The food containers market has seen considerable growth due to a variety of factors.
• The market size of food containers has notably expanded in the past few years. The expected growth is from $298.77 billion in 2024 to $326.02 billion in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1%.
Factors such as food preservation and extended shelf life, convenience for on-the-go lifestyles, increase in urbanization and population growth, food safety regulations and sustainability concerns have contributed to the growth recorded in the historical period.
The food containers market is expected to maintain its strong growth trajectory in upcoming years.
• Anticipated to experience remarkable expansion in the coming years, the food containers market is projected to reach $489.3 billion by 2029, showcasing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7%.
This projected growth over the forecast period is attributed to elements like product customization and branding, concerns over health and safety, increased use of online food delivery and meal kits, as well as changes in regulations and packaging standards. Key trends expected to be seen during the forecast period encompass advancements in material science, manipulation of meal preparation and portion control, alternatives to single-use plastic, intelligent packaging, and the use of environmentally friendly packaging.
The surge in the consumption of processed and packaged frozen foods is expected to drive the growth of the food container market. Ingredients such as artificial colors, flavors, and other chemical additives in processed foods can influence individual health, leading to obesity and chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. Today's fast-paced lifestyle has resulted in increased consumption of processed and frozen packaged foods. Higher consumption leads to a greater demand for these foods, enabling food processing and packaging sectors to develop products with better nutritional value and minimal side effects. As an example, a 2022 report from the American Frozen Food Institute showed that frozen food sales in the US exceeded $72 billion. In addition, nearly all US households—98.6% to be exact—buy frozen food at least once per year. Therefore, the demand for processed and packaged food is fueling the demand for food containers.
The food containers market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Product: Bottles and Jars, Cans, Cups and Tubs, Boxes
2) By Material: Plastic, Metal, Glass
3) By Application: Meat Products, Dairy Products, Bakery Products, Fruits and Vegetables
Subsegments:
1) By Bottles and Jars: Glass Bottles And Jars, Plastic Bottles And Jars, Metal Bottles And Jars
2) By Cans: Aluminum Cans, Steel Cans, Tinplate Cans
3) By Cups and Tubs: Disposable Cups, Reusable Cups, Food Tubs
4) By Boxes: Carton Boxes, Rigid Boxes, Folding Boxes
The rising trend of technological innovations in the food container market is significantly shaping its landscape. Such superior technologies are revolutionizing the food manufacturing sector and its allied businesses. For example, the adoption of recyclable, smart, and micro packaging technologies has expanded the longevity of food products and circumvented direct contamination. The incaging industry, in particular, frequently utilizes recyclable materials, enabling businesses to adopt circular packaging methods. Moreover, these recyclable packaging technologies provide options for mono-material packaging, eliminating the need for a multi-layer packaging system. Technological progress, especially in recyclable packaging solutions, represents a leap in knowledge and advancing technology. For instance, HuhtamäkiOyj, a consumer packaging firm based in Finland, unveiled an inventive, recyclable ice cream packaging solution founded on paper-based technology in October 2022. This innovative food container exemplifies recyclability and environmental friendliness.
Major companies operating in the food containers market include:
• Amcor plc
• Plastipak Holdings Inc.
• Sonoco Products Company
• Graham Packaging Company Inc.
• Ball Corporation
• Printpack Incorporated
• Ardagh Group
• Tetra Laval International S.A.
• Graphic Packaging International LLC
• Anchor Glass Container Corporation
• Evergreen Packaging
• Anchor Packaging Inc.
• Berry Global Group Inc.
• Cambro Manufacturing Company
• CKS Packaging Inc.
• Crown Holdings Inc.
• Dart Container Corporation
• D&W Fine Pack LLC
• Eco-Products Inc.
• Fabri-Kal Corporation
• Genpak LLC
• Georgia-Pacific LLC
• Huhtamäki Oyj
• Inline Plastics Corporation
• International Paper Company
• Libbey Inc.
• Menasha Packaging Company LLC
• Novolex Holdings LLC
• Pactiv LLC
• Placon Corporation
• Polytainers Inc.
• Reynolds Group Holdings Limited
• Sabert Corporation
Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the food containers market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the food containers market report include Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.