North America Fresh Meat Packaging Market Snapshot (2023 to 2033)

The North America fresh meat packaging market is expected to attain a valuation of USD 724.4 million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 1,070.9 million by 2033. As per FMI’s study, fresh meat packaging demand in North America is expected to rise at a CAGR of 4% from 2023 to 2033.

The increasing acceptance and advent of next-generation production techniques and packaging molding materials such as composite films made using polylactic acid (PLA), is expected to drive growth in the North American fresh meat packaging market.

Reduction in transportation costs, improved shelf life, ease of inventory, and reduced weight loss due to palatability and evaporation because of controlled aging by employing polyethylene packaging are helping in escalating the demand for fresh meat packaging solutions in North America.

In last few years, the rise of unique meat packaging technologies like Active and Intelligent packaging and vacuum packaging has improved fresh meat's quality and shelf life. According to the analysis of Food Agriculture Organization and Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, in 2019, the per capita meat consumption was 34.4 kilograms across the world. It is estimated to reach 34.9 kilograms by 2024. Thus, with the rising consumption of meat, the demand for fresh meat packaging is also anticipated to rise in the coming years.

Report Attribute Details
Expected Market Value (2023) USD 724.4 million
Anticipated Forecast Value (2033) USD 1,070.9 million
Projected Growth Rate (2023 to 2033) CAGR of 4%

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2018 to 2022 North America Fresh Meat Packaging Demand Analysis vs. Forecast 2023 to 2033

The North America fresh meat packaging market was worth USD 610.5 million in 2018. It accumulated a market value of USD 697.2 million in 2022 while growing at a CAGR of 3.4% during the historical period.

A shift in consumer demand for bio-based materials for manufacturing fresh meat packaging as a replacement for toxic plastic is anticipated to change market outlook in the coming years.

Rising environmental concerns and stringent government rules and regulations are expected to generate new opportunities for the market players. This might help these players to move ahead toward innovation in the fresh meat packaging market, thereby driving growth in the market.

Various manufacturers are already utilizing sustainable packaging for fresh meat. However, few market players are yet to do so as they are conducting extensive research and development activities to achieve sustainability goals.

The suppliers of fresh meat packaging are witnessing huge demand due to rising production of various poultry, meat, and seafood in North America. Increasing demand for flexible packaging in the packaging of fresh meat is anticipated to generate new growth opportunities for market expansion. The major function of primary packaging is to avoid and protect the product from any damage or contamination.

Flexible packaging such as polypropylene and polyethylene possess numerous properties that cater to the needs of primary packaging like high barrier feature, lightweight, and minimal probability of contamination, which keeps the product safe from external elements. Therefore, rising demand for flexible packaging is expected to drive growth in the market.

Which are Some Prominent Drivers Spearheading the North America Fresh Meat Packaging Market?

Growing demand for eco-friendly packaging solutions is driving market growth

The facility of customization in transparent fresh meat packaging and rising demand for convenient packaging solutions among urban population are expected to drive market growth over the forecast period.

Key industry players are looking towards incorporating recycled material such as ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer in fresh meat packaging to replace the packaging solutions containing polystyrene foam trays and plastic film. This is expected to drive market growth.

Increasing consumer awareness and concern toward harmful effects of non-biodegradable plastic on the environment is positively influencing the market growth. This is pushing the market players to manufacture bio-plastics and molded fiber materials that are compliant with regulatory standards and performance requirements set in packaging to keep the meat fresh for consumption.

The market is further driven by changing lifestyles and hectic schedules of the people. Consumers are looking for convenient packaging solutions that allow easy handling, transportation, and storage. Due to this, the demand for fresh meat packaging is expected to rise in the forecast period.

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What are the Challenges Projected to be Faced by the Market?

Availability of alternative solutions to restrict market expansion

Volatile raw packaging materials costs are expected to restrain market growth. High prices of innovative packaging are anticipated to restrict product demand in the forecast period. Also, supply chain disruptions due to growing availability of alternative solutions are further expected to hold back market expansion.

Country-Wise Insights

What are the Growth Prospects in the United States of America?

United States driving growth with a dominating market share

The United States of America accounted for 92.6% regional market share in 2022. The fresh meat packaging market in this region is expected to grow with a CAGR of 3.8% from 2023 to 2033. The region is expected to retain its trend of dominance by commanding over 93% market share by end of 2023.

The rising consumption of meat products is expected to drive product demand during the forecast period. The region is anticipated to reflect substantial growth due to the steady investments in research and development activities to provide innovative packaging solutions.

