The global disposable food containers sales totaled USD 16.9 billion in 2022 and are likely to reach a valuation of USD 17.76 billion in 2023.
With the rising adoption of disposable food containers across sectors like restaurants and eateries due to their low cost and sanitary nature, the global disposable food containers market size is projected to grow at 5.1% CAGR during the forecast period of 2023 and 2033.
Over the years, increased acceptance of single-use containers across the globe has resulted in a meteoric rise in demand for disposable food containers, and the trend is likely to continue during the forecast period.
Disposable food containers are packaging solutions made from polypropylene, polystyrene, paper, aluminum, polyethylene, etc. These containers are gaining wider acceptance worldwide because of their extensive applicability in varied industries and households.
These lightweight and cost-effective containers offer benefits such as better sanitation, convenience, and minimum food spoilage. As a result, these disposable packaging solutions are widely used in restaurants, hotels, institutions, offices, hospitals, and households.
Growing demand for takeout, fast food, and ready-made food due to changing lifestyles and increasing disposable income is likely to catalyze growth in the global disposable food containers market.
Demand is especially soaring for paper-based food containers due to their eco-friendly nature. They are preferred over other containers as paper packaging does not damage the environment and can be 100% recycled.
Regionally, Europe may remain the leading disposable food containers market, with total sales valued at USD 4.8 Billion in 2023. The huge uproar in demand for sustainable packaging products in the region positively contributes to the expansion of the disposable food containers market.
Disposable Food Containers Industry (From 2018 to 2022)
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| CAGR | 3.1% |
| Market Size - 2018 | USD 14.96 billion |
| Market Size - 2022 | USD 16.9 billion |
Disposable Food Containers Industry (From 2023 to 2033)
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| CAGR | 5.1% |
| Market Size - 2023 | USD 17.76 billion |
| Market Size - 2033 | USD 29.21 billion |
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The global disposable food containers market witnessed growth at a moderate CAGR of 3.1% from 2018 to 2022. With the rise in the number of young consumers preferring on-the-go meals over traditional ones and worldwide acceptance of disposable food packaging, the overall demand for disposable food containers is anticipated to escalate at 5.1% CAGR between 2023 and 2033, totaling around USD 29.21 billion by 2033.
Over the past few decades, due to rapid urbanization and globalization, the world’s largest food chains have increased their geographical presence to stay ahead of their competitors.
Global food giants depend heavily on attractive packaging to maintain brand recall value among consumers. As a result, they are adopting packaging solutions like disposable food containers, especially for takeout food products.
Leading packaging giants such as Mondi and the WestRock Company are continuously innovating to improve the sustainability of their products to help their customers meet sustainability goals. They are expanding their existing production capabilities to cope with the huge rise in demand for portable food containers from international food chains across the globe.
The rise in the number of outlets is likely to augment the demand for disposable food containers and easy-to-dispose packaging products worldwide over the next ten years.
Customized Disposable Food Containers from Sustainable Raw Materials and Minimal Design to Gain Traction
Globally renowned food producers opt for packaging solutions, which allow them to offer differentiated products compared to competitors' products. To fulfill consumers' advanced needs, packaging manufacturers offer customized food containers, which helps marketers and international food chains stay ahead of their competitors.
Minimalism is gaining traction across the food packaging industry. This includes simplistic, clear labeling and packaging of the consumables. Marketers use such packaging to highlight the product's value, keeping it simple and making it look clean. Adopting such packaging reduces the overall cost of designing and printing the package.
Sustainably sourced raw materials are being used by packaging manufacturers around the world to target environmentally concerned consumer bases. Disposable food container manufacturers are also using renewable raw materials to position themselves as sustainable practitioners and gain popularity among the masses.
Low Cost and Enhanced Hygiene Features to Bolster Sales of Disposable Food Containers
The easy availability of disposable food containers made up of different materials such as plastic, paper, and aluminum makes them the most preferred food packaging solution by food manufacturers worldwide.
Growing awareness regarding hygiene and the spread of diseases through touch promotes single-use packaging products, which results in increased demand for disposable packaging solutions to fulfill the advanced needs of the consumer base.
People prefer disposable food containers over reusable ones, as these containers can be easily disposed of and are comparatively cost-effective compared to reusable containers. The disposable food containers do not require additional labor costs for cleaning, which is mandatory for reusable containers.
