Food Contact Papers Market Report 2025

This 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 food contact papers market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $80.78 billion in 2024 to $85.47 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to stringent food safety regulations, consumer demand for sustainable packaging, globalization of the food industry, rise in convenience and ready-to-eat foods, industry shift towards biodegradable materials.

The food contact papers market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $105.65 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increased adoption of plant-based packaging, focus on recyclability and circular economy, rising demand for specialty papers, packaging solutions for e-commerce, consumer preferences for safe and healthy packaging. Major trends in the forecast period include technological innovations in coating materials, advancements in paper coating technologies, rising demand for sustainable packaging, innovations in barrier coatings, preference for convenience packaging.

The food contact papers market is poised for growth, driven by the increasing consumer demand for sweets and chocolates. Sweets and chocolates, created by combining cocoa beans, sugar powder, and fat, rely on food contact papers as their primary packaging material. These papers serve as a barrier, protecting the confectionery and other food products from contamination while preserving freshness. Notably, in the US, sales of chocolate and sweets experienced an 11% increase between 2020 and 2021. Confectionery retail sales reached $36.9 billion in 2021 and were projected to further increase to $44.9 billion by 2026, showcasing the rising demand for sweets and chocolates and, consequently, the growth of the food contact papers market.

The increasing demand for convenience foods is projected to drive the growth of the food contact paper market in the upcoming years. Convenience foods are mass-produced food items that are generally ready to eat without any additional preparation, including snacks, prepared mixes, and ready-to-eat meals. Food contact sheets are designed for direct interaction with food and are utilized in the packaging and wrapping of ready-to-eat items. For instance, in April 2024, data published by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), a US-based trade association, revealed that total industry foodservice sales accounted for 26.9% of in-store sales in 2023, an increase from 25.6% in 2022, with prepared food sales rising by 12.2% per store each month, making it the top in-store category. Therefore, the rising demand for convenience foods is fueling the growth of the food contact paper market.

Companies in the food contact papers market are actively innovating to create sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging solutions, such as kerbside recyclable paper wraps. These wraps are specifically designed for recycling, often made from 100% recycled newsprint. For example, in March 2022, Wipak Walothen GmbH, a Germany-based company specializing in packaging services and products, introduced a kerbside recyclable paper wrap for butter. Crafted from FSC-certified renewable paper, this solution claims to have a 68% lower carbon footprint compared to industry-standard wraps made of aluminum, low-density polyethylene, or paper lamination. Notably, this consumer-friendly paper solution can be entirely recycled within the curbside paper and cardboard waste stream. Wipak Walothen GmbH's commitment to the circular economy and its diverse range of customizable paper composite solutions underscore its dedication to sustainability and meeting customer needs.

In April 2024, Antalis, a France-based paper packaging firm, acquired Pakella for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition is in line with Antalis's strategy to strengthen its packaging distribution presence globally and provides a significant opportunity to expand its operations in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Pakella is a Latvia-based company specializing in packaging machinery and materials, including food packaging.

Major companies operating in the food contact papers market report 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 2024. The regions covered in the food contact papers market report are Asia-Pacific, 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, 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.

Food contact papers, also known as food-grade papers, are specialized packaging materials designed for direct contact with food products to ensure safety and hygiene. These papers are extensively used in various food packaging applications, including wrapping sandwiches, bakery products, fruits, vegetables, and other food items.

The main material types of food contact papers include kraft paper, specialty paper, recycled paper, and others. Kraft paper is a coarse, strong, and durable paper made from chemical wood pulp. These papers come in various thicknesses, such as up to 30 gsm, 30-50 gsm, and above 50 gsm, catering to applications such as bakery and confectionary products, dairy products, fresh food, fast food, baby food, and others. The end-users of food contact papers span across hotels and restaurants, bakeries and cafes, fast food outlets, movies and cinemas, airline and railway catering, and more.

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

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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