The UK packaging industry is a major manufacturing and materials sector, spanning paper, plastic, glass and metals. Explore how different segments—like flexible and rigid plastics—are evolving, alongside employment, market size and recycling rates. We also break down the industry’s company landscape and output, so you can understand what’s driving value across the supply chain.
Key Takeaways
- UK packaging industry employed 85,000 direct workers in 2023
- Packaging manufacturing contributed £12.5 billion GVA to UK economy in 2022
- 4,200 companies operate in UK packaging sector in 2023, SMEs 92%
- In 2023, the total UK packaging market was valued at £13.8 billion, marking a 4.2% year-on-year growth driven by e-commerce demand
- The UK rigid plastic packaging segment reached £3.5 billion in 2022, with a projected CAGR of 3.8% through 2027
- Flexible packaging in the UK grew to £4.1 billion in 2023, fueled by food and beverage sectors at 5.1% growth
- In 2022, plastics accounted for 40% of UK packaging materials by weight
- Paper and board made up 38% of UK packaging material usage in 2023, 5.2 million tonnes
- Glass represented 12% of UK packaging materials in 2022, mainly beverages
- In 2022, UK produced 2.1 million tonnes of plastic packaging, 12% increase from 2019
- UK flexible film production reached 1.2 million tonnes in 2023, food sector 65%
- Rigid plastic packaging output in UK was 850,000 tonnes in 2022, bottles 40%
- UK recycled 1.6 million tonnes of packaging plastics in 2022, rate 44%
- Paper packaging recycling rate in UK reached 82% in 2023, 4.2 million tonnes
- Glass packaging recycling UK 77% in 2022, 2.5 million tonnes collected
The UK packaging sector grew in 2023 to £13.8 billion, supporting 85,000 jobs and strong recycling.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment And Economics21 stats
01
UK packaging industry employed 85,000 direct workers in 2023
02
Packaging manufacturing contributed £12.5 billion GVA to UK economy in 2022
03
4,200 companies operate in UK packaging sector in 2023, SMEs 92%
04
Average salary in UK packaging industry £32,500 in 2022, skilled trades £38k
05
Exports of UK packaging products £3.2 billion in 2023, EU 55%
06
Imports of packaging to UK £4.1 billion in 2022, plastics from Asia 40%
07
R&D spend in UK packaging £450 million in 2023, sustainability 60%
08
Training apprenticeships in packaging UK 2,500 starts in 2022
09
UK packaging supply chain supports 200,000 indirect jobs in 2023
10
Investment in UK packaging machinery £850 million in 2022, automation 70%
11
Tax contributions from packaging industry £2.8 billion in 2023, VAT/Corporation tax
12
Regional employment: South East UK packaging 22,000 jobs 2022
13
Midlands packaging firms employ 18,500 in 2023, manufacturing hub
14
Scotland packaging industry 7,200 jobs 2022, paper dominant
15
Productivity in UK packaging £185,000 GVA per employee in 2023
16
Gender diversity: 32% women in UK packaging workforce 2022
17
Turnover per employee UK packaging £210,000 in 2023
18
Labour turnover rate in packaging 12.5% in 2022, skills shortage 20%
19
UK packaging patents filed 1,200 in 2023, sustainable tech 45%
20
Venture capital in UK packaging startups £150 million 2022
21
Energy costs for UK packaging production rose 28% to £1.2 billion in 2023
02 · Category
Market Size And Growth20 stats
01
In 2023, the total UK packaging market was valued at £13.8 billion, marking a 4.2% year-on-year growth driven by e-commerce demand
02
The UK rigid plastic packaging segment reached £3.5 billion in 2022, with a projected CAGR of 3.8% through 2027
03
Flexible packaging in the UK grew to £4.1 billion in 2023, fueled by food and beverage sectors at 5.1% growth
04
UK paper and board packaging market stood at £5.2 billion in 2022, with 2.9% annual growth expected to 2028
05
The UK glass packaging industry was valued at £1.9 billion in 2023, declining slightly by 1.2% due to lightweighting trends
06
Metal packaging in the UK hit £2.3 billion in 2022, with beverage cans driving 4.5% growth
07
Overall UK packaging turnover increased by 6.3% to £15.4 billion in 2023 from e-commerce surge
08
UK sustainable packaging market projected to grow from £2.1 billion in 2022 to £3.7 billion by 2030 at 7.2% CAGR
