United Kingdom Plastic Packaging Market Size, Share, Trends: By Material: Polyethylene (PE), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS) and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Others; By Product: Rigid, Flexible; By End Use: Food, Beverage, Others; Competitive Landscape; 2024-2032

United Kingdom Plastic Packaging Market Outlook

The United Kingdom plastic packaging market size reached approximately USD 15.12 billion in 2023. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.6% between 2024 and 2032, reaching a value of around USD 19.17 billion by 2032.

Key Takeaways

• Nearly 5 million tonnes of plastics are used annually in the UK, half of which is used in packaging.

• As part of waste management strategies across the United Kingdom, councils provide plastics recycling collection.

• The UK government aims to make all plastic packaging solutions reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025.

Plastic packaging is a type of packaging that is manufactured from plastic and mainly consists of bottles, jars, containers, and wrappers, among others. It is lightweight, affordable, and versatile packaging that protects the products from contamination, extends their shelf life, and facilitates hygienic transportation.

There is an increasing use of plastic packaging solutions in different sectors like food and beverages and cosmetics and personal care, among others, due to their safety, versatility, durability, and moisture and humidity resistance, among others. The rising trend of recycling and reprocessing flexible plastic packaging due to the introduction of favourable government initiatives like the UK Plastics Pact vision is one of the prominent trends favouring the United Kingdom plastic packaging market growth.

Key Trends and Developments

Increasing shift towards fully recyclable plastic packaging; the rising use of innovative extrusion processes; bioplastic packaging advancements; and the development of smart packaging are positively impacting the market growth

Mar 28th 2023

UKRI’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging (SSPP) Challenge announced funding of GBP 3.2 million to support the UK Plastics Pact and encourage the sustainability of plastic packaging.

Sep 30th 2022

Mondelez International announced that its Cadbury Mini Snowballs and Cadbury Dairy Milk 110g sharing bars sold in the UK and Ireland are packaged using 30% recycled plastic.

Jun 22nd 2022

Tesco and Heinz partnered with SABIC, Plastic Energy, and Berry Global to launch various sustainable packaging innovations made from recycled soft plastic waste.

May 19th 2022

The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) launched a multi-million-pound project, FlexCollect, to support the recycling and collection of flexible plastic packaging.

Shift towards fully recyclable plastic packaging solutions

There is an emerging shift towards recyclable plastic packaging and various government initiatives are promoting recycling and reprocessing of flexible plastic packaging.

Increasing implementation of innovative extrusion processes in plastic packaging

With the rising demand for flexible plastic packaging, innovative extrusion processes that can create diverse shapes and sizes of packaging solutions are increasingly used.

Advancements in bioplastic packaging solutions

The development of bioplastics with waste raw materials, improved mechanical properties, and added biodegradable materials, is revolutionising the United Kingdom plastic packaging market growth.

The development of smart plastic packaging

Smart plastic packaging integrated with sensors, NFC tags, and QR codes aimed at enhancing customer experience and improving plastic packaging recyclability are aiding the market.

Increased implementation of innovative extrusion processes in the production of plastic packaging to create a wide array of shapes and sizes depending upon the requirement is a crucial trend aiding the United Kingdom plastic packaging market expansion. Such processes offer benefits such as cost-efficiency, high output rate, and consistent quality throughout the batches.

Growing usage of plastic bottle packaging as an alternative to glass bottle packaging in the wine sector is also expected to favour the United Kingdom plastic packaging market demand in the coming years. For example, in January 2024, Boisset, a French-based wine group, announced that it aims to trial light packaging formats such as recycled PET bottles for its wine in the UK as it attempts to offer a convenient and lightweight shipping solution.

Market Segmentation

“United Kingdom Plastic Packaging Market Report and Forecast 2024-2032” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:

Market Breakup by Material

• Polyethylene (PE)

• Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

• Polypropylene (PP)

• Polystyrene (PS) and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)

• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

• Others

Market Bifurcation by Product

• Rigid
  • Bottles and Jars
  • Cans
  • Trays and Containers
  • Caps and Closures
  • Others
• Flexible
  • Wraps and Films
  • Bags
  • Pouches
  • Others

Market Division by End Use

• Food

• Beverage

• Healthcare

• Cosmetics and Personal Care

• Others

The demand for rigid packaging is expected to increase due to its cost-effectiveness and lightweight

Rigid plastic packaging occupies a significant portion of the United Kingdom plastic packaging market share, due to the growing demand for plastic bottles in the beverages sector as they are lightweight, economical, and convenient to carry. Similarly, plastic trays and containers are also gaining prominence in the food sector, owing to their high durability and portability.

Rigid packaging also offers excellent protection to the products from air, heat, and moisture and preserves their quality, which further boosts the segment growth. Meanwhile, flexible plastic packaging solutions are expected to gain substantial demand in the coming years as they offer customisation options to businesses and boast reduced production costs.

The use of plastic packaging in the food and beverage sector is growing, aided to its ability to provide optimal protection to food products

As per the United Kingdom plastic packaging market analysis, the food and beverage sector accounts for a major market share as plastic packaging can be efficiently engineered to provide optimal protection to food products and ensure their freshness for a long time. Several food and beverage companies are readily adopting recycled plastic packaging for their products to address environmental concerns and promote sustainability in the country.

Furthermore, the cosmetics and personal care sector is also anticipated to witness sizeable growth in the coming years, owing to the rising usage of PET bottles in packaging skin care and cosmetic products to prevent any chemical reactions.

Competitive Landscape

Major players in the market are increasingly attempting to enhance the recyclability and sustainability profile of plastic packaging

Amcor plc

Amcor plcm founded in 1896 and based in Zurich, Switzerland, is a global packaging company. The company offers its products in the sectors of food and beverage, homecare, healthcare, personal care, and pet care, among others.

Coveris Management GmbH

Coveris Management GmbH, incorporated in 2013 and based in Vienna, Austria, is a packaging solution provider. Some of its popular products include adhesive laminates, barrier films, board trays, and chain bags, among others.

Berry Global Inc.

Berry Global Inc. is a plastic packaging company, established in 1967 and headquartered in Indiana, the United States. It offers its products in sectors like agriculture, animal and pet care, beauty and personal care, healthcare, and home care, among others.

Coda Plastics Limited

Coda Plastics is a prominent UK-based manufacturer of plastic packaging solutions like caps, bottles, and closures for use in different applications. Its production facility based in Norfolk can manufacture nearly 20 million plastic packaging units per month.

Other key players in the United Kingdom plastic packaging market are Constantia Flexibles International GmbH, Polystar Plastics Ltd., Charpak Ltd., Wipak Group, and Tyler Packaging Limited, among others.

Key Highlights of the Report

*At Expert Market Research, we strive to always give you current and accurate information. The numbers depicted in the description are indicative and may differ from the actual numbers in the final EMR report.