Gitnux/Report 2026

Eco Packaging Industry Statistics

Eco Packaging Industry’s latest figures for 2026 lay out how quickly adoption is shifting, from rising production volumes to changing materials preferences. Read the statistics to see the exact tradeoffs behind sustainability claims, and where the biggest momentum is actually forming.
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November 11, 2026Updated
Eco Packaging Industry Statistics
Aisha OkonkwoWritten by Aisha Okonkwo·Edited by Rebecca Hargrove·Fact-checked by Katherine Brennan
Published ·Updated
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

Gitnux editors write the brief first: the topic, the inclusion rules, and the frame for what belongs.

02Source Research

Agents search the published record and log every extracted figure back to the passage it came from.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 31 days

01 Industry overview

The eco packaging industry at a glance

The global sustainable packaging market was valued at $272.9 billion in 2023 and is forecast to reach $448.5 billion by 2030, as regulation and demand accelerate the shift toward recyclable, recycled-content and lower-waste formats.

$272.9B[65]
Market size, 2023
7.6%[65]
Forecast CAGR, 2024–2030
36.2%[65]
Europe market share, 2023
47.1%[66]
Food and beverage share, 2023
Market size
The global sustainable packaging market was valued at $272.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $448.5 billion by 2030. A separate 2025 Canadian trade report estimated the global market at $278.1 billion in 2023, reflecting differences in market definitions and methodology.[65][66]
Forecast & CAGR
Grand View Research forecasts 7.6% compound annual growth from 2024 to 2030, taking the market from $272.9 billion in 2023 to $448.5 billion in 2030. Invest Nova Scotia cites a more conservative 6.0% CAGR for 2023–2029, reaching $391.1 billion.[65][66]
Market share & regions
Europe held a 36.2% revenue share of the global sustainable packaging market in 2023, according to Grand View Research. Invest Nova Scotia's 2025 report gives Europe a 40.4% share and Asia-Pacific 28.4%, with Asia-Pacific identified as the fastest-growing region at a 6.8% CAGR.[65][66]
Segmentation
By end use, food and beverage accounted for 47.1% of the sustainable packaging market in 2023, followed by healthcare at 13.9%, personal and home care at 12.3%, industrial and chemical at 10.0%, and other applications at 16.7%. Material segments include plastics, paper and paperboard, glass and metal.[66][65]
Trends, drivers & challenges
Growth is being driven by demand from food, healthcare and consumer-goods companies, alongside investment in recycled, bio-based and circular packaging systems. The sector faces cost, infrastructure and scaling constraints; packaging-industry production capacity was cut by nearly 10% during 2025, according to Capstone Partners research reported by Packaging Dive.[66][67]
Consumer behavior & competition
In the United States, consumer packaged-goods products marketed with sustainable attributes held a 23.8% market share in 2024, up 2.6 percentage points from the prior year. Competition is therefore shifting toward packaging claims and formats that combine sustainability with convenience and product performance.[68]
M&A
Packaging M&A activity was described as selective in 2026, following a nearly 10% industry capacity reduction in 2025. Strategic buyers including Georgia-Pacific, PCA, Toppan and Veritiv pursued significant acquisitions during 2025, while Silgan and American Industrial Partners agreed to acquire Trivium Packaging for $3.4 billion including debt.[67][69]
Regulation
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation begins applying from mid-2026 and requires all packaging on the EU market to be recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030. EU recycling targets for 2030 are 70% for all packaging, 85% for paper and cardboard, 75% for glass, 55% for plastic and 30% for wood.[70][71]
Latest news
In 2026, packaging M&A remained muted and selective amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty, according to Capstone Partners. The sector is also responding to the EU regulation's mid-2026 application date, which introduces binding requirements for recyclability, recycled content, reuse and packaging-waste prevention.[67][70]

02 Ranking

Top 10 Companies in the Eco Packaging Industry

The leading companies in the eco packaging industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 11, 2026 · Next review December 11, 2026

Verdict

Smurfit Westrock and Sonoco Products Company are tied at the top of Gitnux's 2026 eco packaging ranking with an Overall score of 9.3 each.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in corrugated packaging

    Smurfit Westrock

    IE

    Ranked #1 · 9.3 · Corrugated packaging

    Why we picked it: It runs a large integrated corrugated and paper-based footprint, supporting scale for EU-bound recyclability redesign.

    See in ranking ↓Visit smurfitwestrock.com ↗

  2. Leader in metal & fiber packaging

    Sonoco Products Company

    US

    Ranked #2 · 9.3 · Metal & fiber packaging

    Why we picked it: It pairs wide multi-country capacity with metal and fiber packaging coverage, aligning with recycled-content procurement priorities.

    See in ranking ↓Visit sonoco.com ↗

  3. Leader in aseptic cartons

    Tetra Pak

    CH

    Ranked #3 · 9.2 · Aseptic cartons

    Why we picked it: It focuses on aseptic cartons and food systems, supported by global carton-material production scale.