Rising consumption of animal meat especially pork, poultry, and beef in this region is expected to fuel product demand in the coming years. Rapid urbanization and improving standard of living are the main factors influencing the consumption of animal products in this region.

The export of beef and poultry and presence of advanced processing infrastructure in the country is further expected to drive market growth. Increasing awareness among consumers regarding the importance of food safety & hygiene is helping the market to grow. The rising demand for packaging solutions that guarantee freshness and quality of the meat while avoiding contamination is expected to fuel the product demand in the coming years.

A flourishing e-commerce industry is further fuelling the demand for packaging solutions that are tamper-proof, durable, and can tolerate wear and tear due to shipping and handling. This is expected to drive demand for fresh meat packaging solutions in United States of America.

What is the Growth Outlook in Canada?

Canada Driving Growth with Significant CAGR

Canada accounted for 7.4% regional revenue share in 2022, in fresh meat packaging market. The market in this region is expected to grow with a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period.

As per Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Animal Industry Division, in 2021, over 354 million chickens were slaughtered in federally inspected slaughterhouses in Canada.

An increase in butchering activities and the establishment of supermarkets and retail chains have made animal meat readily available across this region. Growing demand for sustainable packaging which keeps meat fresh and offers enhanced shelf life is expected to fuel the sales of fresh meat packaging products in this region.

Canada is renowned for its commitment to environmental sustainability. With rising consumer awareness in this region, purchasing decisions are also witnessing a change. Due to this, the region is witnessing a significant demand for sustainable packaging solutions that are biodegradable, recyclable, and have a low carbon footprint.

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Category wise Insights

By Material Type, Which Segment may Possess Market Hegemony?

Polyethylene driving market growth with a dominating segment share

Polyethylene accounted for a revenue share of 50% in 2022, on the basis of material type. This segment is expected to grow with a CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period.

The elasticity and low production cost of polyethylene compared to other materials are the key factors expected to fuel its demand in the forecast period. Increasing consumption of plastic containers in industrial and household applications is further anticipated to propel product demand during the forecast period.

The ability of polyethylene to maintain freshness and quality of the meat for a long period of time is driving its demand. Polyethylene helps to prevent contamination from external factors and maintains suitable temperature and humidity levels within the packaging.

By Meat Type, Which Segment is Expected to Dominate the Market?

Beef leading the market with a sizeable market share

In 2022, beef accounted for a sizeable revenue share of 31.9% in the North America fresh meat packaging market. This segment is projected to grow with a CAGR of 6.2%.

Growing awareness about the advantages of consuming beef as a rich source of protein is expected to drive growth in the segment in the coming years. Increasing awareness regarding the diseases related to fresh and raw pork and poultry is estimated to drive beef consumption in North America.

Start-ups in North America Fresh Meat Packaging Market

Start-ups help in predicting future growth opportunities in any market. New players have the potential to generate impressive returns which directly benefits the expansion of any industry. These start-ups are generally more productive at transforming inputs into outputs with more flexibility and adaptability, the ability to adopt volatile market conditions. Some of the start-ups that will propel the expansion of North American fresh meat packaging market are:

  • American Plastic is a provider of eco-friendly packaging solutions. Its offering includes custom food bags and food service films, leak-proof bags, produce bags, bread bags, vacuum sealer bags, freezer bags, zip-top bags, reclosable bags, and gusseted bags. It is a Beltsville, United States-based startup that was founded in 2004.
  • D6 Inc. is a Portland, United States-based startup that was founded in 2014. This startup offers professional services in the packaging design and manufacturing sector for food, automation, healthcare, and semiconductor industry using 3D printing technology. The company leverages 3D designing software to create 3D models of conceptual designs, testing injection molding tolerance and then uses an array of 3D printers to produce production-grade prototypes.
  • Footprint is a manufacturer of plant-based bagasse packaging solutions. The offering includes alternative sustainable packaging solutions for cups & lids, trays, consumer goods, frozen items, etc. It also helps in cutting carbon footprint from the environment by eliminating plastic-based material. It was founded in Gilbert, United States in 2013. It received a total funding of USD 277 million from Olympus Partners, S2G Ventures, and InvestU.

Market Competition

The North America fresh meat packaging market is extremely competitive and consists of various key industry players. These players are heavily investing in manufacturing fresh meat packaging solutions.

The key industry players are Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller GmbH & Co.KG, Sealpac International BV., Robert Reiser & Co, Harpak-ULMA Packaging, LLC, ALKAR-RapidPak, Inc., Bemis Company, Inc, Winpak Ltd., Sealed Air Corp., Berry Plastic Group, Coveris Holdings S.A.

