In 2024, the UK packaging landscape entered a period of accelerated transformation as sustainability priorities, policy changes and shifting consumer expectations converged. Public awareness of environmental issues, especially plastic pollution, carbon reduction and circularity has intensified, prompting both brands and retailers to move decisively away from traditional virgin plastics.
This Packaging in United Kingdom report offers insight into key trends and developments in the industry. The report also examines trends and prospect for various pack types and closures: metal packaging, rigid plastic, glass, liquid cartons, paper-based containers; flexible packaging.
Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.
This Packaging in United Kingdom report offers insight into key trends and developments in the industry. The report also examines trends and prospect for various pack types and closures: metal packaging, rigid plastic, glass, liquid cartons, paper-based containers; flexible packaging.
Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.
Why buy this report?
- Get a detailed picture of the Packaging market;
- Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change;
- Understand the competitive environment, the market’s major players and leading brands;
- Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.
Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY- Packaging in 2024: The big picture
- 2024 key trends
- Changing consumer behaviour and economic pressures drive the shift towards convenience-focused and flexible packaging formats
- Rising sustainability expectations and inflationary pressures reshape food packaging formats
- Regulatory targets and brand carbon goals accelerate the shift to rPET and low-impact non-alcoholic formats
- Premiumisation demands and carbon-reduction goals drive material diversification in alcoholic drinks
- Circular beauty expectations and retailer action accelerate refill and bio-based packaging adoption
- Demand for value and waste reduction drives adoption of concentrates and refill ecosystems in home care
- Consumer demand for sustainability and functionality drives new flexible and smart packaging formats in pet food
- Rising regulatory costs are accelerating packaging redesign
- Deposit incentives are reshaping beverage packaging choices
- Government-funded waste systems are driving infrastructure upgrades, recycling targets and local-authority integration
- Regulatory pressure and consumer demand driving strategic recycling partnerships
- Patent-free biopolymers and seaweed coating emerge as compostable packaging solutions
- EPR obligations and traceability requirements reinforce adoption of smart packaging technologies
- Table 1 Overview of Packaging Recycling and Recovery in the United Kingdom: 2022/2023 and Targets for 2024