    See in ranking ↓Visit tetrapak.com ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. Picks 2 and 3 are the highest-ranked companies in the top 5 that add a new segment.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 10 companies in the eco packaging industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

Smurfit Westrock

Corrugated packaging · IE

9.3
2

Sonoco Products Company

Metal & fiber packaging · US

9.3
3

Tetra Pak

Aseptic cartons · CH

9.2
4

Amcor

Flexible & rigid packaging · CH

9.2
5

Ball Corporation

Aluminum beverage packaging · US

9.0
6

International Paper

Paper & fiber packaging · US

8.9
7

Mondi

Corrugated packaging · GB

8.6
8

Elopak

Aseptic cartons · NO

8.3
9

Crown Holdings

Metal & fiber packaging · US

8.2
10

Cascades

Paper & fiber packaging · CA

8.1

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 11, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Top 10 companies in the eco packaging industry. In Eco Packaging Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/eco-packaging-industry-statistics/#top-companies

report visual · Comparison

Revenue of the largest eco packaging companies

Smurfit Westrock leads with $31.0B in annual revenue (group level, converted to USD).

Smurfit Westrock$31.0B
Tetra Pak$13.3B
Ball Corporation$13.2B
Mondi$8.3B
Sonoco Products Company$7.5B
source-verifiedus.smurfitwestrock.com · tetralaval.com · investors.ball.com · mondigroup.com · investor.sonoco.com2025

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

In 2026, 65% of packaging, label and logistics organizations use or plan AI for packaging-design optimization. Robotics is also widespread, with 72% of U.S. end users using robotics in 2026.

AI in the eco packaging industry

  • 43% of paper and packaging respondents reported machine-learning or generative-AI use in procurement in 2025, across the United States and Europe.[1]
  • 65% of packaging, label and logistics organizations use or plan to use AI for packaging-design optimization, globally in 2026.[2]
  • 56% of paper and packaging respondents said their companies already use machine learning or generative AI in commercial excellence in 2025, across the United States and Europe.[1]
  • 37% of paper and packaging respondents reported machine-learning or generative-AI use in supply chain and logistics in 2025, across the United States and Europe.[1]
  • 82% of paper and packaging respondents had launched, were developing or were considering generative-AI solutions in their function in 2025, across the United States and Europe.[1]

Automation in the eco packaging industry

  • 72% of surveyed U.S. packaging and processing end users were already using robotics in 2026.[3]
  • $440 million was the value of the U.S. packaging and processing robotics market in 2025.[4]
  • 10.3% is the projected compound annual growth rate for the U.S. packaging and processing robotics market from 2025 to 2031.[4]

Digital Transformation in the chemicals and materials sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among ASUG chemicals-industry members, 46% ranked automation among their leading technology focus areas in 2025.[5]
  • Among EII businesses, 68% reported adopting AI in 2024, with an estimated 10% productivity increase.[6]
  • Across European chemical subindustries, 65% of companies viewed digitalization as an opportunity that would significantly impact their activities in 2024.[6]
  • Among ASUG chemicals-industry members, 57% identified moving to SAP S/4HANA as a top focus area in 2025.[5]

Technology Adoption in the chemicals and materials sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among chemicals organizations surveyed by IBM, 45% had implemented AI for supply-chain optimization in 2025.[7]
  • Among chemicals organizations surveyed by IBM, 53% had implemented AI for real-time process control and optimization in 2025.[7]
  • Among chemicals organizations surveyed by IBM, 49% had implemented AI for quality inspection or defect detection in 2025.[7]
  • Among chemicals organizations surveyed by IBM, 49% had implemented AI for production planning and scheduling in 2025.[7]

Cloud Computing in the chemicals and materials sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across chemical-sector companies surveyed by Arthur D. Little and Cefic, more than 35% had at least partially migrated to cloud computing in 2023.[8]
  • Across chemical-sector companies surveyed by Arthur D. Little and Cefic, 15% planned to migrate to cloud computing in coming years in 2023.[8]
  • Among EII businesses, 2% reported decreased productivity from cloud computing in 2024.[6]
  • Among EII businesses, 52% reported increased productivity from cloud computing in 2024, while 46% reported no change.[6]

Big Data in the chemicals and materials sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among EII businesses, 6% reported decreased productivity from big data in 2024.[6]
  • Among ASUG chemicals-industry members, 49% cited gaining actionable insights from data and analytics as a current challenge in 2025.[5]
  • Among EII businesses, 44% reported no productivity change from big data in 2024.[6]
  • Among EII businesses, 48% reported increased productivity from big data in 2024.[6]

IoT in the chemicals and materials sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among EII businesses, 44% reported increased productivity from IoT in 2024.[6]
  • Among EII businesses, 56% reported no productivity change from IoT in 2024.[6]
  • Across 23 European countries, close to one-third of manufacturing firms used IoT in 2021.[9]
  • Across European countries, 29% of firms used IoT on average in 2021.[9]

Innovation in the eco packaging industry

  • 81% of packaging respondents said their organizations had moved toward sustainability goals in 2024, globally.[10]
  • 65% of packaging leaders reported an increasing focus on sustainable packaging in 2026, globally.[2]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

Smart-connected packaging raises governance overhead, reported by 56% of businesses. At the same time, 84% of packaging leaders report committed investment in real-time visibility tools in 2026.

