Plant-based Food Packaging Market

Plant-based Food Packaging Market Outlook for 2024 to 2034

The plant-based food packaging market is projected to register a CAGR of 9.60% from 2024 to 2034. In 2024, the market is valued at USD 3.1 billion and is predicted to reach USD 7.8 billion by 2034. The development of the demand for plant-based food packaging is fueled by eco-friendly, environmentally friendly, and recyclable packaging.

Attributes	Details
Market Value for 2024	USD 3.1 billion
Market Value for 2034	USD 7.8 billion
Market Forecast CAGR for 2024 to 2034	9.60%

Growth Analysis of the Plant-based Food Packaging Market

• The emergent demand for plant-based food is compelling the growth of the plant-based meal packaging market, as it can improve the shelf life of the plant-based meal.
• The plant-based meal packaging market is developing due to the high protein plant-based diet trend, eco-friendly packaging, and hygiene-conscious consumer consumption.
• The market is anticipated to develop rapidly due to a novel customer preference for environmentally friendly consumer products and meal packaging.
• Eco-friendly food packaging is a sustainable alternative to plastic. It reduces energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste, driven by public awareness of environmental preservation and sustainable living
• Eco-friendly food packaging is made from natural materials such as textiles, paper, and food waste. It offers degradable protection, is secure, non-toxic, and versatile, suitable for various food items in both the food and beverage industries.
• Biodegradable polymers in plant-based food packaging improve food preservation, using materials such as cotton, trees, hemp, and wood pulp-derived cellulose. Sustainable meal packaging minimizes environmental impact by utilizing renewable energy.

2019 to 2023 Historical Analysis vs. 2024 to 2034 Market Forecast Projection

Demand has historically developed at a CAGR of 7.30%. However, sales are set to increase at a remarkable pace, displaying a CAGR of 9.60% from 2024 to 2034.

Attributes	Details
Market Historical CAGR for 2019 to 2023	7.30%

The Eco-friendly food packaging market focuses on creating sustainable, eco-friendly packaging solutions for food products. It reduces waste and carbon footprints and promotes sustainability. The market is compelled by increasing consumer demand for responsible packaging and a focus on single-use plastics.

The increasing awareness of environmental issues, including plastic pollution and climate change, is propelling the adoption of plant-based food packaging. Government regulations and consumer demand for sustainable products are forcing companies to offer environmentally responsible packaging options.

Plant-based packaging, primarily bioplastics, is a sustainable alternative to non-renewable hydrocarbons. Biodegradable PLA and bioPET are two common forms of bioplastics. Many food enterprises have switched to plant-based packaging for their plant-based food offerings.

This move offers numerous benefits such as reduced manufacturing expenditures and comparable or higher protection compared to petroleum-based alternatives. The need for environmentally friendly products is increasing as consumers prioritize sustainability.

Key Trends Influencing the Plant-based Food Packaging Market

Enlargement of Attractive Minimal Design for Food Packaging

• The minimalist meal packaging design strives to reduce packaging waste and focuses on essential functions. This method doesn't compromise product safety and integrity and is compelled by the increasing demand for fewer materials.
• Minimalist designs prioritize simplicity, efficiency, and functionality, reducing waste and lowering production costs. Sometimes, they result in more visually appealing packaging, promoting environmental responsibility and catering to modern consumer preferences for cleaner food packaging.
• The plant-based food packaging industry is embracing innovative materials such as biodegradable bioplastics, vegan packaging, and materials derived from algae and mushrooms. These materials offer benefits like biodegradability and composability, reducing reliance on traditional plastics.
• Innovations in material science are forcing the trend toward plant-based alternatives for food products. Researchers and institutions now seek to maintain product quality while reducing the environmental footprint.

Demand from Sustainable Meal Packaging Industry Caters the Green Packaging Endeavors

• Green packaging utilizes eco-friendly materials such as bioplastics, recyclable paper, natural biomaterials, organic fabrics, and refurbished products. This reduces environmental impact and prevents food contamination, leading to increased demand for plant-based food packaging.
• Food technology, transportation, and communication helm consumers towards convenience foods, which supports market growth. This trend is anticipated to propel global green packaging initiative development, with manufacturers prioritizing product safety and sustainability.
• Consumer choice forces a ripple in sustainable food packaging, offering benefits like reduced fossil fuel reliance, natural resource use, recyclable products, energy-efficient manufacturing, and renewable resources. Trends in edible packaging and waste reduction are economically appealing to manufacturers and consumers.

