Plastic Food Packaging Market Global Report 2026

The plastic food packaging market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $65.45 billion in 2025 to $69.79 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising demand for packaged food products, increasing consumption of convenience foods, growing need for effective and durable food protection solutions, increasing adoption of lightweight packaging materials, and expanding food processing and distribution infrastructure.

The plastic food packaging market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $88.81 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for recyclable plastic packaging solutions, growing adoption of bio-based packaging materials, rising emphasis on food safety and hygiene requirements, expanding demand for flexible packaging formats, and increasing need for sustainable solutions that support food preservation. Major trends in the forecast period include growing adoption of sustainable plastic packaging technologies, rising demand for lightweight food packaging solutions, increasing focus on packaging technologies that extend product shelf life, expanding development of food-safe barrier packaging materials, and growing demand for convenient and portable food packaging formats.

The rising demand for convenient and ready-to-eat foods is expected to propel the growth of the plastic food packaging market going forward. Convenient and ready-to-eat foods are pre-prepared or minimally processed food products that can be consumed quickly with little or no cooking required. Convenient and ready-to-eat foods are increasing due to busy and fast-paced lifestyles, as consumers seek quick meal options that reduce the time required for cooking and food preparation while accommodating demanding work and daily schedules. Plastic food packaging supports convenient and ready-to-eat foods by providing resealable, microwave-safe, and portable packaging solutions that improve consumer convenience and help reduce food contamination. For instance, in March 2024, according to a report published by Food Manufacturers, a UK-based online platform dedicated solely to readers working in the UK food and drink manufacturing industry, sales of on-the-go snacks reached 39% in 2023 compared to 2022. Current sales in 2024 showed a 4% increase over the previous year. Therefore, the rising demand for convenient and ready-to-eat foods is driving the growth of the plastic food packaging market.

Leading companies operating in the plastic food packaging market are concentrating on developing innovative solutions, such as food packaging trays, to improve product freshness, enhance convenience, extend shelf life, and address evolving sustainability and safety requirements. A food packaging tray is a molded container designed to securely hold food products, helping preserve their shape, freshness, and hygiene while making them convenient to store, transport, and serve. For example, in June 2025, Coveris Management GmbH, an Austria-based packaging company, launched the BarrierFresh modified-atmosphere packaging (MAP) tray, a board-based food tray that reduces plastic use by up to 90% compared with conventional rigid plastic trays while remaining recyclable and preserving shelf life for chilled meat, fish, and poultry products. It is a modified-atmosphere packaging (MAP) solution that replaces most of the rigid plastic tray body with a sustainably sourced cartonboard structure laminated with an ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)-based barrier film. The packaging is designed as a single stock-keeping unit (SKU), fully printable tray that can be hermetically sealed, providing retail-ready presentation and branding capabilities comparable to traditional plastic trays.

In February 2026, FirmaPak, a US-based manufacturing company, acquired Easy Plastic Containers Corporation for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, FirmaPak aims to expand its North American manufacturing footprint and enhance its capabilities in rigid plastic packaging for personal care, pharmaceutical, and food-related applications. Easy Plastic Containers Corporation is a Canada-based manufacturer specializing in extrusion blow-molded plastic bottles and containers, with products supplied to various industries.

Major companies operating in the plastic food packaging market are Amcor plc, Mondi Group plc, Silgan Holdings Inc., ALPLA Werke Alwin Lehner GmbH & Co KG, Sealed Air Corporation, Sonoco Products Company, Huhtamäki Oyj, Dart Container Corporation, Plastipak Packaging Inc., Inteplast Group Corporation, UFlex Limited, Printpack Inc., Wipak Group, Winpak Ltd., Coveris Holdings S.A., Sabert Corporation, Bischof + Klein SE & Co. KG, Jindal Poly Films Limited, Cosmo First Limited.

North America was the dominant region in the plastic food packaging market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the rapidly growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the plastic food packaging market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

The countries covered in the plastic food packaging market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

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