The factors mentioned above make disposable food containers the most demanded food-packaging solution for restaurants, cafeterias, canteens, QSRs, and many other facilities where food is served to customers.
Disposable food packaging giants offer containers specifically designed for certain items, making it more convenient for consumers to carry those items. All these factors are leading to a heavy rise in disposable food container sales globally.
Principal Consultant
| Segment | Material |
|---|---|
| Segment Name | Paper and Paperboard |
| Attributes | CAGR - 5.1% |
| Segment | End Use |
|---|---|
| Segment Name | Restaurants and Eateries |
| Attributes | Segment Share - 39% |
Paper and Paperboard May Remain the Most Preferred Material
The innovation-driven packaging industry has enabled manufacturers to use advanced manufacturing techniques and produce high-quality packaging products, even using recycled raw materials as input.
Paper & paperboard are estimated to be the most accepted materials for producing disposable food containers. The growing market popularity of paper-based food containers can also be attributed to the harmful impact of plastics on the ecosystem and increased awareness among consumer bases.
FMI predicts the disposable food container sales made of paper & paperboard to surge at a progressive CAGR of 5.1% between 2023 and 2033.
Similarly, changing environmental policies by international trade bodies and federal governments aiming at reducing the production and consumption of plastic products globally may push the demand for disposable food containers made using paper.
Disposable Food Container Sales to Remain Concentrated in Restaurants and Eateries
As per FMI’s analysis, restaurants and eateries are expected to account for almost 39% of total disposable food containers sold across the globe in 2023. Increased awareness regarding takeaway and online deliveries of food in the HORECA sector of developing markets of Asia and Latin America are factors spurring sales of disposable food containers across restaurants and eateries.
Stringent Regulations About Plastic Usage Encouraging Adoption of Disposable Food Containers in the United States
The various regulations laid down by the United States Food & Drug Administration have greatly reduced the harmful food packaging materials from food packaging across the country. These regulations allow food manufacturers to use only specific types of plastics for food-contact applications.
Increasing efforts of the regulating authorities and packaging manufacturers to promote disposable food packaging as a cost-effective alternative to reusable food packaging is playing a crucial role in triggering the growth of the disposable food containers market in the United States.
The total sales of disposable food containers across the United States are projected to reach USD 4.8 Billion in 2023, owing to an exuberating rise in demand for single-use food containers across the country, the growing popularity of eco-friendly food containers, increasing investments in Research and Development, and strong presence of leading packaging giants.
Over the years, the growing popularity of takeout food has resulted in the generation of waste by single-use plastic containers. To tackle this situation, packaging manufacturers and researchers are creating novel disposable food containers that are more eco-friendly.
Growing Adoption of Paper-based Disposable Food Containers to Curb Plastic Pollution Pushing Demand in Germany
As per the latest guidelines by the European Union, it has issued a Single-use Plastics Directive in which it orders all member countries to report annual data on single-use plastic products used in packaging to reduce their consumption. The regulation mentioned above offers a profitable growth opportunity for packaging manufacturers offering disposable food containers made up of paper & paperboard across Germany.
Regarding value projection, the German disposable food containers market is likely to create a lucrative growth opportunity of USD 491 million between 2023 and 2033. A huge uproar in demand for paper-based disposable food containers and rising consumer bases which are environmentally concerned, make its leading market for one-use food containers across Europe.
Similarly, various leading packaging businesses based in Germany are continuously looking to develop more sustainable plastic that can decompose without polluting nature. This may positively impact sales in the German disposable food containers market during the assessment period.
Food delivery companies across Germany are putting various efforts to reduce plastic waste.
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The worldwide disposable food containers market must be more cohesive and competitive with numerous local and regional competitors. Key disposable food container manufacturers, including the WestRock Company and Mondi, use various marketing techniques, including mergers & acquisitions, expansions, collaborations, and partnerships.
Stora Enso Oyj, The WestRock Company, and Mondi - Making the Earth Greener with Renewable and Eco-friendly Disposable Food Containers
Stora Enso Oyj, The WestRock Company, and Mondi are the top 3 companies changing this planet by introducing eco-friendly disposable food containers. Stora Enso is a leading bio-economy-based company that assists clients in fulfilling the demand for renewable, eco-friendly goods by producing solutions based on wood and biomass for various sectors.
The company is the first to step toward renewable energy and recyclable materials. For instance, on March 23rd, 2022, the company announced the launch of CarrEco Brown, a recyclable takeaway bag made from 100% fresh fibers for food containers.
