- Global rigid plastic packaging consumption is projected at 68.0 million tonnes in 2025 and is forecast to reach almost 81.0 million tonnes by 2030
- The global market for rigid plastic packaging is forecast to grow at 3.6% CAGR for both value and volume during the period 2025–30
The market for rigid plastic packaging is strongly influenced by economic, demographic and social trends. Global demand will continue to be driven primarily by the faster-growing emerging and developing economies of Asia, the Middle East and Africa during the forecast period. A shift towards a more centralised structure of grocery retailing has also inevitably led to higher levels of rigid plastic packaging.
Rigid plastic packaging is defined as the manufacture, supply and conversion of plastics that are used separately or in combination for primary retail food packaging and non-food applications. This report provides an analysis of rigid plastic packaging market trends and consumption forecasts for 2025–30 by polymer type, end-use sector, packaging format, production process, and geographic region, including leading national markets.
Key Questions
- Consumers’ sustainability values are pushing brands to prioritise the development ofmore sustainable rigid plastic packaging products. What technologies are gaining traction?
- How are supply chain disruptions impacting raw materials used for rigid plastic packs?
- Where will the rigid plastic packaging market show largest growth over the next five years?
- How are developments in barrier solutions adding value and opening up new applications for rigid plastic packaging?
This report is essential to:
- Packaging raw material suppliers
- Packaging converters and manufacturers
- Retailers and brand owners
About the author
David Platt has a broad range of experience in the plastics and packaging industry. He has authored over 50 market reports for Smithers on subjects including global packaging, rigid plastic packaging, PET packaging, flexible packaging, bioplastics, specialty plastics, high-performance packaging films, pouches, and caps and closures.
Executive summary
Introduction and methodology
- Introduction
- Objectives
- Market segmentation
- Materials
- End-use sector
- Packaging products
- Packaging processes
- Geographic markets
- Definitions and market data
- Methodology
- List of abbreviations
- Exchange rates
Market overview
- Key drivers and trends
- Sustainable and eco-friendly packaging
- Economic, social and demographic influences on packaging demand
- Rising penetration of modern retailing
- Raw material costs and variability
- Rigid plastics replace traditional packaging materials
- Rigid plastic packaging challenged by flexibles
- Packaging regulation
- The rigid plastic packaging industry supply chain and competitive structure
- Industry supply chain
- Competitive structure
Technology developments
- Overview
- Sustainable rigid plastic packaging product developments
- Use of recycled materials
- Barrier solutions
- Overview
- Monolayer blends and alloys
- Multilayer bottles
- Barrier coatings
- Barrier technology developments for rigid plastic packaging
- Smart packaging
- Artificial intelligence in the plastics industry
- Chemical recycling
- Bio-based rigid plastic packaging materials
- Overview
- Bio-based polyethylene
- Bio-based PET
- Polyethylene furanoate (PEF)
- Paper bottles
- Food and drink processing technologies
Rigid plastic packaging materials
- Overview
- Polyethylene
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polystyrene (PS)
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
- Expanded polystyrene (EPS)
- Other rigid plastic packaging materials
- Bioplastics
- Polyamide (PA)
- Polycarbonate (PC)
- Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN)
- Ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)
- Polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC)
- Polyurethane foam (PU)
- Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)
- Styrene acrylonitrile (SAN)
Rigid plastic packaging pack formats
- Overview
- Plastic bottles
- Plastic trays and containers
- Plastic tubs and pots
- Other rigid plastic packaging formats
- Blister packs
- Clamshell packs
- Plastic pails
- Plastic tubes
Rigid plastic packaging production process
- Overview
- Blow moulding
- Injection moulding
- Thermoforming
- Thermoform-fill-seal (FFS)
- Other production processes
- Foam extrusion
- Vacuum forming
- Calendering
Rigid plastic packaging end-use markets
- Overview
- Fresh food
- Frozen food
- Chilled food
- Dried food
- Ready meals
- Baked goods
- Savoury snacks
- Confectionery
- Dairy products
- Hot beverages
- Other (human) food
- Pet food
- Drinks
- Healthcare
- Cosmetics and personal care products
- Household care products
- Other consumer products
- Industrial/other
Rigid plastic packaging geographic markets
- Overview
- Western Europe
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
- UK
- Other Western Europe
- Eastern Europe
- Poland
- Russia
- Other Eastern Europe
- Middle East
- Turkey
- Other Middle East
- Africa
- North America
- Canada
- Mexico
- US
- South & Central America
- Brazil
- Other South & Central America
- Asia
- China
- India
- Japan
- Other Asia
- Australasia
List of figures
- Global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020, 2025 and 2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Global rigid plastic packaging: percentage share of consumption by material, 2025
- Global rigid plastic packaging: percentage share of consumption by end use, 2025
- Global rigid plastic packaging: percentage share of consumption by production process, 2025
- Global rigid plastic packaging: percentage share of consumption by geographic region, 2025
- European rigid plastics: annual average reference prices, 2020-24
- The rigid plastic packaging industry supply chain
List of tables
- Rigid plastic packaging, summary of key market drivers and trends to 2030
- Exchange rates 2020-24 (=US$1)
- Rigid plastic packaging, summary of key market drivers and trends to 2030
- GDP growth rates by region, percentage change per annum, 2020-25 and annual average growth rate forecast for 2026–30
- PPWR: mandatory recyclate use quotas in accordance with Article
- Global rigid plastic packaging industry, summary of key merger & acquisition activity since 2023
- Rigid plastic packaging: technology developments to 2030
- Summary of selected barrier technologies for rigid plastic packaging, 2025
- Chemical recycling: a summary of selected projects, 2025
- Global rigid plastic packaging consumption by material 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Polyethylene: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Polyethylene terephthalate: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Polypropylene: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Polystyrene: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Polyvinyl chloride: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Expanded polystyrene: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Other rigid plastic packaging materials: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Global rigid plastic packaging consumption by pack format, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Plastic bottles: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by pack format, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Plastic trays and containers: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by pack format, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Plastic tubs and pots: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by pack format, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Other rigid plastic packaging formats: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by pack format, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Global rigid plastic packaging consumption by production process, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Blow moulding: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by production process, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Injection moulding: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by production process, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Thermoforming: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by production process, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Thermoform-fill-seal: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by production process, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Other production processes: global rigid plastic packaging consumption by production process, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Global rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Fresh food: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Frozen food: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Chilled food: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Dried food: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Ready meals: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Baked goods: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Savoury snacks: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Confectionery: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Dairy products: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Hot beverages: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Other (human) food: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Pet food: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Drinks: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Healthcare: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Cosmetics and personal care products: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Household care products: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Other consumer products: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Industrial/other: global rigid plastic packaging consumption, 2020-30 (‘000 tonnes)
- Global rigid plastic packaging consumption by region, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Global rigid plastic packaging sales by region, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Western Europe: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Western Europe: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Western Europe: rigid plastic packaging consumption by national market, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Western Europe: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Western Europe: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Western Europe: rigid plastic packaging consumption by production process, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Western Europe: rigid plastic packaging consumption by packaging product, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- France: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- France: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- France: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- France: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Germany: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Germany: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Germany: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Germany: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Italy: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Italy: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Italy: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Italy: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Spain: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Spain: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Spain: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Spain: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- UK: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- UK: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- UK: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- UK: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Other Western Europe: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Other Western Europe: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Other Western Europe: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Other Western Europe: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Eastern Europe: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Eastern Europe: rigid plastic packaging consumption by national market, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Eastern Europe: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Eastern Europe: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Eastern Europe: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Eastern Europe: rigid plastic packaging consumption by production process, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Eastern Europe: rigid plastic packaging consumption by packaging product, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Poland: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Poland: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Poland: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Poland: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Russia: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Russia: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Russia: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Russia: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Other Eastern Europe: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Other Eastern Europe: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Other Eastern Europe: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Other Eastern Europe: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Middle East: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Middle East: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Middle East: rigid plastic packaging consumption by national market, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Middle East: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Middle East: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Middle East: rigid plastic packaging consumption by production process, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Middle East: rigid plastic packaging consumption by packaging product, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Turkey: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Turkey: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Turkey: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Turkey: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Other Middle East: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Other Middle East: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Other Middle East: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Other Middle East: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Africa: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Africa: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Africa: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Africa: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Africa: rigid plastic packaging consumption by production process, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Africa: rigid plastic packaging consumption by packaging product, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- North America: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- North America: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- North America: rigid plastic packaging consumption by national market, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- North America: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- North America: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- North America: rigid plastic packaging consumption by production process, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- North America: rigid plastic packaging consumption by packaging product, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Canada: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Canada: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Canada: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Canada: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Mexico: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Mexico: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Mexico: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Mexico: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- US: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- US: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- US: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- US: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- South & Central America: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- South & Central America: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- South & Central America: rigid plastic packaging consumption by national market, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- South & Central America: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- South & Central America: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- South & Central America: rigid plastic packaging consumption by production process, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- South & Central America: rigid plastic packaging consumption by packaging product, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Brazil: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Brazil: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030, ($ million)
- Table 8.102: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Brazil: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Other South & Central America: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Other South & Central America: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Other South & Central America: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Other South & Central America: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Asia: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Asia: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Asia: rigid plastic packaging consumption by national market, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Asia: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Asia: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Asia: rigid plastic packaging consumption by production process, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Asia: rigid plastic packaging consumption by packaging product, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- China: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- China: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- China: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- China: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- India: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- India: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- India: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- India: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Japan: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Japan: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Japan: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Japan: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Other Asia: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Other Asia: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Other Asia: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Other Asia: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Australasia: economic and demographic data, 2020-2030
- Australasia: rigid plastic packaging market value, 2020-2030 ($ million)
- Australasia: rigid plastic packaging consumption by end use sector, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Australasia: rigid plastic packaging consumption by material, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Australasia: rigid plastic packaging consumption by production process, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
- Australasia: rigid plastic packaging consumption by packaging product, 2020-2030 (‘000 tonnes)