Business intelligence in the eco packaging industry

  • 56% of businesses said smart-connected packaging created data-governance overhead their organizations were not equipped to manage.[11]
  • 71% of executives said succeeding with smart-connected packaging required more internal coordination and cross-functional collaboration than was typical in their companies.[11]
  • 84% of Value Threader companies had a fully deployed governance structure for packaging data used in analytics and decision-making.[11]
  • 84% of packaging, labels and logistics leaders reported committed investment in real-time visibility tools in 2026.[12]
  • 72% of Value Threader companies extensively captured packaging data across product-lifecycle touchpoints.[11]
  • 98% of executives said a well-designed approach to smart-connected-packaging data was important for their business.[11]

Data analytics in the eco packaging industry

  • 64% of packaging leaders expected smart packaging to enhance supply-chain visibility.[12]
  • 16% of Value Evader companies applied analytics intensively to packaging data across product-lifecycle touchpoints.[11]
  • 24% of Value Seeker companies applied analytics intensively to packaging data across product-lifecycle touchpoints.[11]
  • 29% of businesses extensively applied analytics to data captured by smart-connected packaging in Accenture’s survey.[11]
  • 62% of packaging leaders ranked sustainability optimization as the highest-priority planned use of AI in operations over the next 1–3 years.[12]
  • 42% of packaging leaders expected smart packaging to improve inventory accuracy.[12]

Data Quality in the chemicals and materials sector (sector benchmark)

  • 80% of manufacturers reported a measured value for their operational data in 2026, across the surveyed manufacturing sector.[13]
  • 67% of supply-management organizations said their data quality was better or significantly better than two years earlier in 2024.[14]
  • 42% of manufacturers had a process to verify manufacturing-data accuracy and quality in 2026, while 51% did not.[13]
  • 44% of companies in the manufacturing survey reported AI-project failures caused by poor data quality in 2025, across surveyed manufacturers.[15]
  • 89% of manufacturers said data use improved their decision-making processes in 2026, across the surveyed manufacturing sector.[13]
  • 49% of supply-management organizations rated their data quality as good or excellent in 2024, based on an Institute for Supply Management survey.[14]

Data Governance in the chemicals and materials sector (sector benchmark)

  • 46% of GCC chemical companies had established common data standards with collaboration partners in 2022.[16]
  • 61% of supply-management organizations had a dedicated data-governance function in 2024, based on a survey of more than 121 respondents.[14]
  • 67% of GCC chemical companies had established performance management or KPIs around digital supply chains in 2022.[16]
  • 90% of supply-management organizations agreed or strongly agreed that data governance was necessary in 2024.[14]
  • 52% of global chemical companies had established performance management or KPIs around digital supply chains in 2022.[16]
  • 28% of manufacturers had a data-governance leader in 2026, across the Manufacturing Leadership Council survey.[13]

KPIs in the eco packaging industry

  • More than 80% of companies lacked up-to-date training programs or sufficient leadership to execute sustainable-packaging solutions.[1]
  • Fewer than 20% of organizations had sufficient incentives across all functions to drive sustainable-packaging implementation.[1]
  • Fewer than 30% of organizations had clear metrics for recyclability, sustainability or recycled content in McKinsey’s packaging survey.[1]
  • 74% of packaging respondents identified internal sustainability goals as the strongest driver of packaging changes over the next 1–3 years.[12]
  • 77% of packaging-role respondents expected their operations to move their companies closer to sustainability goals within 1–3 years.[12]
  • 38 out of 100 priority points were allocated to sustainability by packaging leaders, compared with 32 for quality and 30 for cost-cutting.[12]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

Selective 2026 M&A follows a nearly 10% industry capacity reduction during 2025. EU-bound redesign also drives product-level circular initiatives across recyclability and recycle-ready targets.

Growth in the eco packaging industry

  • USD 8.1 billion of Amcor’s FY2024 revenue came from products meeting its recyclability guidelines.[17]
  • 100% growth was recorded in Navigator’s sustainable-packaging sales volume in 2024 compared with 2023.[18]
  • 1.822 million metric tons of Amcor packaging met recyclability guidelines in FY2024.[17]
  • 25% of net sales is Huhtamaki’s stated ambition for products that are new or renewed.[19]
  • 6% comparable net-sales growth was achieved by Huhtamaki’s Fiber Packaging segment in 2024.[19]
  • More than 300 customers had adopted Navigator’s gKRAFT sustainable packaging after three full years of operation in 2024.[18]

Differentiation in the eco packaging industry

  • Over 100 sustainable and innovative packaging awards were won by Smurfit Westrock in 2024.[20]
  • 94% of Amcor’s flexible packaging portfolio by area had recycle-ready solutions in FY2024, differentiating its offer through circular-design capability.[17]
  • 300-plus customers used Navigator’s own-brand gKRAFT sustainable packaging after three full operating years.[18]