Key market players are leveraging on inorganic growth strategies like acquisition, mergers, partnerships, and collaboration to enhance their product portfolio. This is expected to fuel the North American fresh meat packaging market.

  • In April 2021, Coveris Holdings S.A. concluded the acquisition of a profitable and stable business Initial Packaging Ltd. This firm specializes in the manufacturing of specialty bags to focus on converted high-end packaging solutions.
  • In 2021, Winpak Limited declared the launch of its new range of packaging solutions for the meat industry, called as W7200 series. This series includes flexible, high-barrier packaging that features exceptional protection against oxygen, moisture, and other external elements that can diminish the quality of meat products.
  • In November 2021, Preval AG, a Canada-based agriculture and food company, purchased J&G Foods for USD 525 million. With this acquisition, Preval bolstered its portfolio of fresh meat products, its packaging capabilities for many types of meat products, and its product offerings in Northern America.

Report Scope

Report Attribute Details
Market Value in 2023 USD 724.4 million
Market Value in 2033 USD 1,070.9 million
Growth Rate CAGR of 4% from 2023 to 2033
Base Year for Estimation 2022
Historical Data 2018 to 2022
Forecast Period 2023 to 2033
Quantitative Units Revenue in USD million and CAGR from 2023 to 2033
Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Volume Forecast, Company Ranking, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, Trends, and Pricing Analysis
Segments Covered Packaging Format, Material Type, Meat Type, Region
Key Countries Profiled United States, Canada
Key Companies Profiled Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller GmbH & Co.KG; Robert Reiser & Co.; Harpak-ULMA Packaging LLC; ALKAR-RapidPak, Inc.; Sealpac International BV.; Bemis Company Inc.; Winpak Ltd.; Sealed Air Corp.; Berry Plastic Group Inc.; Coveris Holdings S.A.
Customization Available upon Request

Key segments profiled in the North America Fresh Meat Packaging Industry Survey

By Packaging Format:

  • Modified Atmospheric Packaging
  • Vacuum Skin Packaging Stand Up Pouches
  • Vacuum Thermoformed Packaging

By Material Type:

  • Polyethylene (PE)
  • Polypropylene (PP)
  • Bi-axially oriented polypropylene (BOPP)
  • Ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)
  • Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
  • Polyamide (PA)
  • Others

By Meat Type:

  • Beef
  • Pork
  • Poultry
  • Seafood
  • Others

By Country:

  • United States
  • Canada

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current valuation of the North America Fresh Meat Packaging Market?

The North America fresh meat packaging market's worth in 2023 is estimated at USD 724.4 million.

What is the estimated North America Fresh Meat Packaging Market size envisioned by 2033?

The North America fresh meat packaging market is estimated to achieve a valuation of USD 1,070.9 million by 2033.

What CAGR is Foreseen for North America Fresh Meat Packaging Market in the Upcoming Decade?

The North America fresh meat packaging market is poised to witness a 4% CAGR upswing in demand through 2033.

Which Country is Set to Register Exponential Growth in the North America Fresh Meat Packaging Market?

The fresh meat packaging market in the United States is forecasted to develop at a 3.8% CAGR through 2033.

Which is the Key Segment in the North America Fresh Meat Packaging Market by Material Type?

Polyethylene is poised to maintain its preference through 2033, demonstrating a CAGR of 4.2%.

Table of Content
	1. Executive Summary
	2. Market Overview
	3. Market Background
	4. Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast, 2023 to 2033
	5. Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Packaging Format
		5.1. Modified Atmospheric Packaging
		5.2. Vacuum Skin Packaging Stand Up Pouches
		5.3. Vacuum Thermoformed Packaging
	6. Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Material Type
		6.1. Polyethylene (PE)
		6.2. Polypropylene (PP)
		6.3. Bi-axially oriented polypropylene (BOPP)
		6.4. Ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)
		6.5. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
		6.6. Polyamide (PA)
		6.7. Others
	7. Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Meat Type
		7.1. Beef
		7.2. Pork
		7.3. Poultry
		7.4. Seafood
		7.5. Others
	8. Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Region
		8.1. North America
	9. Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Country
	10. Market Structure Analysis
	11. Competition Analysis
		11.1. Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller GmbH & Co.KG
		11.2. Robert Reiser & Co
		11.3. Harpak-ULMA Packaging, LLC
		11.4. ALKAR-RapidPak, Inc.
		11.5. Sealpac International BV.
		11.6. Bemis Company, Inc.
		11.7. Winpak Ltd.
		11.8. Sealed Air Corp.
		11.9. Berry Plastic Group, Inc.
		11.10. Coveris Holdings S.A.
	12. Assumptions & Acronyms Used
	13. Research Methodology
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