Secondary Packaging Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Material (Plastic, Paper & Paperboard, Metal, and Others), By Product Type (Boxes & Cartons, Films & Wraps, Mailers, Labels, Bags & Pouches, Protective Packaging Products, and Others), By End-use Industry (Food & Beverages, E-commerce, Healthcare, Electricals & Electronics, Personal Care & Cosmetics, Automotive, Building & Construction, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The global secondary packaging market size was valued at USD 501.27 billion in 2023. The market is projected to grow from USD 519.41 billion in 2024 to USD 720.70 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.18% during the forecast period. North America dominated the secondary packaging market with a market share of 33.48% in 2023.

Secondary packaging is the outer packaging of primary packaging that protects the primary packaging and product from external factors and minimizes damage. The rising utilization of paper & paperboard material enhances the global market share. The surging adoption of electronic products globally increases the need for such packaging, providing extra protection from damage to electronic products, such as lights, LEDs, and others, and driving the global market growth.

The occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic harmed supply chains of numerous industries globally. Still, there was a rise in the growth of the e-commerce, food & beverage, and shipping & logistics industries. This increased demand for pharmaceuticals, food, beverages, and consumer goods, fostered market growth.

Secondary Packaging Market Trends

Increasing Demand for Sustainable Packaging Emerges as a Main Trend

There is an upsurge in demand for sustainable packaging solutions globally. Packaging solutions, such as boxes, cartons, pouches, mailers, and others, are made from recyclable plastics, aluminum, and paperboard. They are essential in offering several potential advantages, such as outstanding flexibility, printability, and rigidity, further boosting a huge demand in many end-use sectors. They are planned & intended in such a way that they can be produced in diverse styles.

Cartons or boxes that are majorly used in the secondary packaging are biodegradable & compostable under suitable conditions. Biodegradability is particularly beneficial for single-use applications, as it terminates the long-term environmental impact associated with packaging waste. Henceforth, the rising demand for sustainable packaging is emerging as an important aspect, further boosting the market growth.

Secondary Packaging Market Growth Factors

Flourishing Growth of the E-commerce Sector Boosts Market Growth

The rapidly growing e-commerce sector, however, generated a huge demand for boxes, cartons, and other products globally. Secondary packages are essential in keeping transit packaging flowing to makers for essential products, such as packaging for consumer goods, food, medical, and pharmaceutical products. The demand for food, especially from online outlets, is growing massively.

In addition, there is a rise in sales and profits due to the effects of the economic downturn in the post-pandemic era. The millennial and working women population has increased their focus on online food delivery and online shopping of essential products, which, in turn, is boosting the demand for secondary packages. The significant growth of the e-commerce sector is therefore analyzed to drive the global secondary packaging market growth.

Rising Need for Secondary Packaging in Pharmaceutical Sector Drives Market Growth

There is a huge demand for medication and healthcare products globally. The rising focus on patient safety, along with the need for tamper-evident packaging in the pharmaceutical sector, is encouraging the global secondary packaging market growth. With the rise of counterfeit drugs, governments, as well as major healthcare organizations, are placing more emphasis on assuring the authenticity & safety of drugs. It has led to a rise in the use of tamper-evident packaging, which helps to prevent the counterfeiting of drugs and safeguard patient safety.

In addition, the rising utilization of automated packaging solutions, such as RFID tags for the packaging of pharmaceutical packaging, also contributes to the market growth. Utilization of such automated packaging systems on secondary packages, such as films, labels, boxes, mailers, and others, helps to expand the efficiency & accuracy of packaging processes, thus boosting market growth.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Fluctuating Raw Material Prices Hamper Market Expansion

Boxes and cartons offer several benefits to the packaging industry. Nevertheless, some reasons hinder the market growth. The major factor impacting the market growth is the continually fluctuating prices of raw materials that are utilized to manufacture folding cartons. The wood pulp prices are constantly changing due to the demand-supply gap. The instability in these prices adversely impacts the market enlargement. It thus leads to a considerable decrease in the profit margin of the manufacturers of such products, thus impeding market expansion.

Secondary Packaging Market Segmentation Analysis

By Material Analysis

Paper & Paperboard Dominates the Market as They are 100% Recyclable 

On the basis of the material, the market is divided into plastic, metal, paper & paperboard, and others.

The paper & paperboard segment dominates the market, accounting for the largest share. Raw materials of paper and paperboard are 100% recyclable and do not harm the environment, which in turn increases the demand for secondary packaging manufacturing. The segment growth is driven by the high demand for boxes, cartons, and mailers, as they provide high tear resistance, thickness, and strength compared to primary packaging.

Plastic is the second-dominating material segment. The material is inexpensive, owing to which it is gaining huge demand to manufacture pouches, bags, films, wraps, and other products.

By Product Type Analysis

Boxes & Cartons Lead the Market as They are Highly Durable

In terms of product type, the market is divided into films & wraps, mailers, boxes & cartons, labels, bags & pouches, protective packaging products, and others.