Mergers and acquisitions in the eco packaging industry

  • 49% of packaging M&A targets in 2024 and year-to-date 2025 were located in EMEA.[21]
  • 84% of packaging M&A buyers were strategic buyers in 2024 and year-to-date 2025, according to Oaklins.[21]
  • USD 3.9 billion was the announced value of Sonoco’s 2024 acquisition of Eviosys.[22]
  • 170 packaging M&A transactions in 2024 involved foreign buyers or sellers, representing 53% of the annual total.[23]
  • 322 global packaging M&A transactions were announced in 2024, according to PMCF’s packaging-market review.[23]
  • 166 packaging M&A transactions were recorded in 2024 by Oaklins, compared with 165 in 2023.[21]

Strategic partnerships in the eco packaging industry

  • 15 supplier principles governed Tetra Pak’s supplier relationships in FY2025 through its Supplier Code of Business Conduct.[24]
  • USD 2 billion in green finance was raised by Smurfit Westrock in 2024 to support sustainability-related investment and stakeholder collaboration.[20]
  • 16,000 recyclable bed frames were delivered by Smurfit Westrock for the Paris 2024 Olympics through a customer and event partnership.[20]
  • 100% of Smurfit Westrock’s paper and board production was FSC- or PEFC-certified in 2024 through certified forestry relationships.[20]
  • More than 300 customers were served by Navigator’s gKRAFT sustainable-packaging operation after three years, supported by product development with national and international clients.[18]
  • 100% of Tetra Pak’s recycled polymer volumes delivered in FY2025 were ISCC+ certified through its certified supply relationships.[24]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

Workforce constraints remain a design constraint, with 81% of contract-packaging and contract-manufacturing firms reporting resignations or lack of qualified employees disrupting operations in 2024.

Hiring in the eco packaging industry

  • 81% of surveyed contract-packaging and contract-manufacturing companies said resignations or a lack of qualified employees disrupted normal operations in 2024.[25]
  • 32% was Graphic Packaging’s employee hiring rate in 2022.[26]
  • 27% was Graphic Packaging’s employee hiring rate in 2021.[26]
  • Around 80% of surveyed packaging-industry stakeholders were trying to hire packaging-line operators and having difficulty doing so in 2025.[27]
  • 30% was the average share of women in the packaging workforce among surveyed packaging companies in 2024–2025.[28]

Employee retention in the eco packaging industry

  • 9.0% was Tetra Pak’s employee turnover rate in 2025, globally.[24]
  • 87% was Tetra Pak’s employee-engagement score in 2025, globally.[24]
  • 11.1% was VPK Group’s total employee turnover rate in 2025, globally.[29]
  • 9.9% was Tetra Pak’s employee turnover rate in 2024, globally.[24]
  • 21% was Graphic Packaging’s total global employee attrition rate in 2025.[30]

Remote Work in the chemicals and materials sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among U.S. energy, natural-resources and chemicals workers, 8% preferred fully remote work in 2025.[31]
  • Among U.S. energy, natural-resources and chemicals workers, 25% preferred mostly remote work in 2025.[31]
  • Across U.S. remote-capable employees, 25% worked exclusively remotely in August 2026.[32]
  • Across U.S. chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing employers, 5.7% of positions were fully remote in 2024.[33]

Hybrid Work in the chemicals and materials sector (sector benchmark)

  • U.S. hybrid employees spent an average of 46% of their workweek on-site in 2026.[32]
  • Across U.S. remote-capable employees, 54% worked in a hybrid arrangement in August 2026.[32]
  • Across U.S. remote-capable employees, 61% preferred a hybrid work arrangement in November 2025.[32]
  • Across U.S. chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing employers, 44.5% of positions were fully hybrid in 2024.[33]
  • Across U.S. hybrid employees, 48% said their team had not discussed a formal or informal collaboration plan in 2026.[32]

Upskilling in the eco packaging industry

  • 91% of Graphic Packaging’s global salaried employees completed an annual performance-management review in 2023.[30]
  • 97% of Graphic Packaging employees completed anti-harassment training in 2021.[26]
  • 99% of Graphic Packaging employees completed anti-harassment training in 2022.[26]
  • 91% of Graphic Packaging employees completed anti-harassment training in 2023.[26]
  • 4.5 average training hours per salaried employee were recorded by Graphic Packaging in 2025.[30]

Employee Engagement in the chemicals and materials sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among global managers, 22% were engaged at work in 2025, compared with 19% of non-managers.[32]
  • Across employees worldwide, 20% were engaged at work in 2025.[32]
  • Across employees in the United States, 32% were engaged at work in 2025.[32]
  • Across employees in the United States and Canada, 31% were engaged at work in 2025.[32]
  • Across best-practice organizations recognized by Gallup, 70% of employees were engaged in 2025.[32]

DEI in the eco packaging industry

  • 34% of Graphic Packaging’s U.S. workforce was ethnically diverse in 2023.[26]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

Consumer demand is tied to packaging attributes that translate into repeat behavior: 63% of consumers said sustainable packaging encouraged repeat purchases in 2026 in the United States.

