Produce Packaging Market Report 2025

This Produce Packaging report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market’s historic and forecast market growth by geography.

The produce packaging market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $35.6 billion in 2024 to $37.66 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in agriculture and fresh produce industries, demand for efficient and sustainable packaging, expansion of global supply chains, development of protective and shelf-life-extending packaging, regulatory standards for food safety and labelling.

The produce packaging market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $49.41 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to adoption of blockchain and traceability solutions, customized packaging solutions for specific fruits and vegetables, growth in e-commerce and direct-to-consumer models, innovation in smart and iot-enabled packaging, increased use in organic and specialty produce, expansion in urban farming and vertical agriculture. Major trends in the forecast period include smart and freshness-monitoring produce packaging, regulatory compliance in food safety and sustainability, biodegradable and compostable packaging materials, personalized packaging for specific consumer preferences, transparency and traceability in the supply chain.

Rising consumer preference for organic fresh produce is anticipated to drive the growth of the produce packaging market in the coming years. Organic food is cultivated without synthetic chemicals, such as human-made pesticides and fertilizers, and does not contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The increased awareness of the benefits associated with organic and natural food products has led to a higher consumption of organic fresh produce. For instance, in August 2023, a report published by the United States Department of Agriculture, a federal agency in the U.S., projected that contracted tomato production in California would reach 12.9 million tons for 2023, with an average yield of 50.8 tons per acre. This marks a 23% increase from last year’s 10.5 million tons and is 2% higher than the May estimate. The anticipated harvested area is 254,000 acres, which is a 13% increase from 2022. Therefore, the growing consumer preference for organic fresh produce is driving the expansion of the produce packaging market.

The growing demand for meat is expected to be a driving force for the produce packaging market. Meat, a crucial part of a nutritious diet, requires effective packaging to maintain its quality and freshness. For example, in March 2023, beef production in Australia increased by 11.3% to reach 524,335 tons, and mutton production increased by 31.8% to 58,662 tons, as reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The increasing demand for meat products is contributing to the growth of the produce packaging market.

Blockchain technology in produce packaging is a growing trend gaining traction in the market. Blockchain is a secure data storage method that significantly reduces the likelihood of system updates, hacks, and fraud. This technology enables customers and businesses to trace products directly from their origin, providing quick and easy access to information through a simple QR code on the package. This smart feature enhances transparency and quality assurance for consumers, prompting many companies to adopt blockchain for these benefits. For example, in September 2023, Jus de Fruits Caraïbes, a France-based fruit juice company, launched an interactive connected packaging campaign for its Banga brand. Accessible via QR codes on the packaging, the campaign includes a fruit-slicing game that supports a local children's charity for each play. Additionally, it features a quiz and educational content regarding recycling, the brand's sustainability efforts, and the use of tethered caps.

Key players in the produce packaging market are concentrating on developing innovative products that incorporate advanced technologies, such as bark-based packaging technology, to enhance their market position. This technology utilizes renewable tree bark materials to create sustainable and biodegradable packaging solutions, minimizing environmental impact while providing an innovative alternative to conventional plastic packaging. For example, in April 2024, Bpacks, an Italy-based packaging solutions company, introduced the world's first bark-based packaging technology. This revolutionary material is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing equipment used for various types of rigid plastic packaging production, facilitating a transition to eco-friendly packaging solutions. This advancement is particularly crucial given the European Union's policy directives, which mandate a shift toward biodegradable packaging within the next five years.

In January 2024, ALPLA, an Austrian-based company specializing in plastic packaging solutions, acquired Fortiflex for an undisclosed amount. This strategic acquisition is aimed at enhancing ALPLA's industrial division, which focuses on large-volume packaging solutions. Through this move, ALPLA intends to expand its product offerings and strengthen its market presence in the Caribbean and Central America. Fortiflex, based in the U.S., specializes in producing high-quality plastic containers and products for various industries, including agriculture and food service.

Major companies operating in the produce packaging market include Amcor plc, Bemis Company Inc., Berry Global Inc., International Paper Inc., Mondi Group PLC, Sealed Air Corporation, Smurfit Kappa Group, Sonoco Products Company, WestRock Company, DS Smith PLC, Coveris Holdings S.A., Reynolds Group Holdings Limited, Ardagh Group S.A., BALL CORPORATION, BASF SE, Cascades Inc., Tetra Laval Group, Produce Packaging Inc., Evergreen Packaging LLC, Genpack LLC, Gerresheimer AG, Huhtamaki Oyj, KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation, Packaging Corporation of America, Pactiv Evergreen Inc., RockTenn Company, Silgan Holdings Inc., Sabert Corporation.

North America was the largest region in the produce packaging market in 2024. The regions covered in the produce packaging market analysis report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the produce packaging market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA.

Produce packaging is a packaging process designed to safeguard food from various potential sources of damage, including impacts, insects, microorganisms, moisture, and odors. It serves as a crucial and valuable tool that enables farmers and producers to deliver food in a simple, convenient, and cost-effective manner.

The primary types of produce packaging include corrugated boxes, bags and liners, plastic containers (such as cups, tubs, and bowls), trays, and other packaging options. The corrugated box market involves the use of a material specifically for packaging food items, especially fresh produce that requires attributes such as cushioning, ventilation, strength, moisture resistance, and protection. Corrugated boxes are composed of multiple layers of material, providing enhanced durability compared to single-sheet cardboard. Various applications of produce packaging include packaging for food grains, vegetables, and fruits, catering to end-users such as growers, shippers, re-packers, and retail stores.

The produce packaging market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides produce packaging market statistics, including produce packaging industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a produce packaging market share, detailed produce packaging market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the produce packaging industry. This produce packaging market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The produce packaging market consist of sales of packaging solutions to reduce physical damage, prevent contamination, and reduce the incidence of leakage from containers. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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