Food Contact Paper Market Report 2025

The food contact paper market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $73.95 billion in 2024 to $76.96 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to consumer safety concerns, market expansion in food packaging, innovation in barrier coatings, sustainability initiatives, consumer preferences for convenience.

The food contact paper market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $95.49 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to digitalization in packaging, global food packaging growth, shift to bio-based materials, sustainable packaging demands. Major trends in the forecast period include antimicrobial properties, single-use packaging solutions, transparency and labeling, biodegradable and compostable materials, customized and brand-specific packaging.

The increasing demand for bakery products is anticipated to drive the growth of the food contact paper market in the near future. Bakery products encompass a variety of food items baked in an oven, including bread, cakes, pastries, cookies, muffins, croissants, and bagels. The bakery sector is a significant consumer of food contact paper, as products like bread, cakes, pastries, and cookies require appropriate packaging to preserve their freshness and quality. For example, a report published in September 2022 by PhilArchive, an online organization based in Canada, indicated that consumption of bakery products is projected to increase by 40.4% by 2025 compared to 2021, with bun goods expected to grow by 32.3%. Thus, the rising demand for bakery products is fueling the food contact paper market.

The projected growth of the food contact paper market is expected to be propelled by the expanding food and beverage industry. This industry encompasses the production and distribution of a wide range of edible goods, including both fresh and packaged foods, as well as various beverages and processed food products. Food contact paper plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safety, preservation, convenience, and branding of diverse food items while adhering to regulatory standards within the food and beverage sector. For example, in 2023, the Food & Drink Federation reported that Scotland had 1,185 companies engaged in the manufacturing of food and beverages. Furthermore, exports of food and beverages experienced a notable 31% increase in 2022, reaching $10.18 billion (£8.1 billion). Additionally, the turnover from food and beverages accounted for $12.5 billion (£10.3 billion), representing 33% of total Scottish manufacturing. Consequently, the expanding food and beverage industry serves as a driving factor for the food contact paper market.

Sustainable and innovative packaging emerges as a prominent trend gaining traction in both the consumer and food contact paper markets. Leading companies in the food contact paper sector are dedicated to crafting sustainable and inventive packaging solutions for fresh food products, aiming to fortify their market positions. A case in point is Novolex, a US-based packaging product manufacturer, which introduced Power Prep in April 2023. This new line features laminated insulated packaging for fresh food, utilizing non-fluorinated oil-and-grease-resistant paper laminated with a honeycomb pattern to create an insulated layer. The Power Prep packaging exhibits enhanced puncture resistance compared to traditional foil or foil/paper structures, and its anti-curling capabilities facilitate flat sheeting during large-scale food product assembly.

Partnerships are a strategic initiative among major companies in the food contact paper market to boost revenues. These collaborations play a crucial role in fostering innovation, ensuring regulatory compliance, and advancing sustainability in the food contact paper industry, with overarching benefits for manufacturers, consumers, and the environment. An illustration of such collaboration is the partnership between Ahlstrom, a Finland-based fiber-based company, and The Paper People, a US-based sustainable packaging company, announced in August 2023. Their joint efforts aim to develop a fiber-based frozen food packaging solution, designed to replace conventional fossil-based plastics and films commonly used in frozen food packaging.

In March 2024, ProAmpac LLC, a flexible packaging company based in the United States, acquired UP Paper LLC for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition is part of ProAmpac's strategy to bolster its presence in the food contact paper market by broadening its range of food-safe packaging solutions and improving its capacity to satisfy customer needs for high-quality, compliant packaging materials. UP Paper LLC, also based in the U.S., manufactures a variety of paper products, including food contact papers, packaging materials, and specialty papers for different industrial applications.

Major companies operating in the food contact paper market include Mondi plc, Westrock Company, Pudumjee Paper Products Ltd., Asian Pulp & Paper Company, Ahlstrom- Munksjo Oyj, Georgia-Pacific LLC, Twin River Paper Company, UPM-Kymmene Corporation, Schweitzer-Mauduit International Inc., SCG Packaging Public Company Limited, PT. Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper Tbk, Seaman Paper Company, Maesindo Indonesia, PT Parisindo Pratama, Harwal Group of Companies, Huhtamaki Oyj, International Paper Company, Smurfit Kappa Group, Stora Enso Oyj, Sappi Limited, Metsä Board Corporation, Nippon Paper Industries Co. Ltd., Oji Holdings Corporation, Daio Paper Corporation, Rengo Co. Ltd., Shandong Chenming Paper Holdings Limited, Fujian Liansheng Paper Industry Co. Ltd., Guangdong Guanhao High-Tech Co. Ltd., Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Limited, Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited, Shanying International Holdings Co. Ltd., Shenzhen Jinjia Group Co. Ltd., GM Packaging Ltd, Superiorpaper Pty Ltd, KRPA Holding CZ a.s., Nordic Paper.

North America was the largest region in the food contact paper market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the global food contact paper market report during the forecast period. The regions covered in the food contact paper market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the food contact paper market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Food contact paper is a variety of food packaging material designed to come into direct contact with food for the purpose of facilitating transportation, preventing contamination, and prolonging the shelf life of packaged food items. This particular type of food packaging paper possesses barrier properties, heat retention capabilities, and moisture emissivity, all of which contribute to enhanced food safety.

Food contact papers come in two main types, poly-coated and non-poly coated. Poly-coated paper is characterized by a layer of polyethylene coating, providing a protective barrier against moisture and grease. It is commonly employed in the packaging of food products such as take-out containers, paper cups, and fast-food wrappers. These papers are crafted from materials such as kraft paper, specialty paper, recycled paper, and other suitable materials, making them suitable for various applications in bakery and confectionery, fresh food, dairy products, fast food, baby food, and other related areas.

The food contact paper market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides food contact paper market statistics, including food contact paper industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a food contact paper market share, detailed food contact paper market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the food contact paper industry. This food contact paper 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 food contact paper market consists of sales of corrugated board, solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paperboard, and coated 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.

This product will be delivered within 3-5 business days.