Molded Fiber Packaging Market Report 2026

The molded fiber packaging market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $9.31 billion in 2025 to $9.82 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing environmental regulations on plastic packaging, expansion of food delivery services, growth in electronics protective packaging demand, rising availability of recycled paper pulp, adoption of molded fiber in consumer goods packaging.

The molded fiber packaging market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $12.12 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing corporate sustainability commitments, rising demand for biodegradable packaging solutions, expansion of molded fiber use in electronics and cosmetics, growing investments in sustainable packaging manufacturing, increasing innovation in high-strength fiber molding technologies. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of plastic-free packaging alternatives, rising demand for custom molded fiber designs, growing use of recycled and mixed pulp materials, expansion of food service and protective packaging applications, enhanced focus on compostable packaging performance.

The expansion of the e-commerce industry is expected to drive the growth of the molded fiber packaging market in the coming years. This growth is supported by increasing internet penetration, greater consumer convenience, broader product availability, and flexible purchasing options. Molded fiber packaging is widely adopted in e-commerce because of its protective, sustainable, and versatile properties, which help safeguard products during transportation while reducing environmental impact. For example, in February 2024, according to the Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce, a US-based government department, e-commerce sales in the fourth quarter of 2023 increased by 7.5% compared with the same period in 2022. Therefore, the continued expansion of the e-commerce sector is contributing to the growth of the molded fiber packaging market.

Major companies operating in the molded fiber packaging market are focusing on the development of advanced solutions, such as sustainable molded fiber packaging, to address the rising demand for environmentally friendly packaging options. Sustainable molded fiber packaging is produced using recycled paperboard or other natural fibers to create biodegradable and recyclable packaging, offering a lower environmental footprint compared with conventional materials such as plastic. For instance, in January 2024, Genpak LLC, a US-based food service packaging provider, introduced the Harvest Fiber product line, which includes hinged food service containers, trays, and tableware. These Harvest Fiber containers are designed to meet the operational requirements of food service providers while combining sustainability with strength and durability. Made from renewable fibers, the containers are microwave-safe, free from polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and suitable for both hot and cold food applications. They are engineered to preserve food quality for on-premises and off-premises dining, offering restaurants a practical packaging solution amid increasing regulatory scrutiny of PFAS materials.

In September 2023, Molpack Corporation, a Panama-based manufacturer of molded fiber packaging, entered into a strategic partnership with HP Inc. to digitize and modernize the industrial production of molded fiber products. Through this collaboration, Guamolsa, a Molpack subsidiary focused on molded fiber packaging in Latin America, is advancing efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and replace single-use plastics with sustainable packaging alternatives. HP Inc. is a US-based information technology company.

Major companies operating in the molded fiber packaging market are Sonoco Products Company, Pactiv Evergreen Inc., Huhtamaki Oyj, Nippon Molding Co. Ltd., Cascades Inc., Genpak LLC, Brødrene Hartmann A/S, Fabri-Kal Corporation, UFP Technologies Inc., CKF Inc., Pro-Pac Packaging Ltd., Dentas Paper Industry Inc., Henry Molded Products Inc., EnviroPAK Corporation, Fibercel Packaging LLC, Dynamic Fibre Moulding (PTY) Ltd., Omni-Pac Group, Moulded Fibre Products Ltd., Cullen International, Eco-Products Inc., Pacific Pulp Molding Inc., Primeware LLC, Qingdao Xinya molded Pulp Packaging Co. Ltd, TRIDAS.

North America was the largest region in the molded fiber packaging market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the molded fiber 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 molded fiber packaging market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The molded fiber packaging market consists of sales of molded pulp cushions, molded fiber bottles, and takeout meal 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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