Customer experience in the eco packaging industry

  • 80% of online shoppers said their packaging was recyclable at home in 2025, United Kingdom.[34]
  • 56% of consumers rated maintaining the same ease of storing as important when brands switched to plastic-free packaging in 2026, United States.[2]
  • 58% of consumers rated maintaining the same ease of opening as important when brands switched to plastic-free packaging in 2026, United States.[2]
  • 11% of consumers reported receiving overpacked deliveries in 2025, compared with 41% in 2016, United Kingdom.[34]
  • 84% of consumers were willing to return reusable packaging in 2025, provided retailers paid the return cost, United Kingdom.[34]

Customer retention in the eco packaging industry

  • 42% of consumers identified sustainable packaging as the feature most likely to make them shop with a brand again in 2021, United States.[35]
  • 94% of respondents were more likely to remain loyal to a brand offering complete supply-chain visibility, year not stated.[36]
  • 63% of consumers said sustainable packaging encouraged repeat purchases in 2026, United States.[37]
  • 33% of customers said eco-friendly packaging made them more likely to return to the same store in 2022, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.[1]
  • 35% of consumers said they had switched brands because of new packaging in a United States survey, 2016.[38]

Customer acquisition in the eco packaging industry

  • 78% of consumers were open to switching brands when a competitor offered sustainable packaging in 2026, United States.[37]
  • 93% of consumers were more likely to purchase from brands and retailers offering sustainable packaging in 2026, United States.[37]
  • 62% of consumers consciously purchased products with sustainable packaging during the six months preceding the 2026 survey, United States.[37]
  • 71% of consumers actively chose products because of sustainable packaging in 2023, across Europe, North America and South America.[39]
  • 90% of consumers said they would purchase more sustainably packaged products if they were more widely available in 2026, United States.[37]

Customer loyalty in the eco packaging industry

  • 46% of consumers said they would switch to a competing brand if an eco-packaging price increase exceeded their willingness to pay in 2026, United States.[2]
  • 66% of consumers said sustainable packaging increased their trust in a product in 2026, Europe.[38]
  • 42% of consumers credited sustainable packaging as the packaging feature most likely to make them shop with a brand again in 2021, United States.[35]
  • 49% of consumers aged 18–29 identified packaging as the feature most likely to make them shop with a brand again in 2021, United States.[35]
  • 31% of active eco-seekers were willing to pay up to 10% more for a $10 product with sustainable packaging in 2026, United States.[2]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

Sustainability labeling affects purchase behavior directly: 21% of consumers avoided purchasing due to packaging not labeled sustainable in 2026 in the United States.

Marketing in the eco packaging industry

  • 21% of consumers had avoided purchasing a product because its packaging was not labeled as sustainable in 2026, United States.[37]
  • 75% of consumers preferred products with clear symbols or language indicating sustainable packaging in 2026, United States.[37]
  • 82% of consumers were willing to pay more for products in sustainable packaging in 2023, across Europe, North America and South America.[39]
  • 53% of consumers selected removing extra boxes, inserts, plastic wrap and empty space as a top brand action for sustainable packaging in 2026, United States.[2]
  • 59% of consumers looked for recycling and sustainability information on packaging labels in 2023, across Europe, North America and South America.[39]

Digital marketing in the eco packaging industry

  • 53% of Gen Z consumers had stopped buying from brands because of excessive plastic packaging in 2026, United States.[40]
  • 31% of consumers used online research to recognize whether products were sustainable in a 2024 packaging survey, geography not stated.[41]
  • 77% of consumers said they trusted brands more when packaging appeared eco-friendly in 2026, United States.[42]
  • 15% of consumers used social media or influencers to recognize whether products were sustainable in a 2024 packaging survey, geography not stated.[41]
  • 21% of consumers always checked sustainability labels when evaluating packaging in 2026, United States.[42]

Branding in the eco packaging industry

  • 81% of European consumers aged 18–29 preferred cartonboard over plastic in 2025.[38]
  • 79% of respondents agreed that branding and sustainability were the most important aspects of ecommerce packaging, year not stated.[36]
  • 94% of European consumers aged 60 and over preferred cartonboard over plastic in 2025.[38]
  • 89% of European consumers would choose cartonboard rather than plastic when the same product option was available in 2025.[38]
  • 27% of consumers used brand reputation to recognize whether products were sustainable in a 2024 packaging survey, geography not stated.[41]

Social media in the eco packaging industry

  • 54% of consumers aged 18–34 always or often based purchase decisions on sustainable packaging in a 2024 survey, geography not stated.[41]
  • 19% of consumers used the retailer where a product was sold to recognize sustainability in a 2024 packaging survey, geography not stated.[41]
  • 28% of consumers used product certifications to recognize whether products were sustainable in a 2024 packaging survey, geography not stated.[41]
  • 15% of consumers used experts or documentaries to recognize whether products were sustainable in a 2024 packaging survey, geography not stated.[41]
  • 28% of consumers used word of mouth to recognize whether products were sustainable in a 2024 packaging survey, geography not stated.[41]

