North America Food Packaging Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Rigid, Flexible), By Material (Plastic, Paper & Paper-based, Metal, Glass), By Application, By Country, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2028

Report Overview

The North America food packaging market size was valued at USD 92.29 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9% from 2020 to 2028. The market is witnessing growth due to the high reliance of customers on packaged food products and the strong foothold of the food processing companies in the region. The market is anticipated to be driven by the increasing number of foodservice suppliers that are effectively digitalizing their activities. The ease in choosing food items according to taste and health preferences, coupled with the convenient payment modes, is increasing the sales of food items and thus bolstering food packaging sales.

The U.S. emerged as the largest food packaging market in North America in 2020 on account of a large food manufacturing base in the country. For instance, it accounted for approximately 19.0% of the total milk produced globally as of 2020. In addition, the U.S. accounted for 28.0% of the total cheese production across the world in 2020.

The dairy industry is one of the key sectors for food packaging manufacturers in the U.S. Moreover, the growing popularity of plant-based dairy products is expected to offer lucrative opportunities for the packaging product manufacturers in the country over the forecast period.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 positively affected the ready-to-eat foods segment due to the government restrictions and consumer apprehensions about having outside food. The pandemic has compelled consumers to focus on safety and hygiene, which has made packaged foods a preferential choice over food cooked in restaurants.

The lockdown restrictions severely impacted the sales of the foodservice industry, which resulted in a decline in sales of packaging solutions, such as trays and cups, in 2020. With the ease in lockdown norms, the market is expected to recover in the coming years.

Customers have chosen to purchase their items through channels not the same as those they utilized before the pandemic. During the initial phase of the pandemic, the overall e-commerce levels were up including a two- to three-times increase in click-and-collect purchases.

Sales of online goods and services increased following the shift from offline to online and the introduction of new types of online shopping experiences with multiple touchpoints for consumers, which benefitted the sales of packaging solutions used for the e-commerce industry.

Type Insights

The rigid packaging solution dominated the market with a share of over 60.0% in 2020. The demand for rigid food packaging is projected to be driven by its applicability and functionality of offering high protection to the packaged food products, such as ready-to-eat food products and single-serve beverages, which are highly popular in North America.

The emergence of functional beverages, including meal replacers, probiotic beverages, fruits and vegetable-based beverages, and energy and sports drinks, which can be packaged in glass and plastic bottles or metal cans, is likely to add to the growth of the bottles and cans market in North America.

The flexible packaging segment is likely to witness significant growth during the forecast period. The shrinking household sizes and growing snacking trend are some of the factors that have promoted the demand for flexible packaging solutions, such as peel-off foil, peel-off paper, peel-off plastic, and lids, in the food and beverage industry.

End-use companies are opting for flexible packaging products, such as bags, over rigid packaging as the former consumes lesser material, which increases its sustainability profile. This trend is likely to expedite the growth of bags and pouches as a preferred packaging type over the forecast period.

Material Insights

Plastic held the largest share of over 40.0% in 2020. Plastic packaging products such as trays, containers, tubs, wraps, and pouches are extensively utilized in the food and beverage industry for packaging convenience food, frozen meals, carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, and snacks.

Plastic packaging products are expected to witness several challenges owing to stringent regulations. Several states in the U.S., including California, Delaware, Connecticut, Main, Hawaii, New York, Vermont, and Oregon, have banned the use of single-use plastic bags. This is expected to affect the growth of the plastic material segment in the North America market during the forecast period.

The paper and paper-based segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 5.5% over the forecast period. This is attributed to the growing adoption of eco-friendly packaging by food companies, coupled with the changing regulatory scenario with an increased emphasis on environmental protection.

The metal material segment is expected to register a significant growth rate over the forecast period. The usage of aluminum for home packaging has become mainstream with its ability to be cooled and heated for sterilization. Moreover, stringent regulations on the use of plastics are expected to augment the demand for metal packaging solutions over the forecast period.

Application Insights

The packaged food application segment dominated the North America market in 2020 with a revenue share of over 70.0%.The ongoing innovations in products that use plant-based ingredients, novel flavors, and nutrients are increasing the sales of packaged food items in North America.

The growing presence of vegans in the region has increased the growth opportunities for companies that operate in the plant-based packaged food industry. The demand for ready-to-eat meals is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period in North America.

