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Protective Packaging Market Research Report Information By Application (Consumer Goods, Food And Beverages, Industrial Goods, Healthcare, Automotive, And Others), By Function (Flexible Cushioning, Insulation, Wrapping, And Void-Fill), By Materials (Paper And Paperboard, Foam Plastics, And Plastics), By Product Type (Rigid Protective, Flexible Protective, And Foam Protective), And By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America) –Market Forecast Till 2032


ID: MRFR/PNT/0812-CR | 119 Pages | Author: Pradeep Nandi| September 2023

Global Protective Packaging Market Overview


Protective Packaging Market Size was valued at USD 29,309.6 Million in 2022. The Protective Packaging industry is projected to grow from USD 30,917.3 Million in 2023 to USD 49,724.9 Million by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% during the forecast period (2023 - 2032). The growth in demand from the food & beverage and healthcare sectors, and popularity towards online shopping are the key market drivers boosting the growth of the Protective Packaging Market.


Protective Packaging Market Overview


Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review


Protective Packaging Market Trends




  • Growth in demand from the food & beverage and healthcare sectors and advancement in technology augmenting protective packaging market.




One of the main end-use industries boosting the expansion of the protective packaging market is the food and beverage industry. Another is the healthcare industry. The use of protective packaging in the food and beverage sector helps to guarantee that food products are transported and stored in a fresh, contaminant-free state. The demand for protective packaging is being driven by the expansion of the food and beverage industry, particularly in emerging regions. The demand for packaging solutions that can keep food goods fresh for longer is also growing as convenience foods, such as ready-to-eat meals and snacks, become more popular. Furthermore, protective packaging is employed in the healthcare sector to guarantee the secure and sanitary transportation and storage of medical goods. This is crucial for products susceptible to temperature, light, or moisture changes since protective packaging can keep such products' effectiveness. The demand for protective packaging in this sector is increasing along with the demand for healthcare goods and services, particularly in emerging nations. However, there is a rising need for environmentally friendly and sustainable packaging options in each of these businesses. Businesses in these sectors increasingly seek packaging options that minimize waste and environmental effects while offering essential product protection.


The main trend in the market for protective packaging is technological advancement. Large businesses are concentrating on research and development for new products, like automated, carbon-neutral products. For instance, in February 2022, the Netherlands-based Pregis Corporation, a provider of protective packaging systems and materials, unveiled Renew Zero. This air-cushioning film is recyclable and made of 50% post-consumer recycled material and 50% renewable plant waste, such as cellulose fiber. Renew Zero is carbon-neutral without the need for carbon offset techniques like planting trees and has been approved by European legislation for packaging and packaging waste. The Pregis AirSpeed MINI PAK'R machine, which creates air cushions in five different film configurations using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, is compatible with the Renew Zero film. RFID technology automatically selects the best seal temperature, airflow, and seal pressure for the film for protective packaging.


Protective Packaging Market Segment Insights


Global Protective Packaging Application Insights


Based on application, the global protective packaging is segmented into consumer goods, food and beverages, industrial goods, healthcare, automotive, and others. The industrial goods segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. Industrial goods protective packaging is a kind of packing material used to safeguard industrial items while they are being handled, stored, and transported. This packing style is utilized to prevent harm to the product and guarantee that it reaches the end user in good shape. Heavy things are transported and stored on wood, plastic, or metal platforms called pallets. They are built to bear the weight of the goods and keep them from shifting while being transported. The consumer goods segment was the second-largest segment in the protective packaging market. Consumer goods protective packaging is intended to safeguard consumer goods during handling, storage, and travel. This packaging is designed to safeguard the product from harm and guarantee that it gets the customer in excellent shape.


Global Protective Packaging Function Insights


Protective Packaging Market size includes flexible cushioning, insulation, wrapping, and void-fill. The flexible cushioning segment is estimated to dominate the market during the forecast period. Flexible cushioning is a protective packaging material used to cushion and absorb shock for objects during handling, storage, and transportation. Most flexible cushioning materials are soft and malleable and may mold to the contour of the object they are protecting. Void-fill is the second largest segment of the market. In order to stop products from shifting or moving during transit, which could result in damage, void-fill packaging is a form of protective packaging material used to fill empty areas in containers. To add further security, void-fill packing materials are frequently light and simple to put into empty places in a container.