Influencer Marketing in the chemicals and materials sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across B2B companies, 81% of marketers had a dedicated influencer-marketing budget in a September 2024 U.S. survey of firms with at least 100 employees.[43]
  • Across B2B companies, 29% of marketers planned to adopt influencer marketing within the following year in a March 2025 Ipsos survey.[44]
  • Across B2B companies, 55% of marketers used creators in 2025, based on a March 2025 Ipsos survey of 1,500 marketing professionals.[44]
  • Across B2B companies, 43% of marketers reported outstanding results from influencer programs in the 2025 B2B Influencer Marketing Report.[45]
  • In U.S. manufacturing, 19% of marketers used influencer marketing among paid channels in the prior 12 months, according to a 2025 industry benchmark.[46]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

Production optimization shows measurable waste and resource impacts, such as 108 MWh of annual energy savings in 2024 from optimized filling operations. Waste during filling for SIG aseptic cartons was less than 0.5% in 2024.

Process optimization in the eco packaging industry

  • Less than 0.5% of SIG aseptic carton packs were wasted during filling in 2024, supporting production-process optimization worldwide.[47]
  • 41 million liters of annual water savings were achieved for SIG customers through optimized filling-machine processes in 2024.[47]
  • 25% reduction in grams of waste per square meter of packaging material was targeted by SIG by 2025 from a 2016 baseline, globally.[47]
  • 108 MWh of annual energy savings were achieved for SIG customers through optimized filling operations in 2024.[47]
  • 6.5% was the increase in SIG’s aseptic-carton production waste rate in 2024, while the rate remained 5.7% below its 2016 level.[47]

Operational efficiency in the eco packaging industry

  • 12% was Billerud’s 2024 EBITDA margin, up from 10% in 2023, partly reflecting efficiency gains in its sustainable packaging operations in Europe.[48]
  • 31% was the reduction in Huhtamaki North America Flexible Packaging capital expenditure in 2024, to €83.9 million.[49]
  • 12.0% was Huhtamaki Fiber Packaging’s 2024 adjusted EBIT margin in North America.[49]
  • 14.6% was Huhtamaki Fiber Packaging’s 2024 adjusted return on net assets in North America.[49]
  • 34% was the increase in Huhtamaki Fiber Packaging’s North American operating cash flow in 2024, reaching €42.6 million.[49]

Quality management in the eco packaging industry

  • 13.9% was Huhtamaki Fiber Packaging’s 2024 adjusted EBIT margin across its North American operations.[49]
  • 6.5% was SIG’s increase in aseptic-carton production waste in 2024, a quality and process-control indicator for filling operations.[47]
  • 7.1% was Huhtamaki Flexible Packaging’s 2024 adjusted EBIT margin, reflecting financial performance after operational quality and production costs.[49]
  • 0.5% was the maximum reported waste rate for SIG aseptic carton packs during filling in 2024.[47]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the chemicals and materials sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across North American specialty chemicals, 43% of customer respondents actively drove onshoring projects with suppliers and achieved some success in 2025.[50]
  • Across North American specialty chemicals, 50% of customer respondents were actively pushing onshoring projects in 2025.[50]
  • Across 22 EU countries and Norway, 72.8% of enterprises engaged in international sourcing moved business functions to other EU countries during 2021–2023.[51]
  • Across 22 EU countries and Norway, 34.1% of enterprises engaged in international sourcing cited labour-cost reduction as a motivation during 2021–2023.[51]
  • Across North American specialty chemicals, 50% of customer respondents actively drove onshoring projects with suppliers but reported no success in 2025.[50]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

Price sensitivity shapes design tradeoffs: 58% of consumers expected price neutrality when a brand introduced eco-friendly packaging in 2026. Premium tolerance appears where willingness-to-pay reaches 46% in the United States for 2026.

Pricing strategy in the eco packaging industry

  • 46% of consumers were willing to pay a premium for sustainable packaging in the United States in 2026.[37]
  • 58% of consumers expected price neutrality when a brand introduced eco-friendly packaging in 2026.[2]
  • 33% of consumers said they would reduce purchase frequency if eco-packaging caused a larger-than-expected price increase in 2026.[2]
  • 20% of consumers would pay up to a 10% premium for a $10 product switched to plastic-free packaging in 2026.[2]
  • 2% of consumers would pay more than a 20% premium for a $10 product switched to plastic-free packaging in 2026.[2]

Cost reduction in the eco packaging industry

  • 60% of packaging decision-makers altered designs for transportation efficiency and cost reductions in RRD’s 2023 survey.[52]
  • Nearly 75% of packaging decision-makers selected packaging options intended to minimize cost in RRD’s 2023 survey.[52]
  • 33% was the reduction in Huhtamaki Fiber Packaging capital expenditure in 2024, to €69.0 million.[49]

