segment is projected to grow at a high CAGR between 2025 and 2034.
  • By board construction, the single-wall segment contributed the biggest market share in 2024.
  • By board construction, the double-wall segment will expand significant CAGR between 2025 and 2034.
  • By smart integration/ technology, the time temperature indicators / modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) segment contributed the biggest market share in 2024.
  • By smart integration/technology, the IoT-enabled sensor segment will grow rapidly between 2025 and 2034.
  • By end-use industry, the food and beverages manufacturers segment contributed the biggest revenue share in 2024.
  • By end-use industry, the pharmaceutical and healthcare segment will grow rapidly between 2025 and 2034.

Smart Corrugated Packaging Market: Smart and Digitally Advanced Packaging

Smart corrugated packaging is increasing significantly due to the growing demand for smart, digitally integrated, intelligent, and sustainable packaging options. Smart corrugated packaging incorporates technologies like QR codes, sensors, RFID, and NFC, which permit tracking in real-time, enhance consumer engagement, authenticity, and product monitoring. The major drivers contributing to the development of this market are the growing e-commerce industry, inclination towards eco-friendly packaging, and transparency in the supply chain with evolving regulatory guidelines.

Key Metrics and Overview

Metric Details
Market Size in 2024 USD 325.7 Billion
Projected Market Size in 2034 USD 501.21 Billion
CAGR (2025 - 2034) 4.40%
Leading Region Europe
Market Segmentation By Type, By Flute Profile, By Board Construction, By Smart Integration/Technology, By End-Use Industry and By Region
Top Key Players American Thermal Instruments, Amcor Group GmbH, Avery Dennison Corporation, Crown Holdings, Inc., Linde plc, Point Five Packaging
  • Rising Demand for Advanced Packaging

The growing demand for technologically advanced packaging has influenced the demand for this market development.

  • Adoption of Circular and Sustainable Packaging

The growing adoption of circular and sustainable packaging due to the rising awareness regarding ecological issues has influenced the demand for smart corrugated packaging.

  • Growing Acceptance for Intelligent and Active Packaging

The growing demand for monitoring of humidity, tampering, and temperature has raised this packaging in electronics, pharma, and the food industry.

How Can AI Improve the Smart Corrugated Packaging Market?

In the smart corrugated packaging sector, AI plays an important role in incorporating technologies such as data-driven packaging, smart designing, supply chain optimization, and several others. It is widely used in optimizing the packaging material and structure for sustainability, durability, and cost-efficiency. It can quickly create custom corrugated patterns that are manufactured according to the logistics conditions, branding needs, and dimensions of the products. It supports optimizing route planning, inventory management, and demand forecasting to reduce charges as well as decrease waste material generation.

Market Dynamics

Driver

Growing Adoption of Connected and Intelligent Packaging

The continuous growth in the packaging pattern which are connected to consumers and incorporated with smart technology has raised the growth of this smart corrugated packaging market. The intelligent packaging includes the incorporation of QR codes, RFID, and several other advancements, has raised the research and development work in this market by the major market players. The rapid development of the e-commerce sector has raised the demand for such packaging due to its quality, pattern, and ability to meet the diverse demands of people.

Restraint

Fluctuation in the Charges of Raw Materials

The continuous fluctuation in the raw material of the smart corrugated packaging has limited the growth of this market. The major market players are mainly focusing on resolving this issue to expand the market rapidly. High initial set-up investment has restricted the expansion of this market. Majorly, it has raised the issue for low-class business people who have less capital for investment.

Opportunity

Enhanced Consumer Experience

The continuous growth in the technology of packaging, which helps to get all the details regarding the packaged products and track their route while the product gets delivered, has enhanced the growth opportunities of the smart corrugated packaging market. With the advanced sensor technology, such smart packaging has helped in checking the quality of the product, mainly in the food industry. Such smart packaging helps to include all the details regarding the products, which maintains transparency between the brands and consumers which helping to maintain the authenticity of the products. The incorporation of RFID tags or sensors protects food products from spoilage and prevents ts wastage of food materials. The continuous research and development have enhanced the scope of evolution in this market, which increases several opportunities for development to meet the demand of the consumers.

Segmental Insights

Why Slotted Boxes Segment Dominated the market in 2024?

