Canada Flexible Plastic Packaging - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2028)

The Canada Flexible Plastic Packaging Market size is estimated at USD 2.09 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 2.86 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 6.52% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Flexible plastic packaging allows more economical and customizable options for packaging products. Flexible plastic packaging products are particularly beneficial in industries requiring versatile packaging, such as the food, personal care, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. It has grown prevalent due to its high efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Key Highlights

• Canadian consumers increasingly rely upon the internet to place orders. Internet consumer sales have increased more in the past decade than traditional retail sales. Canadian retail firms have adopted wireless technologies and internet-based systems to improve business-to-business and business-to-consumer relations.​ Canada's e-commerce infrastructure is highly developed and closely integrated with the United States. The major online retailers in Canada include Wal-Mart, Amazon, Best Buy, Canadian Tire, Hudson's Bay, Costco, and Etsy.​
• The increasing trend of consumer products, such as food, beverages, and cosmetics, is anticipated to propel the demand for flexible packaging. The growing need is attributed to the rising packaging solutions that are convenient and portable. Flexible packaging combines the advantages of materials such as plastic, paper, and aluminum foil without compromising the product's printability, barrier protection, freshness, or ease of use.
• Fiber-based flexible packaging is growing in popularity in Canada and supports a brand’s commitment to using more environment-friendly packaging. Some types of flexible packaging have even been designed to be more eco-friendly. The Canadian flexible packaging market is seeing an increase in eco-friendly packaging from both consumers and producers.
• Growing demand for packaging solutions that are convenient and portable, in line with the move to single-person living, has driven growth within convenience store retailing and boosted demand for more convenient packaging solutions.
• Recycling and environmental considerations are necessary when it comes to packaging. Plastic contamination in the oceans and landfills are significantly impacted by packaging trash. Plastic packaging significantly affects the environment's plastic pollution. Plastic may affect marine life and ecosystems since it takes hundreds of years to disintegrate.

Canada Flexible Plastic Packaging Market Trends

Polyethylene (PE) to Witness Major Growth

• Polyethylene is primarily used for packaging plastic bags, plastic films, geomembranes, etc. It is a lightweight, partially crystalline, and thermoplastic resin with high resistance to chemicals, low moisture absorption, and sound-insulating properties.
• High-density polyethylene is a type of plastic created by polymerizing ethylene molecules linearly. The process of producing HDPE is similar to that of LLDPE, with comparable temperatures and pressures. However, unlike LLDPE, HDPE has very minimal branching. This unique characteristic gives HDPE films a distinct stiffness, which sets them apart from their LDPE counterparts.
• Despite their rigidity, HDPE films are still flexible and durable, making them ideal for multiple applications. However, one drawback of HDPE films is their poor transparency. When compared to LDPE films, HDPE films are not as clear, which may limit their use in certain applications.
• According to Statistique Canada, in August 2022, Canada’s retail e-commerce sales were CAD 3,775.46 (USD 2,783.41), and it reached CAD 3,902.9 (USD 2,877.20) million in March 2023, marking an expansion. Such a huge rise in e-commerce sales would push the flexible plastic packaging players in the country to develop new products, such as films, pouches, bags, wraps, etc., to cater to the customer’s various needs and expand their market share.

Food Sector to Witness Growth

• Diverse nature of fishery products, including various types of fish, requires customized packaging solutions to accommodate different sizes, shapes, and packaging formats. Flexible packaging may be tailored to meet the specific requirements of each type of product, providing efficient and effective packaging solutions for exporters.
• The increase in exports of fishery products from Canada opens new markets and opportunities for flexible packaging manufacturers. As exporters seek packaging solutions that meet international standards and regulations, there is a growing demand for flexible packaging materials that offer reliability, performance, and compliance with export requirements.
• According to Statistics Canada, in August 2023, exports of fish, crustaceans, shellfish, and other fishery products from Canada amounted to approximately CAD 274 million (USD 201.98 million). When compared with August 2020, the exports amounted to CAD 260 million (USD 191.68 million).
• As exporters seek packaging solutions that meet international standards and regulations, there will be a growing demand for flexible packaging materials. This demand is driven by the need for packaging that offers reliability, performance, and compliance with export requirements. As a result, manufacturers of flexible packaging materials will see increased demand for their products.
• The opening of new markets for fishery products from Canada means that there will be a need for packaging solutions in these new regions. This expansion of export markets allows plastic flexible packaging manufacturers to enter and cater to these markets with their products.

Canada Flexible Plastic Packaging Industry Overview

The Canadian flexible plastic packaging market is fragmented and market incumbents are adopting powerful competitive strategies characterized by acquisitions, partnerships activities, a strong emphasis on R&D, and innovative activities. Some players include FLAIR Flexible Packaging Corporation​, Mondi PC, Amcor Group GmbH, Constantia Flexibles Group GmbH, and C-P Flexible Packaging Inc.

• February 2024 - Mondi PLC announced the acquisition of Hinton Pulp Mill, Alberta, Canada, for USD 5 million. Hinton Pulp Mill is in Hinton, Alberta, and is owned and operated by West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. The mill may produce approximately 250,000 tons of pulp per year. The acquisition of the mill is part of a long-term partnership between the Group and West Fraser in which the Group will benefit from access to locally sourced, high-quality fiber from a well-established wood basket. Mondi plans to further invest in the mill to increase productivity and sustainability performance. The company plans to expand the facility by introducing a kraft paper machine. The kraft paper machine will integrate the Group’s paper bag operations across America to support future growth. The investment is subject to prior engineering and permitting.
• September 2023 - Berry Global Group Inc. announced a five-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with multinational renewable energy leader ACCIONA Energía to power all four of its facilities in Mexico with wind and solar power. Procuring nearly 100,000 MWh of cost-effective, renewable energy annually, this agreement is projected to avoid around 40,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, or CO2, annually. This helps Berry meet its climate goals and helps Berry’s customers advance their ambitious sustainability goals by providing lower-carbon solutions.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support

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