09
Food packaging sub-sector in UK valued at £7.8 billion in 2023, 45% of total market
10
UK pharmaceutical packaging market reached £1.2 billion in 2022, growing 5.4% YoY
11
Beverage packaging in UK was £3.4 billion in 2023, with PET bottles at 28% share
12
UK e-commerce packaging demand boosted market by 8.7% to £1.6 billion in 2022
13
Corrugated packaging market in UK valued at £2.8 billion in 2023, 4.1% growth
14
UK luxury packaging sector hit £850 million in 2022, premium growth at 6.2%
15
Protective packaging market in UK reached £1.1 billion in 2023, up 5.9% from logistics boom
16
UK personal care packaging valued at £900 million in 2022, 3.7% CAGR forecast
17
Industrial packaging in UK at £2.5 billion in 2023, chemicals driving 4.8% growth
18
UK fresh produce packaging market £650 million in 2022, sustainable shift at 7.1% growth
19
Retail-ready packaging in UK supermarkets valued at £1.4 billion in 2023
20
UK contract packaging market grew to £1.8 billion in 2022, 5.3% YoY
Interpretation
Market Size And Growth Interpretation
The UK packaging market reached £13.8 billion in 2023 and grew 4.2% year on year, with strong demand especially pushing flexible packaging to £4.1 billion and reinforcing the category’s momentum in overall market size and growth.
03 · Category
Material Usage20 stats
01
In 2022, plastics accounted for 40% of UK packaging materials by weight
02
Paper and board made up 38% of UK packaging material usage in 2023, 5.2 million tonnes
03
Glass represented 12% of UK packaging materials in 2022, mainly beverages
04
Metals comprised 8% of UK packaging by weight in 2023, 1.1 million tonnes
05
UK plastic packaging usage split: flexible 62%, rigid 38% in 2022
06
PE resin used 1.8 million tonnes in UK packaging 2023, film/sheets 70%
07
PP in UK packaging 850,000 tonnes in 2022, tubs/trays leading
08
PET usage in UK packaging 550,000 tonnes 2023, bottles 82%
09
PVC in UK packaging minimal at 50,000 tonnes in 2022, blisters 60%
10
Corrugated board usage 2.7 million tonnes in UK 2023, transit packs 75%
11
Cartonboard for UK packaging 1.4 million tonnes 2022, liquids 45%
12
UK kraft paper usage in packaging 900,000 tonnes 2023, sacks 50%
13
Float glass usage for bottles 2.9 million tonnes UK 2022
14
Steel in UK packaging 650,000 tonnes 2023, food cans 55%
15
Aluminium in packaging UK 450,000 tonnes 2022, beverage cans 80%
16
Bio-based plastics usage in UK packaging 120,000 tonnes 2023, growing 15%
17
Barrier coatings usage on paper UK 200,000 tonnes 2022, PE dispersion 70%
18
Foil laminates in UK flexible packaging 140,000 tonnes 2023
19
Recycled content in UK plastic packaging averaged 28% in 2022
20
Virgin plastic in food contact packaging UK 1.2 million tonnes 2023
More related reading
04 · Category
Production Statistics30 stats
01
In 2022, UK produced 2.1 million tonnes of plastic packaging, 12% increase from 2019
02
UK flexible film production reached 1.2 million tonnes in 2023, food sector 65%
03
Rigid plastic packaging output in UK was 850,000 tonnes in 2022, bottles 40%
04
UK paper packaging production totalled 4.3 million tonnes in 2023, cartons leading
05
Glass container production in UK hit 3.8 million tonnes in 2022, 55% for beverages
06
Metal can production in UK was 5.2 billion units in 2023, aluminium 70%
07
Corrugated board production in UK reached 2.9 million tonnes in 2022, export 25%
08
UK PET bottle production totalled 450,000 tonnes in 2023, recycled content 30%
09
Foil and laminate production for packaging in UK 180,000 tonnes in 2022
10
UK wooden packaging production like crates was 120,000 tonnes in 2023
11
Injection moulded packaging output in UK 600,000 tonnes plastics in 2022
12
Blow moulded bottles production UK 320,000 tonnes in 2023, HDPE dominant
13
Thermoformed trays production in UK 250,000 tonnes in 2022, food use 80%
14
UK sack and bag production for packaging 400,000 tonnes paper/plastic in 2023
15
Aerosol can production UK 450 million units in 2022, personal care 35%
16
UK label production for packaging 150,000 tonnes in 2023, self-adhesive 60%
17
Closures and caps production in UK 28 billion units in 2022, plastic 75%
18
UK barrier film production 95,000 tonnes in 2023, EVOH layers key