The convenience offered by prepared or ready-to-eat meals makes them a popular choice for dual-earner households and students in North America. Thus, high acceptance of packaged food in the region is expected to fuel the growth of the market in North America.

Fast food and quick service restaurants are being increasingly favored owing to their convenience and the variety of cuisines offered. Additionally, the increasing adoption of technologies, such as self-service kiosks and kitchen display screens, is significantly impacting the restructuring of the food service industry in North America.

The growing popularity of plant-based products in the menus of restaurants has helped cater to niche demands of customers, thus captivating the increased customer base. Thus, efforts by food service providers are expected to drive the food service industry, consequently benefitting the growth of the food packaging market in the region.

The household segment is expected to exhibit the fastest CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period. The versatility offered by packaging solutions such as bags, sacks, aluminum films, glass bottles, and containers in the form of heat insulation, moisture resistance, ease of storage, and aroma retention enables their increased use in household food packaging applications.

Country Insights

The U.S. accounted for the largest revenue share of over 75.0% in 2020. The country is home to a diverse global population with high adoption of multiple global cuisines, such as Japanese, Indian, Mexican, Chinese, and Spanish. Thus, consumers are increasingly opting for food away from home for a different cuisine experience, benefitting the sales of foodservice outlets, thereby driving the market for food packaging.

The shift in consumer preferences toward meat alternatives with the growing vegan population is anticipated to open new growth avenues for the food packaging companies. Beyond Meat; AMY’s Kitchen Inc.; and Morning Star Farms are companies witnessing considerable growth from the past few years, thus aiding the growth of the food packaging market.

The penetration of e-commerce has been considerably growing owing to the increased adoption of the internet and the emergence of various e-commerce-based services in the country. In 2019, over 66% of the Canadian population purchased products online and the percentage is projected to cross the 77% mark by 2024.

The online distribution of packaged food products creates additional packaging requirements owing to the extensive demand for logistics and supply chain activities. Therefore, the growing penetration of e-commerce in Canada is expected to contribute to the growth of the market in the country.

The packaged food industry, which includes products such as ready meals, savory snacks, processed meat and seafood, and sauces, has been witnessing significant growth in the past several years. The substantial penetration of the retail network and the growth of the e-commerce industry are factors propelling the demand for food packaging in Mexico.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Key companies operating in the North America market are majorly adopting acquisition strategies to expand their manufacturing capabilities and geographical presence. The market is highly competitive with the presence of large, medium, and small-sized companies.

The major companies in the market compete with not only other international companies but also with local players at the regional level with the market moving towards sustainable packaging. The market is characterized by the presence of numerous smaller players providing customized products to the end users.

The continuous investments in research & development programs by leading packaging companies have led to the introduction of several packaging technologies in recent years. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), retort packaging, child-proof and elderly-friendly packaging, and temperature-controlled packaging are a few of the widely utilized packaging technologies.

The value additions in the packaging offered by manufacturers have resulted in the significant expansion of the market size in terms of revenue and benefitted the companies in terms of profit margin. Some prominent players in the North America food packaging market include:

• Amcor plc

• Sealed Air

• Sonoco Products Company

• Berry Global, Inc.

• WestRock Company

• Mondi

• Genpak LLC

• Pactiv LLC

• Chantler Packages

• WINPAK LTD.

• Alpha Packaging

• BE Packaging

• Cheer Pack North America

• Evanesce Packaging Solutions Inc.

• Pacmoore Products Inc.

• Innovative Fiber

• Emmerson Packaging

• PakTech

• Tradepak

• ProAmpac

North America Food Packaging Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at the regional and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2028. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the North America food packaging market report on the basis of type, material, application, and country:

• Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

  • Rigid

    • Bottles & Jars

    • Cans

    • Trays & Containers

    • Caps & Closures

      • Dispensing Caps

      • Screw Closures

      • Crown Closures

      • Aerosol Closures

      • Others

    • Others

  • Flexible

    • Wraps & Films

    • Bags

    • Pouches

    • Others

• Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

  • Paper & Paper-based

  • Plastic

    • PE

    • PP

    • PET

    • Others

  • Metal

  • Glass

  • Others

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

  • Packaged Food

  • Food Service Industry

  • Household

• Country Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

  • U.S.

  • Canada

  • Mexico