Baby Food Packaging Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Material (Plastic, Paper, Metal, Glass, and Others), By Type (Liquid and Dried), By Product Type (Bags & Pouches, Boxes & Cartons, Cups & Containers, Stick Pack, Cans, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The global baby food packaging market size was valued at USD 6.65 billion in 2023. The market is projected to grow from USD 7.04 billion in 2024 to USD 11.42 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.24% during the forecast period. North America dominated the baby food packaging market with a market share of 30.68% in 2023. Moreover, the baby food packaging market in the U.S. is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated value of USD 3.03 billion by 2032, driven by the growing demand for closure and sealable packaging due to their lightweight and portability.

Baby food packaging is used to distribute and store food products specifically for toddlers and infants. The market is witnessing significant growth due to the rising demand for eco-friendly, safe, and convenient food for babies. The packaging is often airtight and resistant to moisture, preventing spoilage and maintaining the nutritional content of the food, which is increasing the use of packaging products. With the rising environmental concerns, there is a peak in the need for sustainable packaging solutions in the baby food industry. Consumers are becoming more conscious of the environmental effects of packaging waste and seeking eco-friendly, sustainable packaging.

Moreover, the growing preference for eco-friendly packaging has also increased the adoption of flexible packaging. The usage of larger folding cartons as packaging for powdered milk formula, which offers individual servings in secondary packs of flexible plastic, is expected to increase the market's growth.

The baby food packaging industry has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The demand for prepared baby food decreased due to restrictions on import and export of goods. The destruction in the supply chain has impacted the growth of the baby food packaging market.

Baby Food Packaging Market Trends

Increasing Focus on Portion Controlled Packaging is Emerging as a New Trend

Portion-controlled packaging provides convenience to caretakers and parents. Prepackaged individual portions eliminate the need for measuring and preparing baby food every time, making it easy and quick to serve meals. Portion-controlled packaging solutions are being embraced by parents who seek convenience and precise portion sizes for their babies due to their busy life schedules. Single-serve containers or pouches with pre-measured amounts of baby food allow them to feed easily and reduce leftovers.

Portion-controlled packaging helps parents measure the amount of food their baby consumes. It ensures that babies receive the right quantity of nutrients in each serving, helping to establish healthy eating habits from an early age. Several factors, such as hygiene, safety, and convenience, drive the increasing demand for portion-controlled packaging in baby food. The fastest growing demand for portion-controlled packaging is expected to have a positive impact during the forecast period.

Baby Food Packaging Market Growth Factors

Surge in Demand for Pouch Packaging Due to their Lightweight and Portability Drive Market Growth

The demand for eco-friendly packaging is rising in the baby food industry, following the closure and sealable packaging trends in the snack industry. Stand-up pouches are anticipated to experience fast growth, offering sustainability, flexibility, and convenience compared to rigid packaging materials. The pouches are portable, lightweight, and use less plastic. Producing pouches is efficient, and it allows for customized printing, lowering raw material costs. Pouches consist of multiple layers, each contributing to package performance to avoid punctures. Pouches are also used to promote brand awareness. Innovations in products, including reusable and microwaveable pouches, enhance convenience and drive the market’s growth in baby food packaging.

Pouches are a favored choice for busy parents since they are transportable, lightweight, and easy to preserve. Pouches also have a more extended shelf life and provide more protection against contamination than other packaging alternatives. Pouches are simple to open and close, making feeding easy and quick.

Growing Awareness about Food Sources and Eco-friendly Packaging Fuels Market Expansion

An increase in awareness about sources of food is driving the baby food packaging market growth. The nourishment science behind the food is evolving as a key purchasing driver after baby food products. The demand for eco-friendly packaging of baby food products and protection concerns are some of the aspects that are driving the growth of the market. Many baby food brands are adopting spouted pouches for their products as they offer safer solutions.

Muscular growth, bone and teeth development, and development of the immune system are expected to increase the demand for baby food heavily during the forecast period. The demand for baby food is boosted due to the awareness of its benefits in meeting the nutritional needs of infants and toddlers. High birth rates in China and India, and strong market conditions in developed economies are some of the factors that are positively boosting market growth.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

High Perishability of Baby Food Products and Packaging Defects are Restraining Market Growth

The high perishability of baby food products is a key challenge restraining the growth of the market. Packaging manufacturers in the baby food industry need help with the perishability of certain products. Special packaging materials and preservatives are required to ensure maximum shelf life, which increases the cost of vendors and impacts product prices. Packaging defects can significantly impact the quality and perishability of baby food. Incidents of contamination found in baby food products have raised concerns and affected the brand image of the manufacturers. The challenges pose risks to the relationship between food manufacturers and packaging vendors and can hinder the growth of the market. Perishability due to packaging defects is expected to be limiting the market for baby food packaging during the forecast period.      

Baby Food Packaging Market Segmentation Analysis

By Material Analysis

Lightweight and Energy Efficient Factors of Plastic are Increasing the Segment’s Growth

Based on material, the market is segmented into plastic, paper, metal, glass, and others. Plastic holds the largest share of the material segment. Plastic is an efficient material for packaging as it is energy-efficient to manufacture and lighter than other materials. Plastic material provides safety, durability, and sealability, which protects goods from deterioration and increases shelf life.