The slotted boxes segment holds a considerable share of the smart corrugated packaging market due to its Simple structure, adaptability, and cost-efficacy. The growing demand for packaging which are budget-friendly yet provides high-quality protection has raised the demand for slotted boxes demand by consumers. These boxes are commonly called regular slotted containers, which are significantly utilized by the pharmaceutical, food, beverage, and e-commerce sectors for retail display, storage, and shipping purposes. The versatility of these boxes increases their demand significantly due to the easy incorporation of support for technologies such as NFC chips, QR codes, sensors, and RFID tags. The incorporation of such enhanced technologies enables the authenticity of the products and customer interaction.

The rigid/die-cut/custom-shaped boxes segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period of 2024 to 2034. It is growing significantly due to its premium look, structural integrity, and product-specific designs. These help to enhance the brand’s value by providing an enhanced unboxing experience to the consumers. It helps to maintain the structure of the packaged product during transportation, which reduces the risk of damage.

Why A-Flute Segment Dominated the Smart Corrugated Packaging Market in 2024?

The A-flute segment dominated the smart corrugated packaging market in 2024 due to the compatibility, cushioning properties, and structural strength of the packaging technique. The thickness of the A-flute provides compression resistance and excellent rigidity, which makes it an ideal choice for the transportation of electronics and several other fragile products. It provides sufficient space for smart and digital printing, which permits the insertion of temperature indicators, interactive labels, and tracking codes. 

The E-flute packaging segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period of 2024 to 2034. This segment is growing rapidly due to versatility, thin profile, and smooth surface in branding and smart printing applications. These are widely accepted by the pharmaceutical, electronics, and cosmetics sectors.

Why Did the Single Wall Segment Dominate the Smart Corrugated Packaging Market in 2024?

The single wall segment dominated the smart corrugated packaging market in 2024 due to the compatibility with smart technology, strength, and cost-efficacy of the product. These are extensively utilized in the e-commerce sector, pharmacy, and food industry. The growing demand for intelligent packaging with tracking facilities has led to the growth of this segment.

The double wall segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period of 2024 to 2034. This segment is growing rapidly due to its suitability, strength, and durability. These packages provide a stable structure to the products, which decreases the risk of damage during transportation.

Why the Time Temperature Indicators / Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) Segment Dominated the Smart Corrugated Packaging Market in 2024?

The timetemperature indicators / modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) segment was dominant over the smart corrugated packaging market in 2024 due to the rising demand for high shelf-life of products, freshness, and safety. These smart solutions are widely accepted by the food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries. These are tiny labels that show the exposure of products to the high-temperature range.

The IoT-enabled sensor segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period of 2024 to 2034. These packages are evolving this market by connecting it with data-driven resolutions. The rising adoption of communication and real-time monitoring provides exclusive visibility into shock, tamper event, location, temperature, and humidity.

Why the Food and Beverage Segment Dominated the market in 2024?

The food and beverage segment led the smart corrugated packaging market in 2024 due to the growing concern for preserving the quality and customer engagement. These smart packaging comes with RFID tags, IoT-enabled sensors, and QR codes has influenced the brands to accept such packaging, that maintains transparency with consumers. These types of inventions help to track real-time data and prevent from wastage of products.

The pharmaceutical and healthcare segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period of 2024 to 2034. These packages enhance the connectivity between brands and consumers by providing QR codes with detailed information regards the packaged products.

Regional Insights

Presence of Advanced Healthcare Infrastructure in Europe Promotes Dominance

The Europe region held the largest share of the smart corrugated packaging market in 2024, due to the growing adoption of sustainable packaging of products. Several other factors, such as stringent packaging guidelines, strict alliances, and many others, have influenced the growth of this market. Integration of advanced packaging industries with huge manufacturing units has raised the demand for such packaging to fulfill the demand of the consumers.

Germany Holds High Recycling Rates Influence the Smart Corrugated Packaging Market

There is a high recycling rate of the packaging, which influences the usage of smart packages. The strict regulatory rules of the packaging industry, eco-friendly packaging demand, and various other factors influence the growth of this industry.

Rising Food Packaging Industry in the UK Promotes the Market to Grow

The initiation of the government towards plastic packaging tax and robust e-commerce development has raised the demand for the smart corrugated packaging market. The rising inclination towards sustainability in the packaging industry and the sizeable food sector has raised the demand for this industry.

