In packaging, the sustainability and waste reality sets the HR agenda. In Europe, 75% of consumers say packaging should be designed for reuse, refill or recycling, yet much packaging is still built for single-use. This page links those pressures to labor market needs across packaging sectors—alongside investment signals such as machinery growth and the shift toward automation and energy efficiency. You’ll see what changes for employers and workers as goals move from disposal to higher-value recycling.
Key Takeaways
- 75% of Europeans believe that packaging should be designed for reuse, refill or recycling (consumer views captured in a 2020 EU survey).
- 78% of packaging is designed for single-use rather than reuse across OECD member countries (as summarized in an OECD analysis of packaging and waste).
- Pharmaceuticals accounted for 15.0% of the global flexible packaging market share in 2019 (Fortune Business Insights segmentation).
- In the EU, 52.1% of wood packaging waste was recycled in 2021 (Eurostat).
- In 2019, the global average recycling rate for plastic packaging waste was 14% (OECD Global Plastics Outlook 2022 citing recycling rates).
- Energy efficiency improvements reduced packaging line energy use by 15% after automation upgrades in a 2022 case-study report (energy consumption reduction).
- The global paper and board packaging market is forecast to grow at a 3.1% CAGR from 2021 to 2028 (Precedence Research).
- $52.0 billion projected packaging machinery market size by 2030 (Fortune Business Insights packaging machinery forecast).
- $9.8 billion is the 2023 market size for pharmaceutical packaging in the U.S. (vendor market study figure).
- 2.5% of total U.S. employment is in manufacturing of packaging and related products (NAICS 322/323/324?); packaging-related manufacturing accounts for about 2.5% of U.S. total employment.
- 1.2 million people are employed in U.S. paper manufacturing-related industries (latest BLS employment count for paper manufacturing industry groups).
- Employment in U.S. paper manufacturing has increased by 2.0% over the last year in BLS series (latest YoY change).
- Packaging waste cost the EU economy an estimated €0.2 billion per year through littering and cleanup in 2020 (estimate for packaging-related litter impacts).
- $0.35 is the average cost premium for recycled-content packaging in a 2021 industry price survey (average per unit).
Most packaging still isn’t designed for reuse, and improving recycling and energy efficiency is urgent.
Related reading
01 · Category
Industry Trends11 stats
01
75% of Europeans believe that packaging should be designed for reuse, refill or recycling (consumer views captured in a 2020 EU survey).[1]
02
78% of packaging is designed for single-use rather than reuse across OECD member countries (as summarized in an OECD analysis of packaging and waste).[2]
03
Pharmaceuticals accounted for 15.0% of the global flexible packaging market share in 2019 (Fortune Business Insights segmentation).[3]
04
In the EU, packaging accounts for 17% of total municipal waste by weight (European Commission).[4]
05
Packaging production in the EU was 167.1 kg per capita in 2021 (Eurostat dataset on packaging waste and production/consumption indicators).[5]
06
Eurostat reports that total packaging waste generation in the EU was 173.6 million tonnes in 2021 (packaging waste dataset).[5]
07
Plastic packaging waste generated in the EU was 20.4 million tonnes in 2021 (Eurostat).[5]
08
Globally, packaging accounts for about 40% of plastic demand (OECD Global Plastics Outlook 2022).[2]
09
EU Member States must meet packaging recycling targets of 65% by 2025 and 70% by 2030 for packaging overall under Directive 94/62/EC as amended (EU legal text).[6]
10
The revised EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation sets recycling targets for 2030: 70% for packaging overall, 75% for packaging made of paper and cardboard (EU).[6]
11
The share of recycled plastic used in global packaging applications reached 8% in 2022 (industry estimate).[7]
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Across Europe and the OECD, the industry trend is a clear push-pull between sustainability expectations and practice, with 75% of Europeans saying packaging should be designed for reuse, refill or recycling while 78% of packaging is still designed for single use and the EU generated 173.6 million tonnes of packaging waste in 2021.
02 · Category
Performance Metrics3 stats
01
In the EU, 52.1% of wood packaging waste was recycled in 2021 (Eurostat).[5]
02
In 2019, the global average recycling rate for plastic packaging waste was 14% (OECD Global Plastics Outlook 2022 citing recycling rates).[2]
03
Energy efficiency improvements reduced packaging line energy use by 15% after automation upgrades in a 2022 case-study report (energy consumption reduction).[8]
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Performance metrics in packaging show a clear efficiency and circularity gap, with only 52.1% of wood packaging waste recycled in the EU in 2021 while plastic recycling averaged just 14% globally in 2019, even as automation improvements cut packaging line energy use by 15% in 2022.
03 · Category
Market Size9 stats
01
The global paper and board packaging market is forecast to grow at a 3.1% CAGR from 2021 to 2028 (Precedence Research).[9]
02
$52.0 billion projected packaging machinery market size by 2030 (Fortune Business Insights packaging machinery forecast).[10]
03
$9.8 billion is the 2023 market size for pharmaceutical packaging in the U.S. (vendor market study figure).[11]
04
The global flexible packaging market was valued at $245.0 billion in 2023.[12]
05
The global aseptic packaging market was valued at $7.7 billion in 2023.[10]
06
The global industrial packaging market reached $110.0 billion in 2022.[13]
07
The global sustainable packaging market size was $63.4 billion in 2023.[9]
08
The global recycling technology market was $4.9 billion in 2022.[14]
09
$22.6 billion was the 2023 global market value for corrugated packaging (market study).[15]
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The market size outlook for HR in the packaging industry looks steady and expanding, with figures like the global paper and board packaging market projected to grow at a 3.1% CAGR from 2021 to 2028 and the flexible packaging market reaching $245.0 billion in 2023 suggesting sustained hiring demand across major packaging segments.
More related reading
04 · Category
Workforce & Skills3 stats
01
2.5% of total U.S. employment is in manufacturing of packaging and related products (NAICS 322/323/324?); packaging-related manufacturing accounts for about 2.5% of U.S. total employment.[16]
02
1.2 million people are employed in U.S. paper manufacturing-related industries (latest BLS employment count for paper manufacturing industry groups).[16]
03
Employment in U.S. paper manufacturing has increased by 2.0% over the last year in BLS series (latest YoY change).[17]
Interpretation
Workforce & Skills Interpretation
For the Workforce and Skills outlook in packaging, the sector’s base is sizable and growing, with 1.2 million people employed in U.S. paper manufacturing-related industries and paper manufacturing employment up 2.0% year over year, even though packaging-related manufacturing represents only 2.5% of total U.S. employment.
05 · Category
Cost Analysis2 stats
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
For cost analysis in the packaging industry, the EU’s estimated €0.2 billion per year lost to packaging waste cleanup highlights a real economic drag, while a 2021 price survey showing a $0.35 average unit premium for recycled-content packaging suggests companies may need to weigh that higher upfront cost against potential downstream savings.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Sophie Moreland. (2026, February 13). HR In The Packaging Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hr-in-the-packaging-industry-statistics
MLA
Sophie Moreland. "HR In The Packaging Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/hr-in-the-packaging-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Sophie Moreland. 2026. "HR In The Packaging Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hr-in-the-packaging-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
19 sources cited across this report