Metal holds the second largest share of the material segment owing to the flexibility in pouches and rigidity of metal in cans. Metal cans are unbreakable, observe heat and puncture resistance, and are completely impervious to oxygen, bacteria, and light, which is increasing the segment’s growth.

By Type Analysis

Growing Consumption of Liquid Products Due to its Convenience is Boosting the Segment’s Growth

Based on type, the market is segmented into liquid and dried. The liquid segment holds the largest baby food packaging market share. Liquid food packaging is majorly packed in pouches and containers designed for convenient storage due to their consistency.

The dried segment holds the second-largest share of the market. The high demand for durable and easy-to-carry baby food in developing countries due to hectic work schedules and busy lifestyles is increasing the growth of the segment.

By Product Type Analysis

Growing Consumption of Bags & Pouches Due to Ease in Transport and Storage Boosts Segment Growth

Based on product type, the market is segmented into bags & pouches, boxes & cartons, cups & containers, stick packs, cans, and others. The bags & pouches hold the largest share of the product type segment. Pouches are convenient to store and easy to transport due to their sturdy design and lightweight. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and they provide an effective means of preserving shelf-life.

The boxes and cartons hold the second largest share of the product type segment. Boxes and cartons provide exceptional protection for a range of dry food and semi-solid products. The product is conveniently easy to transport and store, which is boosting the segment’s growth.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

The market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

North America dominates the global baby food packaging market. The busy lifestyle, the presence of major players in the region, and the rising emphasis on product innovation, safety, and shelf life extensions of baby food products are propelling the growth of the region.

Europe is the second most dominant region of the global market. The stringent regulations regarding food safety and packaging materials are driving the adoption of advanced packaging solutions in the region. The rise of sustainable and eco-friendly packaging options is expected to accelerate the region’s growth further.

Asia Pacific is expected to have significant growth. Shifts in the demographic of the economy, parenting concerns, and quality substitutes for homemade baby food drive the demand for baby food. The e-commerce industry in the region is also boosting the sales of baby food products and boosting the region’s growth.

Latin America is expected to have stable growth in the region owing to increasing consumer awareness and higher disposable income, which are the major factors driving the demand for baby food packaging in the region.

List of Key Companies in Baby Food Packaging Market

Growing Adoption of Innovative Packaging Offerings Augmenting Market Expansion

The global baby food packaging market trends are highly fragmented and competitive. Regarding market share, few major players dominate the market by offering innovative packaging in the industry. These companies are constantly focusing on expanding their customer base and innovation.

Major players in the market for baby food packaging include Amcor, Winpak Ltd, Sonoco, Tetra Pak, Printpack, Trivium Packaging, Logos Packaging, Greiner Packaging, Scholle IPN, Huhtamaki, CarePac, OK Packaging Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Gualapack S.p.A., FoodPro Packaging Pvt. Ltd, Constantia Flexibles, and others. Numerous other market players operating in the baby food packaging sector are focused on delivering advanced packaging solutions.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Amcor (Switzerland)


• Winpak Ltd (Canada)


• Sonoco (U.S.)


• Tetra Pak (India)


• Printpack (U.S.)


• Trivium Packaging (U.S.)


• Logos Packaging (China)


• Greiner Packaging (Austria)


• Scholle IPN (U.S.)


• Huhtamaki (Finland)


• CarePac (U.S.)


• OK Packaging Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (China)


• Gualapack S.p.A. (Italy)


• FoodPro Packaging Pvt. Ltd (India)


• Constantia Flexibles (Austria)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• November 2023 – Chadwicks launched a Spoon-in-lid solution for infant food packaging. The company collaborated with plastic engineering specialist Tekplas and developed a spoon-in-lid solution for the infant formula market in Australia, New Zealand, and East Asia. The issue with the existing packaging is that the scoop becomes submerged within the contents of the can.


• November 2022 – Plum Organics, a brand with the goal of fostering palate expansion in babies and toddlers, rolled out a full redesign of its packaging. The update to the full portfolio of nutritious pouches and snacks highlights transparency around their ingredients, making it easy for customers to feel confident in what they’re feeding their children.


• April 2022 – Organic baby foods company Little Spoon is redesigning its packaging for a more impactful, cohesive look across its range of products and to work sufficiently in the D2C environment. Little Spoon Organic expanded its product line to include toddler and kids' meals, vitamin boosters and remedies, and, most recently, smoothies.


• January 2022 – LactaLogic and Scholle IPN developed aseptic baby food packaging. The company provides premature infants with access to human milk packaged in aseptic pouches and cartons. The companies have partnered after carrying out a packaging research and development phase. The partnership ensures that babies and NICUs will have access to shelf-stable, ready-to-serve human milk and human milk fortifiers packaged in aseptic pouches and cartons.


• May 2021 – Kraft Heinz, one of the major global food and beverage manufacturers, partnered with Gulapack to boost its environmental agenda and chose pouch5 for its baby food Italian brand Plasmon. This fully recyclable option will help the industry and customers to take a step toward sustainability.

REPORT COVERAGE

The report provides a detailed market analysis and focuses on key aspects such as leading companies, competitive landscape, product/service types, Porter's five forces analysis, market shares, and leading applications of the product. Besides, the report offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the above factors, the report encompasses several factors that contributed to the market's growth in recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation