Features:
- Global rigid plastic packaging consumption grew during 2018-2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4% to 64.8 million tonnes
- In 2023, global rigid plastic packaging consumption is projected to grow 3.0% to 66.8 million tonnes
- Global rigid plastic packaging consumption is forecast to grow during 2023-2028 at an annual rate of 3.4% to 78.8 million tonnes.
Despite the challenges facing the rigid plastic packaging market, there are opportunities for growth in emerging technologies and sustainable packaging development. This report analyses the key market and regulatory trends with implications for rigid plastic packaging globally. These include the key rigid plastic packaging applications that are most vulnerable to replacement by fibre-based packaging; and how product and technology developments, such as barrier solutions, can add value and open up new applications for rigid plastic packaging.
Our exclusive content
- Food is the largest end-use market for rigid plastic packaging, accounting for a projected 40.4% share of global consumption in 2023
- Within the food category, dairy products are the largest sector, followed by other (human) foods
- Non-food is the second largest sector, representing 31.6% of consumption, followed by drinks with a 28.0% consumption share
- Hot beverages, particularly coffee capsules, are forecast to grow at the highest rate, followed by healthcare and other (human) foods.
What will you discover?
- Examples of how brand owners and plastic converters are making rigid plastic packaging more recyclable and sustainable
- The market potential for new and developing technologies, such as chemical recycling and bioplastics; including 100% bio-PET, bio-PE and bio-PP
- Rigid plastic packaging continues to benefit from its ability to replace traditional packaging formats, such as glass bottles and metal cans, due to lower cost, lighter weight, and improved durability.
The Smithers methodology
This report is based on extensive primary and secondary research. Primary research consisted of targeted interviews with material suppliers, converters and experts drawn from key markets. This was supported by secondary research in the form of extensive literature analysis of published data, official government statistics, domestic and international trade organisation data, company websites, industry reports, trade press articles, presentations, and attendance at trade events.
Who should buy this report?
- Materials suppliers
- Packaging converters
- Packaging and filling machinery manufacturers
- Brand owners and packaging buyers
- Industry consultants, investors and analysts
About the author
David Platt is a freelance business researcher and writer with a broad range of experience in the plastics and packaging industry. He has authored over 50 market reports for Smithers on subjects including global packaging, rigid plastic packaging, PET packaging, flexible packaging, bioplastics, specialty plastics, high-performance packaging films, and pouches, caps & closures. He has participated in consultancy projects and has authored two books for Smithers, and writes for Sustainable Plastics magazine.
Table of Contents
Executive summary
Introduction & methodology
Key market drivers, trends and industry structure
- Key market drivers and trends
- Overview
- Economic trends
- Lifestyle and social influences
- Demographic influences
- Cost and availability of plastic material
- Rigid plastics replace traditional packaging materials
- Rigid plastic packaging challenged by flexibles
- Sustainable packaging
- Consumer concern for food safety and food waste
- Regulatory developments for packaging and packaging waste
- The rigid plastic packaging industry supply chain and competitive structure
- Competitive structure
Cutting-edge technology developments
- Introduction
- Barrier solutions
- Overview
- Monolayer blends and alloys
- Multilayer bottles
- Barrier coatings
- Barrier technology developments for rigid plastic packaging
- Food and drink processing technologies
- Overview
- Hot-fill
- Aseptic cold filling
- High-pressure processing
- Downsizing / light weighting
- Processing machinery developments
- Chemical recycling
- Bio-based rigid plastic packaging materials
- Overview
- Bio-based polyethylene
- Bio-based PET
- Polyethylene furanoate (PEF)
- New packaging product developments
Rigid plastic packaging by material substrate
- Overview
- Polyethylene (PE)
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polystyrene (PS)
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
- Expanded polystyrene (EPS)
- Others rigid plastic packaging materials
- Bioplastics
- Polyamide (PA)
- Polycarbonate (PC)
- Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN)
- Ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)
- Polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC)
- Polyurethane foam (PU)
- Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)
- Styrene acrylonitrile (SAN)
Rigid plastic packaging by pack format
- Overview
- Plastic bottles
- Trays and containers
- Plastic tubs and pots
- Others rigid plastic formats
- Blister packs
- Rigid plastic intermediate bulk containers and drums
- Plastic pails
- Plastic pallets and crates
- Rigid plastic tubes
- Plastic beer keg
Rigid plastic packaging by production process
- Overview
- Blow moulding
- Injection moulding
- Thermoforming
- Form-fill-seal (FFS)
- Other production process
- Foam extrusion
- Vacuum forming
- Calendering
End-use markets for rigid plastic packaging
- Overview
- Fresh Food
- Frozen food
- Chilled food
- Dried food
- Ready meals
- Baked goods
- Savoury snacks
- Dairy products
- Confectionery
- Hot beverages
- Other (human) food
- Pet food
- Drinks
- Healthcare
- Cosmetics and personal care products
- Household care products
- Other consumer products
- Industrial
Geographic markets for rigid plastic packaging
- Overview
- Western Europe
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
- UK
- Other Western Europe