Innovations in Plant-based Food Packaging Overcomes Obstacles

• Sustainable food packaging innovations are gaining favor, including compostable multilayer films, edible packaging, and smart packaging solutions. Compostable multilayer films replace traditional malleable films. Edible packaging eliminates waste by allowing consumers to eat the packaging, and smart packaging monitors product freshness, reducing waste and ensuring quality.
• Plant-based food packaging faces high manufacturing costs, but through economies of scale, research investment, consumer education, and collaboration between businesses, government, and education, these costs can be reduced.
• Environmental concerns and sustainable solutions in the food industry are determining the trend of plant-based meal packaging. Materials like bagasse, cornstarch, and molded fiber offer eco-friendly alternatives. Innovations in biodegradable films, edible packaging, and smart packaging to show potentials.

Category-wise Insights

An in-depth segmental analysis of the plant-based food packaging market indicates that bioplastic material is in significant demand. Similarly, biodegradable and compostable packaging witnesses an emergent demand.

Demand for Bioplastic Food Packages to Pack up around 35% of Market Share

Attributes	Details
Top Material	Bioplastic
Market share in 2024	35%

The demand for bioplastic food packaging is rising, projected to hold a 35% market share in 2024.

• The demand for breathable bioplastic packaging is significant. It prolongs food freshness by allowing moisture to diffuse through, preventing mold and rot, and reducing food waste due to its longer shelf life.
• Rigid bioplastic meal packaging is heavier, stronger, and more durable, while flexible packaging is cheaper, easier, and environmentally friendly.

Biodegradable and Compostable Packaging to Fill up around 40% of Market Share

Attributes	Details
Top Packaging Type	Biodegradable and Compostable Packaging
Market share in 2024	40%

In 2024, the biodegradable and compostable packaging to hold a 40% market share due to lifestyle changes spurred by urbanization as well as demand for eco-friendly and efficient packaging.

• TIPA's certified compostable packaging breaks down in a year in home compost bins and 3-6 months in industrial composting environments, making it a prominent option for food packaging.
• Biodegradable meal packaging, often considered solely bio-based, can be made from bio- and fossil-based polymers. Their structure and strength enable safe digestion by microorganisms.
• Bagasse is a byproduct of sugarcane processing. It is a great plant-based food packaging material due to its high biodegradability, heat and grease resistance, and tree-free nature. Cornstarch, a renewable plastic, is also a promising alternative because of its lower carbon emissions and versatility. Manufacturers commonly use these two materials to develop eco-friendly food packages.

Country-wise Insights

The following section explains the demand for plant-based food packaging in various countries. Industries in India and Thailand to experience impressive growth in the upcoming decade. China and Japan to progress in the meal packaging market notably, with South Korea having a lower CAGR than other nations.

Countries	CAGR from 2024 to 2034
South Korea	11.8%
Thailand	13.3%
China	12.4%
India	13.5%
Japan	12.0%

India’s Meal Packaging Sector Augments the Demand for Plant-packaging

The India plant-based meal packaging sector is predicted to report a CAGR of 13.5% by 2034, attracting prospects for eco-friendly meal distribution to boost revenue in India.

• With the surge in the vegetarian population as well as the rise in meal serving and catering services in India, such as weddings, festive occasions, or charity meal services, the use of plant-based meal packaging is significant.
• In India, the research and development on novel plant-based meal packaging skyrockets. For instance, India's Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Ecolastic have introduced environmentally friendly packaging made from plant-based, food-grade ingredients in water-soluble and water-resistant varieties.

China Foster Convenient On-the-go Plant-based Meal Packaging Adoption

China is projected to experience a 12.4% CAGR in demand for eco-friendly meal packaging from 2024 to 2034.

• The surging demand for lightweight, protective, self-appealing, and recyclable packaging among on-the-go meal services is anticipated to supplement the sales of eco-friendly packaging in China.
• Takeaway packaging offers sustainable packaging solutions for Chinese cuisine, reducing environmental impact and maintaining authenticity. Custom printing showcases a unique brand identity, promoting market growth of plant-based food packaging in China.

Thailand’s Food Packaging Industry Makes a Fuss of Vegan Packaging Demand

The meal packaging market in Thailand is projected to register a CAGR of 13.3% through 2034, largely compelled by government-led eco-friendly initiatives.

Initiatives such as Green packaging, utilizing bioplastics, recyclable materials, plant-based biomaterials, organic fabrics, and repurposed goods, are gaining demand in Thailand. This is due to their biodegradability and ability to prevent food contamination, thereby encouraging customers to switch to convenience foods in the country.

Novel Endeavours in South Korea Boost Innovation in Plant-based Meal Packaging

South Korea’s meal packaging industry to extend at an 11.8% CAGR from 2024 to 2034. This offers unique investment possibilities, making it a prime destination for plant-based food packaging. South Korea-based manufacturers have augmented their product range to include various plant-based packaging options for multiple foods and beverages.