19
Multi-layer pouch production UK 80,000 tonnes in 2022, stand-up 45%
20
UK plastic packaging production consumed 3.7 million tonnes of resin in 2023
21
In 2022, UK consumed 4.5 million tonnes of packaging overall, per capita 67kg
22
Food and drink packaging consumption in UK 2.8 million tonnes in 2023
23
UK households consumed 1.1 million tonnes plastic packaging in 2022
24
Plastic packaging consumption by UK retail 1.9 million tonnes in 2023
25
Paper-based packaging consumption UK 5.1 million tonnes in 2022
26
Glass packaging consumption in UK 3.2 million tonnes in 2023, food jars 40%
27
Metal packaging consumption UK 1.4 million tonnes in 2022, cans 85%
28
UK e-commerce packaging consumption rose to 550,000 tonnes in 2023
29
Carrier bag consumption in UK dropped to 1.2 billion units in 2022 post-levy
30
PET packaging consumption UK 620,000 tonnes in 2023, bottles 90%
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
From the Production Statistics view, UK packaging production is heavily led by paper and plastics, with paper rising to 4.3 million tonnes in 2023 and plastic reaching 2.1 million tonnes in 2022, showing strong momentum across major material streams.
05 · Category
Sustainability And Recycling20 stats
01
UK recycled 1.6 million tonnes of packaging plastics in 2022, rate 44%
02
Paper packaging recycling rate in UK reached 82% in 2023, 4.2 million tonnes
03
Glass packaging recycling UK 77% in 2022, 2.5 million tonnes collected
04
Metal packaging recycling rate UK 72% in 2023, steel 81%, aluminium 68%
05
UK plastic packaging waste generated 2.4 million tonnes household in 2022
06
Deposited packaging waste in UK totalled 9.8 million tonnes in 2023
07
UK compostable packaging usage 85,000 tonnes in 2022, food waste bags 40%
08
Plastic Packaging Tax introduced in UK April 2022, £217/tonne on non-recycled
09
UK recycled PET packaging bottles rate 59% in 2023
10
Food packaging waste recycled UK 1.1 million tonnes in 2022, 38% rate
11
UK kerbside recycling participation for packaging 68% households in 2023
12
Reusable packaging trials in UK retail saved 120,000 tonnes plastic in 2022
13
UK packaging waste exports dropped 15% to 300,000 tonnes in 2023 post-Brexit
14
Biodegradable packaging certifications in UK rose 25% to 450 products in 2022
15
Energy recovery from non-recyclable packaging UK 1.2 million tonnes in 2023
16
UK deposit return scheme pilots recycled 92% PET in trials 2022
17
Recycled paper content in UK packaging averaged 75% in 2023
18
UK aluminium can recycling hit 76% in 2022, 14 billion units
19
Steel food can recycling UK 80.5% in 2023
20
Microplastic reduction targets in UK packaging legislation aim 30% cut by 2030
Interpretation
Sustainability And Recycling Interpretation
The UK is making solid recycling progress across major packaging materials, recycling 4.2 million tonnes of paper at an 82% rate in 2023 and achieving 77% glass recycling in 2022, but plastic still stands out with only 44% of 1.6 million tonnes recycled in 2022, underscoring why sustainability and recycling efforts need to focus especially on plastics.
report visual · Comparison
Uk Packaging Industry Statistics statistics snapshot
Selected headline statistics from verified sources for a stable visual baseline.
4,200 companies operate in UK packaging sector in 2023, SMEs 92%92%
Investment in UK packaging machinery £850 million in 2022, automation 70%70%
R&D spend in UK packaging £450 million in 2023, sustainability 60%60%
Exports of UK packaging products £3.2 billion in 2023, EU 55%55%
Imports of packaging to UK £4.1 billion in 2022, plastics from Asia 40%40%
Gender diversity: 32% women in UK packaging workforce 202232%
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). Uk Packaging Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uk-packaging-industry-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "Uk Packaging Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/uk-packaging-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "Uk Packaging Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uk-packaging-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
71 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level