KBS - Packaging - Market Insight

MARKET INSIGHT The UK packaging market size is valued at $60.94bn in 2025, growing at a 2.27% CAGR. It is expected to reach $68.18bn by 2030. The global packaging market size reached $1.24tn in 2024 and is projected to hit around $1.69tn by 2034 at a CAGR of 3.16% (2025 to 2034). In the UK, flexible packaging had the highest market share at 34.7% (41.6 billion units), followed by rigid plastics (32.9%). However, glass packaging is forecast to grow the fastest at a CAGR of 2.3%. The demand for packaging is ultimately derived from end-use markets, and different sectors have different outlooks. Food and beverage remains the largest end-use sector with growth derived from the rise of convenience foods, meal kits and online grocers. Healthcare and pharmaceuticals is another significant sector. As the population ages and medical treatments advance, pharmaceutical packaging such as sterile packaging, blister packs etc is expanding. In the UK, more than 26% of adults take prescription medications, propelling that part of the industry. Moreover, e-commerce and retail trends are contributing to the demand for transit packaging, returnable packaging and branded packaging. Additionally, convenience and changing lifestyles contribute, smaller household sizes and on-the-go consumption increase demand for single-serve and portable packaging.

On the industrial side, packaging for shipping and logistics grows along with manufacturing, reflecting its essential role in the modern economy, delivering products safely while adapting to new preferences and regulations.

In the UK, flexible packaging had the highest market share at 34.7% (41.6 billion units) , followed by rigid plastics (32.9%). However, glass packaging is forecast to grow the fastest at a CAGR of 2.3%.