Boxes & cartons are the dominating product type segment and will experience exponential growth over the forecast period. Boxes and folding cartons are one of the most popular types of product packaging and are used extensively to ship anything. They are utilized in packaging foods, cosmetics, electronics, pharmaceutical products, luxury goods, and many others. They are highly durable, attractive, customizable, and environmentally friendly. They remain one of the most affordable packaging options on the market, thus driving the demand for boxes and boosting the segment’s growth.

Films and wraps are the second-leading product type segment. The use of films and wraps to protect fragile and breakage-prone products further facilitated segmental growth.

By End-use Industry Analysis

Food and Beverage Sector Dominates the Market Due to Increased Demand for Ready-to-eat Food Products

By end-use industry, the market is classified into food & beverages, e-commerce, healthcare, electricals & electronics, personal care & cosmetics, automotive, building & construction, and others.

The food and beverages segment takes the lead in the market. A rapid shift in lifestyles & consumer purchasing activities is generating opportunities for key players. The growing consumption of convenient food products drives the segment's growth. Increased demand for ready-to-eat food products and a surge in the working women population are fueling segment expansion.

E-commerce is the second-dominating end-use industry. The rapidly growing online shopping trends worldwide are boosting the segment’s growth.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

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

North America is the dominant region in the global secondary packaging market share. The rapidly growing food and beverages sector is emerging as a key driver for market growth. The exponential growth of the food and beverages sector is attributed to the huge demand for online food delivery, especially in the U.S. In addition, the rising utilization of snack foods, bakery & confectionery, and pet food among the working population in the country also cushions the market expansion in North America.

Europe is the second-dominating region. Sustainability is moving to the front of the consumers' minds as increasing concerns around the environment continue to rise. Augmenting demand for environmentally friendly packaging solutions boosts the market development in Europe.

Asia Pacific is the third-dominating region. The introduction of anti-counterfeit technologies, which can be essential for packaging, is gaining popularity and is driving the market growth in Asia Pacific.

Latin America and Middle East & Africa markets will grow moderately in the forthcoming years.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Top Players to Register Noteworthy Growth Opportunities by Introducing New Products

The global secondary packaging market is highly competitive and fragmented. Some companies provide groundbreaking packaging solutions to take center stage in the market. They emphasized increasing their consumer base across regions by revolutionizing their current product variety. The market report also focuses on the major improvements by manufacturers. Amcor plc, International Paper Company, Berry Global Inc., Mondi, DS Smith, and WestRock are some of the key players in the market. Several other producers are concentrated on market scenarios and supplying cutting-edge packaging solutions.

List of Top Secondary Packaging Companies:

• Amcor plc (Switzerland)


• International Paper Company (U.S.)


• Berry Global Inc. (U.S.)


• Mondi (U.K.)


• DS Smith (U.K.)


• WestRock (U.S.)


• Crown Holdings Inc. (U.S.)


• UFP Industries, Inc. (U.S.)


• Graphic Packaging International, LLC (U.S.)


• Huhtamaki Oyj (Finland)


• Packaging Corporation of America (U.S.)


• Rengo Co. Ltd. (Japan)


• Sealed Air Corp. (U.S.)


• Smurfit Kappa Group (Ireland)


• Stora Enso Oyj (Finland)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• May 2024 – Mondi declared the launch of a new secondary paper packaging solution, TrayWrap, that replaces plastic shrink film utilized for bundling food and beverage products. The new sustainable packaging option is developed using Mondi’s Advantage StretchWrap range and is majorly utilized by a coffee brand in Sweden to safeguard 12 coffee packages for transportation purposes. 


• September 2023 – Tetra Pak, a world-renowned leader in paper-based carton packaging, teamed up with Flow Beverage, the largest carton water brand in North America, and Live Nation Canada. Together, they unveiled new carton designs that showcase Tetra Pak Custom Printing. It is the "one-of-a-kind" inkjet-based system that enables brands to create premium, tailor-made, and affordable packaging solutions.


• August 2023 – An unsupported film & thermal laminate supplier providing premium products to the packaging sector, Nobelus, announced the launch of a new dedicated line of print web films designed especially for all flexible packaging applications. Such unsupported films have no adhesive layer, making them compatible with solventless & solvent-based adhesives applied on a flexographic press or wet laminating system.


• February 2022 – Coveris introduced a range of lightweight, next-generation stretch films comprising a minimum of 30% recycled content to decrease reliance on virgin plastics and fulfill forthcoming U.K. Plastic Packaging Tax requirements. The high-performance and low-gauge films offer the same packing and transportation efficiencies as virgin materials and maintain full recyclability.


• January 2021 – AR Packaging declared the launch of a new carton-based sustainable packaging to fulfill the demand for home deliveries and takeaway requirements. The company designed two different snack boxes that are feasible for various applications, including food and beverages. The new boxes also diminish the utilization of plastic-based packaging.

REPORT COVERAGE

The market research report provides a detailed market analysis. It focuses on key aspects, such as top key players, competitive landscape, product/service types, market segments, Porter’s five forces analysis, and leading segments of the product. Besides, the report offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the abovementioned factors, the report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the market intelligence & growth in recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation