The global e-commerce packaging market size was valued at USD 57.9 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.9% from 2022 to 2030. The factors attributed to the industry growth are increasing penetration of the internet and smartphones, rapid economic growth, and increasing online spending. However, the lack of personal experience with the products before purchase and low penetration of online businesses in rural parts of the world are likely to be major restraints for the industry's growth. The U.S. is the second largest e-commerce market after China. The country is likely to have steady and significant growth during the forecast years. Some of the factors driving the growth of this industry include the increasing dependency of customers on online shopping, the high purchasing capability of the population, and the rising penetration of the internet and smartphones in the country. The e-commerce food segment is an emerging segment in the U.S. In 2019, approximately 37% of Americans shopped for food online, an increase of 14% from the previous year. The segment has gotten a steep boost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the survey of N.C.-based Ingmar, 78.7% of subjects reported shopping online for groceries after the COVID-19 outbreak due to convenience. Which was an increase of 39% from before the pandemic. In recent years, the emergence of a trend of ordering food online has helped major industry participants, such as Amazon Go and Instacart, to strengthen their footprint in the market. The growth of online businesses has been rapid in the U.S. with the increasing population and number of online shoppers. Thus, the increasing market of e-commerce is expected to augment the demand for e-commerce packaging in the U.S.
On the basis of materials, the industry has been categorized into plastics, corrugated boards, paper & paper boards, and wood. The plastics segment accounted for the maximum share of more than 36.00% of the overall revenue in 2021. This was owing to the high dependency of the e-commerce industry on plastic packaging. This material is low-priced, lightweight, widely available, and highly reliable compared to paper, corrugated board, and wood materials. Furthermore, the demand for plastics is spurred by the increased sales of grocery products with an instant doorstep delivery strategy.
The primary driver of online grocery shopping was the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the comfort and unique features offered by these channels, such as product comparison, assortment, and customization. Now, the percentage shares of grocery shoppers are more compared to the pre-pandemic level. Thus, increasing reliance on e-commerce channels for grocery shopping is driving the demand for plastic packaging products. However, increasing awareness among consumers about the environmental impact of plastics is expected to act as a major restraint for the growth of this segment.
On the basis of products, the industry has been categorized into corrugated boxes, poly bags, tapes, protective packaging, mailer, and others. The corrugated boxes product segment dominated the global industry in 2021 and accounted for the maximum share of more than 32.00% of the overall revenue. The high share was mainly attributed to the rising demand for sustainable and lightweight and eco-friendly packaging products with high strength, such as corrugated boxes. In addition, the growing dependency of customers on the online delivery of goods is likely to augment the demand for corrugated box packaging.
However, stiff competition from flexible plastic packaging is restraining the growth of this segment in the e-commerce business. According to a survey conducted by Trivium Packaging, in 2021, almost half (54%) of respondents prefer sustainable packaging while selecting the product. The population under the age of 44 years is the prime factor driving this trend. 83% of the respondent under the age of 44 years are willing to pay more for sustainably packaged products. This factor will help support the growth of the corrugated boxes segment during the forecast period.
On the basis of applications, the industry has been categorized into electronics & electrical, apparel & accessories, personal care, household, food & beverages, pet food, pharmaceutical, and others. The apparels and accessories application accounted for the largest share of more than 25.0% in 2021. The high share was attributed to the increasing trend of fast fashion and high disposable income levels. The term fast fashion defines affordable and fashionable apparel. The trend of fast fashion is considerably increasing due to the rising influence of celebrities and social media. In addition, the increasing acceptance of e-commerce shopping owing to consumers’ convenience to purchase items from the comfort of their homes is boosting product sales through online channels.
The increasing penetration rate of the internet and smartphones is expected to accelerate market growth over the forecast period due to easier and more convenient shopping experiences for customers. Moreover, e-commerce channels provide price discounts, which further boosts product sales. A significant growth in the e-commerce apparels and accessories market is driving the demand for e-commerce plastic packaging. Moreover, growing investments by key players in the latest technologies and a focus on an easy-to-shop experience for consumers are the factors likely to boost industry sales. However, concerns regarding security and credit/debit card fraud may hinder growth to some extent.
Asia Pacific dominated the market and accounted for over 45.1% revenue share in 2021. The region is expected to witness rapid growth over the forecast period owing to increasing mobile internet usage and changing lifestyles. Asian are shifting towards urban lifestyles engaging in a more work-oriented culture leading to the scarcity of personal time. Therefore, consumers are gradually shifting toward e-commerce platforms for shopping. Thus, the increasing dependency on e-commerce in the Asia Pacific region is accompanying the demand for shipment materials.