Global Protective Packaging Materials Insights


The material segment of the Protective Packaging Market size includes paper and paperboard, foam plastics, plastics, and others. The foam plastics segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. Paper and paperboard are the fastest growing segment in the protective packaging market. The market segment with the largest share was foam plastics. The substantial market share can be due to the products' lightweight, robust thermal insulation and shock-absorbing properties suitable for protective packaging. Products from foam include molded foams, loose fills, foam-in-place polyurethane, and expanded polyurethane foams. Also, the market for packaging made of paper and paperboard and protective packaging is anticipated to increase fastest. The packaging of frozen foods, beverages, medications, aseptic drink containers, cosmetics and perfumes, sweets, paper goods, and cereal boxes are some of the major industries that use paperboard. Throughout the forecast period, there is expected to be an increase in demand for paper and paperboard packaging, particularly from the food and beverage industry and severe limits on the use of plastic bags.


Figure 2: Protective Packaging Market, by Material, 2022 & 2032 (USD Million)


Protective Packaging Market


Global Protective Packaging Product Type Insights


The product type segment of the Protective Packaging Market size includes rigid protective, flexible protective, and foam protective. The flexible protective segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. The flexible protective category is anticipated to be the fastest growing in the category. A packing material called flexible protective packaging is used to guard against harm to goods during storage or transportation. Usually, lightweight products that need cushioning and protection from shock, vibration, and impact are packaged in this way. Bubble wrap, air pillows, foam pouches, and padded mailers are a few examples of flexible protective packaging. Practicing wrapping fragile things in bubble wrap, a plastic substance with air-filled bubbles, such as glassware, electronics, and ceramics is usual. Also, the foam protective category held the largest share of the market. Fragile objects are protected with foam packaging, a form of protective packaging material, throughout transport, handling, and storage. Expanded polystyrene foam (EPS), expanded polyethylene foam (EPE), and polyurethane foam are frequently used to make foam packaging (P.U.). Electronic equipment, medical gadgets, and delicate goods are frequently packaged with EPS foam since they are lightweight and strong.


Global Protective Packaging Regional Insights


By Region, the study provides market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. The Asia-Pacific protective packaging market accounted for largest market share in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a significant CAGR growth during the study period. This is due to the rising need for safe packaging solutions across a range of sectors, including electronics, healthcare, and e-commerce. Due to the population, urbanization, and industrialization occurring at one of the quickest rates in the Asia Pacific, there is an increased need for protective packaging solutions. Countries including China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Australia are the market's major players. With many competitors active in the market, the protective packaging market in Asia-Pacific is very competitive. The Smurfit Kappa Group, Pregis Corporation, Storopack Hans Reichenecker GmbH, Sealed Air Corporation, and DS Smith plc are a few of the major competitors in the sector.


Figure 3: Protective Packaging Market, by region, 2022 & 2032 (USD Million)


Protective Packaging Market, by region


North America is the second-largest region in the protective packaging market. Numerous end-user sectors, including electronics, automotive, healthcare, and consumer goods, have helped develop and sustain the North American protective packaging market, which is an established and mature market. The United States, one of the world's largest markets for protective packaging, dominates the North American market. The country's strong logistics and transportation system has fueled the market's expansion for protective packaging. Due to the rising need for protective packaging across various end-user industries. Furthermore, there is a growing emphasis on environmentally friendly packaging options, which is anticipated to fuel market expansion in the ensuing years.


Further, the major countries studied in the market report are the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, Italy, UK, Spain, Japan, UAE, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, and Brazil.


Global Protective Packaging Key Market Players& Competitive Insights


Many global, regional, and local vendors characterize the protective packaging market. The market is highly competitive, with all the players competing to gain market share. Intense competition, rapid advances in technology, frequent changes in government policies, and environmental regulations are key factors that confront market growth. The vendors compete based on cost, product quality, reliability, and government regulations. Vendors must provide cost-efficient, high-quality packaging products to survive and succeed in an intensely competitive market.


The major players in the market include Packaging Corporation of America, Sealed Air Corporation, Unisource Worldwide, Inc., Macfarlane Group Plc, Max Packaging, Cellofoam North America Inc, Basf Se, Smurfit Kappa Group, Springpack, Pregis Llc, Evocative Design Llc, Universal Protective Packaging, FP International, Bayer Ag, Ach Foam Technologies, Llc, Protective Packaging Solutions and among others. The Protective Packaging Market is a consolidated market due to increasing competition, acquisitions, mergers and other strategic market developments and decisions to improve operational effectiveness.