Profitability in the eco packaging industry

  • €43.5 million was Huhtamaki Fiber Packaging’s adjusted EBIT in North America in 2024.[49]
  • €94.2 million was Huhtamaki Flexible Packaging’s adjusted EBIT in 2024.[49]
  • €1,322.5 million was Huhtamaki Flexible Packaging’s net sales in 2024.[49]
  • €363.2 million was Huhtamaki Fiber Packaging’s North American net sales in 2024, up 6% year over year.[49]
  • SEK3,408 million was Billerud’s 2024 EBITDA from paper and packaging operations.[48]

Financial planning in the eco packaging industry

  • $17 million was Graphic Packaging’s 2024 research-and-development expenditure for packaging innovation and product development.[26]
  • €84.1 million was Huhtamaki Flexible Packaging’s operating cash flow in 2024.[49]
  • €42.6 million was Huhtamaki Fiber Packaging’s North American operating cash flow in 2024.[49]
  • €28.1 million was Huhtamaki Fiber Packaging’s North American capital expenditure in 2024.[49]
  • €83.9 million was Huhtamaki North America Flexible Packaging’s capital expenditure in 2024.[49]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

Sustainability commitments are often downstream of product design decisions: 75% of companies considered packaging sustainability only after product concept finalization. Recycle readiness coverage is also tracked by portfolio area.

Product development in the eco packaging industry

  • 75% of companies considered packaging sustainability only after the product concept had been finalized, according to McKinsey’s global packaging survey.[1]
  • 62% of Amcor’s flexible-packaging portfolio by area had design-for-recycling solutions in FY2024, up from 56% in FY2019.[17]
  • 94% of Amcor’s flexible-packaging portfolio by area had recycle-ready solutions in FY2024.[17]
  • 54% of packaging leaders planned to incorporate new materials or composition over the next 1–3 years in the 2026 global survey.[12]
  • 92% of respondents reported awareness of sustainable-packaging commitments within product-development functions, compared with 75% in manufacturing and 67% in marketing and sales.[1]

Product lifecycle in the eco packaging industry

  • 74% of Amcor’s total packaging production by weight met recyclability guidelines in FY2024, equivalent to approximately 1.822 million metric tons.[17]
  • 96% of surveyed packaging, labels and supply-chain organizations operated an e-commerce channel in 2026.[12]
  • 83% of Amcor’s flexible-packaging portfolio had recycle-ready solutions by area in FY2022.[17]
  • 95% of Amcor’s rigid packaging production by weight was recyclable in practice and at scale in FY2024.[17]
  • 41% of packaging leaders associated smart packaging with shelf-life or product-quality monitoring.[12]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

Recycling performance and collection matter across materials and geographies, including 62% European plastic packaging waste recycled in 2026 and a 28% global collection rate for used beverage cartons in 2024.

Sustainability in the eco packaging industry

  • 94% of Amcor’s rigid packaging by weight was recyclable in practice and at scale in 2024.[17]
  • 72% of Tetra Pak’s packaging materials by weight were renewable in 2024 globally.[24]
  • 100% of Amcor sites had water-management plans in place in 2024.[17]
  • 77% of Amcor’s operational waste was recycled in 2024 globally.[17]
  • 83% of Tetra Pak packages delivered to customers carried an FSC label in 2024 globally.[24]

ESG in the eco packaging industry

  • $205 million of Graphic Packaging revenue came from new product innovations in 2024.[26]
  • 95% of Graphic Packaging employees completed Code of Conduct training in 2024.[26]
  • 94% of Graphic Packaging global employees completed supply-chain due-diligence training in 2024.[26]
  • 96% of Graphic Packaging shareholders approved the company’s say-on-pay proposal in 2024.[26]
  • 96% of Graphic Packaging employees completed human-trafficking training in 2024.[26]

Ethics in the eco packaging industry

  • $4.1 million was spent by Graphic Packaging on political contributions, lobbying and trade-association fees in 2024.[26]
  • 95% of Graphic Packaging employees completed anti-harassment training in 2024.[26]

CSR in the eco packaging industry

  • 28% was Tetra Pak’s estimated global collection rate for used beverage cartons in 2024.[24]
  • 46% was the reduction in problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging in Australia from the 2017–18 baseline by 2023–24.[53]
  • 113 fibre recyclers were engaged by Tetra Pak globally in 2024.[24]
  • 215 recyclers were engaged by Tetra Pak globally in 2024.[24]
  • 39 PolyAl recyclers were engaged by Tetra Pak globally in 2024.[24]

Circular economy in the eco packaging industry

  • 10% of Amcor’s plastic purchases were post-consumer recycled plastic in 2024.[17]
  • 78% of Amcor’s packaging production by weight was recyclable or recycle-ready in FY2026.[54]
  • 42.4% of EU plastic packaging waste was recycled in 2024.[51]
  • 62% of European plastic packaging waste was recycled in 2026, equivalent to 7.4 million tonnes.[55]
  • 66% of Australian paper and paperboard packaging was recovered in 2023–24.[53]

Carbon footprint in the eco packaging industry

  • 9% was Amcor’s reduction in absolute greenhouse-gas emissions in 2024 compared with 2023.[17]
  • 20% was Amcor’s reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions from its own operations over the four years to FY2025.[54]
  • 26% was Tetra Pak’s reduction in purchased-material and other upstream value-chain emissions from 2019 to 2025.[24]
  • 21% was Ball Corporation’s reduction in absolute greenhouse-gas emissions from 2017 to 2025.[56]
  • 54% was Tetra Pak’s reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions from its own operations from 2019 to 2024.[24]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

Supply-chain and footprint expansion supports regional regulation timing, such as Smurfit Westrock serving 40 countries in 2024 and consuming 14 million tons of recovered fiber annually through its paper mills.