Further, increasing technologies such as blockchain technology, machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), and fifth-generation (5G) wireless systems are spreading across the region of Asia Pacific, shaping the online business environment, lowering transaction costs, improving advertisement targeting, and increasing data collection, among others. The enhancement of technologies coupled with an e-commerce platform is attributed to drive the market significantly which in turn will increase the demand for packaging material for shipment of the products.
The industry is highly competitive with the presence of both global and regional companies. Companies offer a wide range of plastic packaging solutions that are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Moreover, they offer custom packaging products to suit customer-specific requirements. Key players are increasingly investing in the development of bio-based packaging products. In April 2019, Sealed Air collaborated with Kuraray America, Inc., a Japan-based specialty material manufacturer, to develop plant-based packaging for perishable foods, such as poultry, beef, and seafood, in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Mondi has also been offering packaging products made from biopolymers based on renewable resources instead of PE. Many chemical companies, such as BASF SE, Braskem S.A., NatureWorks, Novamont, and Plantic, are focusing on the development of biopolymers due to the increasing sustainability approach by the e-commerce business. Some of the prominent companies operating in the global e-commerce packaging market include:
Amcor Plc.
Berry Global Group, Inc.
CCL Industries
Coveris
Sealed Air
Sonoco Products Company
WINPAK Ltd.
Alpha Packaging
Constantia Flexibles
Mondi
Gerresheimer AG
Silver Spur Corp.
Greif
Transcontinental Inc.
ALPLA
Report Attribute |
Details |
Market size value in 2022 |
USD 67.4 billion |
Revenue forecast in 2030 |
USD 235.8 billion |
Growth rate |
CAGR of 16.9% from 2021 to 2030 |
Base year for estimation |
2021 |
Historical data |
2017 - 2021 |
Forecast period |
2022 - 2030 |
Quantitative units |
Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2021 to 2030 |
Report coverage |
Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends |
Segments covered |
Material, product, application, region |
Regional scope |
North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA |
Country Scope |
U.S.; Canada; Mexico; Germany; France; U.K.; Italy; Spain; China; Japan; India; South Korea; Australia; Brazil; UAE; Saudi Arabia |
Key companies profiled |
Amcor plc; Berry Global, Inc.; CCL Industries; Coveris; Sealed Air; Sonoco Products Company; Winpak Ltd.; Alpha Packaging; Constantia Flexibles Group GmbH; Mondi plc; Gerresheimer AG; Silver Spur Corp. Grief; Transcontinental Inc.; ALPLA |
Customization scope |
Free report customization (equivalent up to 8 analysts working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope |
Pricing and purchase options |
Avail of customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. Explore purchase options |
This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2030. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global e-commerce packaging market report on the basis of product, material, application, and region:
Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)
Corrugated Box
Poly Bags
Tapes
Protective Packaging
Mailers
Others
Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)
Plastic
Corrugated Board
Paper And Paperboard
Woods
Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)
Electronics And Electrical
Apparels And Accessories
Personal Care
Household
Food And Beverages
Pet Food
Pharmaceutical
Others
Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)
North America
U.S.
Canada
Mexico
Europe
Germany
France
U.K.
Italy
Spain
Asia Pacific
China
Japan
India
South Korea
Australia
Latin America
Brazil
MEA
UAE
Saudi Arabia
b. The e-commerce Packaging Market was estimated at USD 57.91 Billion in the year 2021 and is expected to reach USD 235.8 billion in 2030.
b. The E-commerce Packaging Market is expected to witness high revenue growth of 16.9 % owing to increasing penetration of the internet and smartphones, economic growth, and increasing online spending.
b. The apparels and accessories application commanded the largest share of 25.3% in the year 2021. The factors attributed to driving the market are the rising trend of fast fashion, rising disposable income coupled with the convenience of having products at the doorstep without the hustle of stores.
b. Amcor plc; Berry Global, Inc.; CCL Industries; Coveris; Sealed Air; Sonoco Products Company; WINPAK LTD.; Alpha Packaging; Constantia Flexibles Group GmbH; Gerresheimer AG; Mondi plc; Silver Spur Corporation; Greif; Transcontinental Inc; ALPLA.
b. Growing e-Commerce retail platforms, and technology advancements such as 5G, and wider geographic internet connectivity are increasing the e-commerce market.
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