- Eastern Europe
- Poland
- Russia
- Other Eastern Europe
- Middle East
- Africa
- North America
- South & Central America
- Brazil
- Other South & Central America
- Asia
- China
- India
- Japan
- Other Asia
- Australasia
Tables
- Global rigid plastic packaging sales by region, 2020-26 ($ million)
- Rigid plastic packaging, summary of key market drivers and trends to 2028
- Global economic growth trends by region, 2019-21
- World population trends by region, 2018-28 (millions of people)
- Summary of major mergers & acquisitions for global rigid plastic packaging industry, 2018-2023
- Rigid plastic packaging: cutting-edge technology developments to 2028
- Summary of selected barrier technologies for rigid plastic packaging, 2023
- Global rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Polyethylene: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by country/ region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Polyethylene terephthalate: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by country/region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Polypropylene: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by country/ region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Polystyrene: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by country/ region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Polyvinyl chloride: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by country/ region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Expanded polystyrene: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by country/region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Other rigid plastic packaging materials: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by country/region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Global rigid plastic packaging: consumption by pack format, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Plastic bottles: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Trays & containers: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Tubs & pots: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Other rigid plastic pack formats: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Global rigid plastic packaging: consumption by production process, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Blow moulding: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Injection moulding: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Thermoforming: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Form-fill-seal: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Other production processes: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Global rigid plastic packaging consumption by end-use market, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Fresh food: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Frozen food: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Chilled food: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Dried food: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Ready meals: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Baked goods: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Savoury snacks: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Dairy products: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Confectionery: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Hot beverages: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Other (human) food: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Pet food: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Drinks: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Healthcare: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Cosmetics and personal care: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Household care products: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Other consumer products: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Industrial: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 (000 tonnes)
- Global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2018-28 ('000 tonnes)
- Global rigid plastic packaging sales by region, 2018-28 ($ million)
For each region:
- Economic and demographic data, 2018-28
- Rigid plastic packaging market value, 2018-28 ($ million)
- Rigid plastic packaging consumption by national market, 2018-28 ('000 tonnes)
- Rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2018-28 ('000 tonnes)
- Rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2018-28 ('000 tonnes)
- Rigid plastic packaging consumption by production process, 2018-28 ('000 tonnes)
- Rigid plastic packaging consumption by packaging product, 2018-28 ('000 tonnes)
List of regions:
- Western Europe
- Eastern Europe
- Middle East
- Africa
- North America
- South & Central America
- Asia
- Australasia
For each country:
- Economic and demographic data, 2018-28
- Rigid plastic packaging market value, 2018-28
- Rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2018-28 ('000 tonnes)
- Rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2018-28 ('000 tonnes)
List of countries:
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
- UK
- Other Western Europe
- Poland
- Russia
- Other Eastern Europe
- Turkey
- Other Middle East
- Canada
- Mexico
- US
- Brazil
- Other South & Central America
- China
- India
- Japan
- Other Asia
- Comparison of GDP forecasts by region under different scenarios
- Baseline forecast: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2020-26 (000 tonnes)
- Lower growth scenario: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2020-26 (000 tonnes)
Figures
- Rigid plastic packaging, percentage share of consumption by region, 2020
- Rigid plastic packaging, percentage share of consumption by material, 2020
- Global rigid plastic packaging, percentage share of consumption, 2020
- Global rigid plastic packaging, percentage share of consumption by end-use sector, 2020
- European rigid plastics: annual average reference prices, 2018-2023 (€/tonne)