Food Contact Papers Market Report 2026

The food contact papers market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $84.71 billion in 2025 to $88.86 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of bakery and food service sectors, rising use of paper-based food wraps, increased demand for takeaway packaging, growth of organized food retail, rising consumer awareness of food hygiene.

The food contact papers market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $112.05 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing shift toward sustainable food packaging, rising investments in recyclable paper solutions, expansion of food delivery services, growing demand for compliant packaging materials, increasing focus on plastic reduction policies. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for food-grade paper packaging, rising adoption of recycled food contact papers, growing use of coated and waxed papers, expansion of lightweight packaging solutions, enhanced focus on hygiene and safety compliance.

The rising demand for convenience foods is expected to drive the growth of the food contact paper market in the coming years. Convenience foods refer to industrially produced food products that are ready to consume with minimal or no preparation, such as snacks, ready-to-eat meals, and prepared mixes. Food contact papers are designed for direct contact with food and are widely used for packaging and wrapping ready-to-eat food items. For example, in April 2024, according to data published by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), a US-based trade association, foodservice sales accounted for 26.9% of total in-store sales in 2023, up from 25.6% in 2022, with prepared food sales rising by 12.2% per store per month, making it the top-performing in-store category. Therefore, the increasing demand for convenience foods is fueling the growth of the food contact paper market.

Leading companies operating in the food contact papers market are focusing on the development of innovative solutions, such as compostable bio-based coatings, to replace plastic and improve sustainability in food packaging. Compostable bio-based coatings are environmentally friendly polymer layers derived from renewable sources that naturally decompose under composting conditions. These coatings help paper packaging resist grease and moisture while reducing plastic usage and supporting sustainability goals. For instance, in October 2024, UPM Specialty Papers, a Finland-based specialty paper producer, in partnership with Eastman, launched a paper-based food packaging solution featuring a compostable bio-based coating. This product consists of a paper substrate coated with a bio-based polymer that is fully compostable, offering strong grease and moisture resistance while preserving printability and structural strength. The solution is suitable for food wraps, takeaway containers, and bakery packaging, providing a sustainable alternative to plastic-coated paper without sacrificing performance. Additionally, it supports circular economy initiatives by minimizing plastic waste and enabling compostability after use.

In April 2024, Antalis, a France-based paper packaging company, acquired Pakella for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition supports Antalis’s strategy to strengthen its global packaging distribution network and creates opportunities to expand its operations in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Pakella is a Latvia-based company specializing in packaging machinery and materials, including solutions for food packaging.

Major companies operating in the food contact papers market are International Paper Company, WestRock Company, Amcor plc, Smurfit Kappa Group, Graphic Packaging Holding Company, Pactiv LLC, Moondi plc, SCG Packaging Public Company Limited., PT. Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper Tbk, Novolex Holdings Inc., Ahlstrom-Munksjo Oyj, Harwal Group, Schweitzer-Mauduit International Inc., Georgia-Pacific LLC, Duni AB, Nordic Paper Holding AB, Asia Pulp & Papers Pvt. Ltd., Pudumjee Paper Products Ltd., Seaman Paper Company, Twin River Paper Company Inc., KRPA Holding CZ a.s., Superiorpaper Pty Ltd., Honeymoon Paper Products Inc., GM Packaging (UK) Ltd., BPM Inc.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the food contact paper market in 2025. The regions covered in the food contact papers market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the food contact papers market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The food contact papers market consists of sales of greaseproof papers, parchment papers, and glassine paper. 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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