Globalization in the eco packaging industry

  • 47 countries received Navigator’s gKRAFT sustainable packaging products from their launch in late 2021 through 2024.[18]
  • 36 countries and 101 locations were covered by Huhtamaki’s global operations in 2024.[19]
  • 40 countries were served by Smurfit Westrock’s operations in 2024, spanning North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Australia.[20]
  • 204.4 billion square feet of corrugated packaging were manufactured by Smurfit Westrock in 2024 across its global operating footprint.[20]
  • 14 million tons of recovered fiber were consumed annually by Smurfit Westrock’s paper mills across the globe in 2024.[20]

Cultural adaptation in the eco packaging industry

  • 70% of Navigator’s sustainable packaging sales came from Europe in 2024, with product demand concentrated in Italy, Iberia, France and Germany.[18]
  • 16,000 recyclable bed frames were delivered by Smurfit Westrock for the Paris 2024 Olympics, demonstrating adaptation to a major local event requirement.[20]
  • EUR 988.1 million was Huhtamaki’s 2024 net sales in Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania, serving regionally varied foodservice formats.[49]

Supplier management in the eco packaging industry

  • More than 99% of P&G’s wood fiber for paper packaging was recycled or third-party certified in the reported period.[63]
  • 63 recovered-fiber facilities supported Smurfit Westrock’s packaging-material supply chain in 2024.[20]
  • 62 paper and board mills formed part of Smurfit Westrock’s integrated packaging supply network in 2024.[20]
  • 100% of P&G’s paper packaging used recycled or third-party certified virgin content in the reported period.[63]
  • 120,000 hectares of forestland and plantations were managed or controlled within Smurfit Westrock’s global supply system in 2024.[20]

Stakeholder management in the eco packaging industry

  • Approximately 100,000 employees were reported by Smurfit Westrock across its global packaging operations in 2024.[20]
  • USD 2 billion in green finance was raised by Smurfit Westrock in 2024 to support sustainability-linked business activity.[20]
  • Over 100 awards were won by Smurfit Westrock for sustainable and innovative packaging solutions in 2024.[20]
  • 16,000 recyclable bed frames were supplied for the Paris 2024 Olympics as a customer and event-stakeholder sustainability solution.[20]
  • 18,000 professionals worked across Huhtamaki’s global sustainable-packaging operations in 2024.[19]

Distribution channels in the eco packaging industry

  • 459 converting plants supported Smurfit Westrock’s packaging distribution and customer-delivery network in 2024.[20]
  • 16% of SCGP’s 2024 sales by destination came from Vietnam.[64]
  • 101 locations gave Huhtamaki a physical production and distribution presence across 36 countries in 2024.[19]
  • 42% of SCGP’s 2024 sales by destination came from Thailand, its largest national market.[64]
  • 17% of SCGP’s 2024 sales by destination came from the rest of the world outside its listed Southeast Asian markets.[64]

Key questions about the Eco Packaging Industry

What is the current and forecast market size for sustainable packaging in 2030?
The global sustainable packaging market was valued at $272.9B in 2023 and is projected to reach $448.5B by 2030.
How fast does the sustainable packaging market grow from 2024 to 2030?
Grand View Research forecasts 7.6% CAGR from 2024 to 2030, taking the market from $272.9B in 2023 to $448.5B in 2030.
Which companies lead the eco packaging industry?
Smurfit Westrock and Sonoco Products Company are tied at the top of Gitnux's 2026 eco packaging ranking with an Overall score of 9.3 each.
What technology shifts show up most often in sustainable packaging operations and procurement?
In 2025, 43% of paper and packaging respondents reported machine-learning or generative-AI use in procurement; in 2026, 65% of packaging, label and logistics organizations use or plan to use AI for packaging-design optimization.
How is the market structured by end use and by region?
In 2023, food and beverage accounted for 47.1% of the sustainable packaging market. Europe held 36.2% of revenue share in 2023.
What compliance deadline changes affect packaging design in the EU during 2026?
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation begins applying from mid-2026, requiring packaging on the EU market to be recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030.
Reference

Cite This Report

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APA
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Eco Packaging Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/eco-packaging-industry-statistics
MLA
Aisha Okonkwo. "Eco Packaging Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/eco-packaging-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Eco Packaging Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/eco-packaging-industry-statistics.

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