Key Companies in the Protective Packaging Market include.



  • Packaging Corporation of America

  • Sealed Air Corporation

  • Unisource Worldwide, Inc.

  • Macfarlane Group Plc

  • Max Packaging

  • Cellofoam North America Inc

  • Basf Se

  • Smurfit Kappa Group

  • Springpack

  • Pregis Llc

  • Evocative Design Llc

  • Universal Protective Packaging

  • FP International

  • Bayer Ag

  • Ach Foam Technologies, Llc

  • Protective Packaging Solutions


Global Protective Packaging Industry Developments



  • In June 2022, Packaging Corporation of America announced that it's opening a new 275,000-square-foot Center of Excellence manufacturing facility in Cedar City, Utah.

  • In April 2022, Sealed Air introduced prismiq a digital packaging brand with a portfolio of solutions for design services, digital printing, and smart packaging.

  • In March 2022, Veritiv Corporation announced that it has signed a definitive purchase agreement to sell its Veritiv Canada, Inc. business to Imperial Dade.

  • In May 2022, Macfarlane Group PLC acquired PackMann Gesellschaft fĂĽr Verpackungen und Dienstleistungen mbH (“PackMann”), a protective packaging distribution business based in Eppelheim near Heidelberg, Germany.

  • In December 2022, BASF SE and StePac Ltd. have joined forces to create the next generation of sustainable packaging specifically for the fresh produce sector. Supplying StePac with its Ultramid CcycledTM.


Protective Packaging Market Segmentation


Protective Packaging Market Application Outlook (USD Million, 2018 -2032)



  • Consumer Goods

  • Food and Beverages

  • Industrial Goods

  • Healthcare

  • Automotive


Protective Packaging Market Function Outlook (USD Million, 2018 -2032)



  • Flexible Cushioning

  • Insulation

  • Wrapping

  • Void-fill


Protective Packaging Market Materials Outlook (USD Million, 2018 -2032)



  • Paper and Paperboard

  • Foam Plastics

  • Plastics


Protective Packaging Market Product Type Outlook (USD Million, 2018 -2032)



  • Rigid Protective

  • Flexible Protective

  • Foam Protective



Protective Packaging Regional Outlook



  • North America

    • US

    • Canada

    • Mexico



  • Europe

    • Germany

    • France

    • UK

    • Spain

    • Rest of Europe



  • Asia-Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • India

    • Rest of Asia-Pacific



  • Middle East and Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE

    • South Africa

    • Rest of Middle East and Africa



  • Latin America

    • Argentina

    • Brazil

    • Latin America



Report Attribute/Metric Details
Market Size 2022 USD 29,309.6 Million
Market Size 2023 USD 30,917.3 Million
Market Size 2032 USD 49,725.0 Million
Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) 5.2% (2023-2032)
Base Year 2022
Market Forecast Period 2023-2032
Historical Data 2018- 2021
Market Forecast Units Value (USD Million)
Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Market Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends
Segments Covered Application, Function, Materials, and Product type., and Region
Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America.
Countries Covered The U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, Italy, UK, Spain, China, Japan, India, UAE, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, and Brazil.
Key Companies Profiled Packaging Corporation of America, Sealed Air Corporation, Unisource Worldwide, Inc., Macfarlane Group Plc, Max Packaging, Cellofoam North America Inc, Basf Se, Smurfit Kappa Group, Springpack, Pregis Llc, Evocative Design Llc, Universal Protective Packaging, FP International, Bayer Ag, Ach Foam Technologies, Llc, And Protective Packaging Solutions
Key Market Opportunities ·       Advancement in technology·       Increasing demand for sustainability
Key Market Dynamics ·       Growth in demand from the food & beverage and healthcare sectors·       Popularity towards online shopping


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) :

The Protective Packaging Market size is expected to be valued at USD 44930.7 Million in 2032.

The global market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period, 2023-2032.

Asia- Pacific had the largest share of the global market.

The key players in the market are Packaging Corporation of America, Sealed Air Corporation, Unisource Worldwide, Inc., Macfarlane Group Plc, Max Packaging, Cellofoam North America Inc, Basf Se, Smurfit Kappa Group, Springpack, Pregis Llc, Evocative Design Llc, Universal Protective Packaging, FP International, Bayer Ag, Ach Foam Technologies, Llc, And Protective Packaging Solutions.

The foam plastics category dominated the market in 2022.

The industrial goods industry had the largest revenue share of the global market.

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