South Korea's consumer education initiatives have boosted the use of plant-based packaging in food items, influencing shopping decisions. This has led to companies developing diverse portfolios to cater to diverse consumer needs.

For instance, in 2022, a Korean food-grade polyethylene (PE) film supplier for its cold anti-fogging properties, ensuring food safety and shelf life while eliminating regulatory concerns, successfully specified Palsgaard’s Einar 611 bio-based anti-fog surfactant.

Consumers Fancies the bio-based Food Packaging in Japan

Japan's vegan meal packing industry is foreseen to develop at a CAGR of 12.0% through 2034, operated by packaging material innovations that improve functionality, durability, and performance.

• Bio-based meal packaging, derived from renewable sources like plants, is a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastics in Japan, offering easy decomposition and recycling capabilities.
• Consumers and the government in this country promote bio-based materials like cellulose nanocrystals and biopolymers as sustainable alternatives to non-recyclable plastic packaging.

Competitive Landscape in Plant-based Food Packaging Market

The plant-based food packaging market is admiringly competitive, with numerous major players and multinational and regional small-to-medium-sized companies. These companies compete by offering high-quality products and utilizing advanced manufacturing technology.

To strengthen the company's offerings and market reach, food packaging companies implement various growth strategies, including new product development, product launches, partnerships and collaborations, mergers and acquisitions, and customer retention.

These packaging brands invest laboriously in research and development to introduce innovative and technologically advanced solutions in the vegan food packaging market.

Recent Developments in the Plant-based Food Packaging Market

• In April 2024, Nasoya, the top tofu brand in the United States, launched a limited-edition packaging redesign for Earth Day. It features illustrations of people and pets enjoying nature and highlighting its organic products as sustainable protein sources.
• In January 2024, Upfield introduced the world's first plastic-free, recyclable tub for plant-based foods, developed by Footprint, MCC, and Pagès Group. This invention aspires to reduce plastic content by 80% by 2030.
• In November 2023, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland successfully thermoformed a cellulose-based material into rigid 3D packaging, offering a sustainable alternative to polypropylene food trays.
• In July 2023, Melodea introduced MelOx NGen, a water-based, plant-sourced barrier product for plastic food packaging. Approved by the FDA and BfR, it extends shelf-life and offers a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based materials.

Key Companies in the Plant-based Food Packaging Market

• Tetra Pak
• Vegware
• Plantic Technologies
• TIPA Corp
• Uflex Ltd
• DuPont
• Innovia Films
• Huhtamaki Group
• Amcor
• Mondi Group
• Be Green Packaging, Inc.
• Biopak Pty Ltd
• Biomass Packaging
• Eco-Products, Inc.
• Daio Paper construction
• Gascogne Papier
• Glatfelter Corporation
• Genpak LLC
• Green Pack
• Nordic Paper AB
• PacknWood
• Stora Enso Oyj
• Sulapac Ltd
• Vegware Ltd

Key Coverage in the Plant-based Food Packaging Market Report

• Rising Sales of Plant-based Food Packaging in the United States
• Growth Analysis of the Demand for Sustainable Food Packaging
• Top 10 Emerging Market Trends Driving Innovation in Plant-based Meal Packaging Designs and Materials
• Growth Overview of Meal Packaging Products Market in the United States
• Market Dynamics Influencing Plant-based Packaging Sales
• Development of Vegan Meat Packaging in the United States

Key Segments

By Material:

• Bioplastics
• Mycelium
• Bagasse
• Starch Based
• Paper

By Packaging Type:

• Paper Based
• Biodegradable and Compostable Packaging
• Recyclable Plastic Packaging

By Packaging Formats:

• Flexible Packaging
• Stand-up Pouches
• Flat bottom bags
• Flow wraps
• Rigid Packaging
• Trays
• Containers
• Bottles

By Region:

• North America
• Latin America
• Europe
• East Asia
• South Asia
• Oceania
• Middle East and Africa

Frequently Asked Questions

How Big is the Plant-based Food Packaging Market?

The market is valued at USD 3.1 billion in 2024.

What is the Future Outlook of the Plant-based Food Packaging Market?

The market is set to be valued at USD 7.8 billion by 2034.

Which Country is Forecasted to be Most Fruitful for the Plant-based Meal Packaging Market?

The vegan meal packaging industry in India is estimated to register a CAGR of 13.5% from 2024 to 2034.

What is the Future Forecast for the Plant-based Meal Package Market?

The market is en route to register a CAGR of 9.60% from 2024 to 2034.

Which Material is in Significant Demand for Plant-based Food Packaging in 2024?

Bioplastic is anticipated to acquire a 35% market share in 2024.