Asia Pacific’s Rising Emphasis on Patient-Centric Medication Support Growth

The Asia Pacific region is estimated to grow at the fastest rate in the smart corrugated packaging market during the forecast period. The market is promoted due to the growing e-commerce industry, sustainability alternatives, rapid industrialization, and tech innovation. Several countries, such as China, India, Japan, South Korea, and many others, have boosted this market due to huge volume exports and the growing e-commerce industry. The adoption of such smart corrugated packaging has fulfilled the consumer’s demand.

Smart Corrugated Packaging Market Key Players

Smart Corrugated Packaging Market Companies

Latest Announcements by Industry Leaders

  • In March 2025, Brand owner manager for flexible packaging paper at Koehler Paper, Bettina Bastien, expressed, “Koehler NexCoat Smart is ideally suited to the challenge of creating a greener and, in particular, recyclable alternative to standard caps. It is made of renewable raw materials and can be reused multiple times within the established paper recycling process.”(Source: Packaging Europe)

New Advancements in the Smart Corrugated Packaging Market

  • In March 2025, Wimbée announced the development of the patented cap’s cardboard structure in partnership with Koehler Paper’s NexCoat Smart flexible packaging paper.(Source: Packaging Europe)
  • In January 2025, DS Smith announced the launch of an innovative temperature-controlled packaging solution for the pharmaceutical industry.(Source: Themanufacturer)

Smart Corrugated Packaging Market Segments

By Type

  • Slotted Boxes
  • Full Overlap Container (FOL)
  • Telescope Boxes
  • Fold-type and Trays
  • Rigid/Die-cut/Custom-shaped boxes

By Flute Profile

  • AFlute
  • BFlute
  • CFlute
  • EFlute
  • FFlute

By Board Construction

  • Single-face
  • Single-wall
  • Double-wall
  • Triple-wall

By Smart Integration/Technology

  • QR Codes and Barcodes
  • RFID / NFC Tags
  • IoT-enabled Sensors
  • Augmented Reality (AR) Features
  • TimeTemperature Indicators / Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP)
  • Active Packaging (e.g., freshness sensors)

By End-Use Industry

  • Food and Beverage
  • Electronics
  • Pharmaceutical and Healthcare
  • Personal Care and Cosmetics
  • Home and Industrial Goods

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
Share With : linkedin twitter facebook
  • Insight Code: 5638
  • No. of Pages: 150
  • Format: PDF/PPT/Excel
  • Last Updated: 27 June 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 primarily driven by the rise of e-commerce, increased demand for sustainable packaging, and the integration of smart technologies like RFID, IoT sensors, and QR codes. Industries such as food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals are adopting these technologies to ensure quality control, traceability, and real-time tracking of goods.

Valued at USD 340.06 billion in 2025 and projected to reach USD 501.21 billion by 2034, the market represents a robust CAGR of 4.40%. High-growth segments include IoT-enabled packaging and E-flute corrugated solutions, making this space attractive for investors focused on innovation and sustainability.

Technologies such as AI-powered packaging design, smart sensors, RFID, and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) are transforming the sector. These innovations enhance supply chain transparency, monitor product conditions, and reduce waste giving companies a competitive edge in quality and efficiency.

Europe currently leads due to strict packaging regulations and high sustainability standards. However, Asia Pacific is expected to grow the fastest, driven by rapid industrialization, a booming e-commerce sector, and rising exports from countries like China, India, and Japan.

AI is revolutionizing packaging through material optimization, real-time logistics management, demand forecasting, and cost reduction. It helps brands design smarter, more durable packaging tailored to consumer and supply chain needs, improving both sustainability and profitability.

Governments, especially in Europe and the UK, are enforcing regulations like plastic packaging taxes and sustainability mandates. These regulations accelerate the shift toward eco-friendly, smart packaging solutions, creating a favorable landscape for innovation and compliance-focused investments.

The food and beverage industry dominates due to the need for freshness and traceability. The pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors are rapidly adopting smart packaging to improve patient safety, enhance tracking, and meet regulatory requirements for drug integrity.

The market is moderately consolidated with key players like Amcor Group GmbH, Avery Dennison Corporation, Crown Holdings, Linde plc, and American Thermal Instruments. These companies focus on R&D, smart technology integration, and strategic partnerships to strengthen market presence.