Stora Enso's primary goal is to Do good for the people and planet. In line with the company's conviction that everything that can be created from fossil fuels today may also be made from trees tomorrow, Stora Enso's mission statement, Replace non-renewable resources with renewable goods, emphasizes the company's ability to contribute to a greener economy.
Likewise, WestRock is another company stepping on the recyclable and renewable energy ladder. It is considered one of the leading packaging giants, with over 320 manufacturing facilities, design centers, research labs, and sales offices worldwide. Since its establishment, WestRock has been innovating to produce environmentally friendly packaging solutions and, for instance, recently launched a new 100% recyclable and sustainable container.
Another global manufacturer and supplier of disposable food containers is Mondi. The company constantly strives to contribute to a better world by making sustainable and innovative packaging and paper solutions.
Mondi also adopts new product launches, partnerships, and acquisitions to expand its customer base. For instance, in August 2022, Mondi agreed to acquire Duino Mill for a total consideration of USD 40 million.
Recently, the company announced that it invested nearly €65 million in three Consumer Flexibles packaging facilities in Europe to address the rising demand from consumers for environmentally friendly pet food packaging options.
Recent Developments
Besides this, they are continuously launching new products with innovative materials and designs. Some of the recent developments in the disposable food containers market are listed below:
| Company | Footprint |
|---|---|
| Strategy | Footprint's Innovative Plant-Based Clamshell Containers |
| Details | In November 2020, Footprint, a sustainable technology firm specializing in materials science engineering, launched its new plant-based clamshell food containers. |
| Company | Stora Enso Oyj |
|---|---|
| Strategy | Stora Enso Oyj and Picadeli's Eco-Friendly Collaboration |
| Details | In February 2022, Stora Enso Oyj collaborated with Picadeli to replace plastic packaging in salad packaging by producing a plastic-free, recyclable alternative for takeaway packaging. |
| Company | The WestRock Company |
|---|---|
| Strategy | WestRock and Swiss Chalet Join Forces |
| Details | In April 2022, The WestRock Company collaborated with Swiss Chalet to launch recyclable paperboard packaging for its restaurant chain in Canada. |
The market is valued at USD 17.7 billion in 2023.
The market’s CAGR from 2023 to 2033 will be 5.1%.
Stora Enso Oyj, The WestRock Company, and DS Smith Plc. are key market players.
Restaurants & eateries segment is likely to remain preferred through 2033.
The market will reach USD 29.2 billion by 2033.
1. Executive Summary 2. Market Overview 3. Market Background 4. Global Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast, 2023 to 2033 5. Global Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Material 5.1. Polypropylene (PP) 5.2. Polystyrene (PS) 5.3. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) 5.4. Paper and Paperboard 5.5. Aluminium 5.6. Bagasse 5.7. Starch-based 6. Global Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Application 6.1. Fresh Food 6.2. Food Takeaway 6.3. Retail 7. Global Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By End Use 7.1. Restaurants and Eateries 7.2. Take-away and Online Delivery 7.3. Catering Services 7.4. Institutional 8. Global Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Region 8.1. North America 8.2. Latin America 8.3. Western Europe 8.4. Eastern Europe 8.5. South Asia and Pacific 8.6. East Asia 8.7. Middle East and Africa 9. North America Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Country 10. Latin America Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Country 11. Western Europe Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Country 12. Eastern Europe Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Country 13. South Asia and Pacific Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Country 14. East Asia Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Country 15. Middle East and Africa Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Country 16. Key Countries Market Analysis 17. Market Structure Analysis 18. Competition Analysis 18.1. Stora Enso Oyj 18.2. The WestRock Company 18.3. DS Smith Plc 18.4. Mondi Group Plc 18.5. Smurfit Kappa Group 18.6. Sonoco Products Company 18.7. Sealed Air Corporation 18.8. Georgia Pacific LLC 18.9. DOpla SpA 18.10. Dart Container Corporation 18.11. Huhtamäki Oyj 18.12. D&W Fine Pack 18.13. Gold Plast SPA 18.14. SOLIA, Inc. 18.15. Vegware Ltd 18.16. TN Food Container Manufacturers 18.17. ENPAK Eco-Friendly Food Container 18.18. Lacerta Group, Inc. 18.19. South Plastic Industry Co., Ltd. 18.20. Arafhat Plastics 19. Assumptions & Acronyms Used 20. Research Methodology
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Disposable Food Containers Market
