This report provides comprehensive and current information of the food packaging trends market including food packaging analysis, food packaging market size, anticipated market forecast, relevant market segmentation, and industry trends for food packaging in the US.

Current food packaging market landscape

Even as consumers look for savings and value amid rapidly rising food prices, they express concern for the environmental impact of food packaging and increasingly expect food manufacturers to make environmentally responsible choices. In turn, the challenge for manufacturers and retailers is to make good on sustainability goals in spite of continued supply chain disruption and rising prices for packaging materials.

Market share and key industry trends

  • Pandemic upends packaging supply chain
    Two years of pandemic-related disruptions and rising metal/oil prices has completely upended the packaging industry, forcing brands to pay more for packaging materials and, at least in the short term, making it more difficult to deliver on innovation.
  • Sustainable packaging is becoming an expectation
    Even as shoppers turn their attention to saving money amid rapidly rising prices, they hold food and drink manufacturers responsible for making eco-friendly choices.
  • An opportunity to bridge value and sustainability
    Packaging that keeps food fresher longer can help reduce food waste, a priority for retailers and shoppers alike with the potential to yield both economic and environmental benefits.

Emerging trends in food packaging

Consumer food packaging innovation can contribute to the reduction of food waste, a priority for both consumers and retailers with potential to yield both environmental and economic benefits.

Read on to discover more about the food packaging industry trends consumer market, read our US The Role of Packaging in an Online Marketplace Market Report 2019, or take a look at our other Packaged Groceries research reports.

Quickly understand

  • How supply-chain disruption is impacting food packaging.
  • Steps retailers and brands are taking to reduce the environmental impact of food packaging.
  • Consumer attitudes and behaviors toward food packaging.

Covered in this food packaging market report

Brands include: Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s, Kroger, Aldi, Sam’s Club, Simple Truth, Häagen-Dazs, YouTube.

Expert food packaging research from a specialist in the field

This report, written by John Owen, a leading analyst in the Food and Retail sector, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis on food packaging market research to highlight current trends and add expert context to the numbers.

Shoppers may not always give packaging top-of-mind attention, but they acknowledge the important role packaging plays in sustainability and hold food and drink manufacturers responsible for making environmentally responsible decisions. Packaging can also contribute to preventing food waste, a priority for both retailers and shoppers with economic and environmental implications.
John Owen, Associate Director, Food and Retail
John Owen
Associate Director, Food and Retail

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  1. Overview

    • What you need to know
    • This Report looks at the following areas
    • Definition
    • Market context

  2. Executive Summary

    • Top takeaways
    • Opportunities and challenges
    • For food brands, packaging is a focal point for sustainability
      • Figure 1: Interest in food and drink sustainable packaging claims, 2022
    • Shoppers hold manufacturers responsible for eco-friendly choices
      • Figure 2: Responsibility for environmentally friendly food and drink choices, 2019-22
    • Food waste reduction could help bridge sustainability and value
      • Figure 3: Attitudes toward food and packaging waste, 2022
    • Key consumer insights
    • Actual behavior lags behind concern for environmental impact of packaging
    • Strong interest in packaging features that minimize food waste
    • Shoppers prioritize expiration date, signaling importance of freshness
    • Bulk packaging and refills could help to counter rising prices
    • Younger shoppers look for ethical and sustainability claims on pack

  3. Market Factors

    • Supply chain challenges disrupt the entire packaging industry
    • New legislation focuses on reducing, reusing and recycling
      • Figure 4: Trended responsibility for environmentally friendly food and drink choices, 2019-22
    • Aging population indicates need for inclusive packaging
      • Figure 5: Population by age, 2016-26
      • Figure 6: Median age of the population, 1990-2050
    • Economic anxieties rise following record inflation
      • Figure 7: Consumer Price Index change from previous period, 2007-22
      • Figure 8: Consumer confidence index, 2018-22
    • Sustainability and value clash
      • Figure 9: Mintel global trend drivers driving US consumer behavior, sustainability and value, 2022

  4. Competitive Strategies and Market Opportunities

    • Sustainable packaging plays key role in Sam’s Club restage
    • Kroger looks to boost packaging reuse in in-store pilot with Loop
    • Packaging, coupled with clear communication, can help reduce food waste
    • New packaging gains share of total food launches
      • Figure 10: Share of food launches, by launch type, 2017-22
      • Figure 11: Launch type share, by food category, May 2021-April 2022

  5. The Food Packaging Consumer – Fast Facts

    • Shoppers link packaging and sustainability
    • Shoppers expect manufacturers to do the right thing by the environment
    • Food waste becoming a high-priority issue
    • Shoppers want to see expiration date on the front of the package
    • Education could help turn shoppers’ good intentions into action

  6. Sustainability-Oriented Behaviors

    • Actual behavior lags behind concern for environmental impact of packaging
      • Figure 12: Sustainability-oriented behaviors, 2022
    • Younger shoppers more likely to take sustainable packaging into account
      • Figure 13: Sustainability-oriented behaviors, 2022

  7. Interest in Sustainable Packaging Claims

    • In shoppers’ eyes, packaging plays a key role in sustainability
      • Figure 14: Interest in food and drink sustainable packaging claims, 2022
    • Packaging-related sustainability factors hold appeal across retail channels
      • Figure 15: Interest in food and drink sustainable packaging claims, by primary food and drink retailer, 2022

  8. Responsibility for Eco-friendly Packaging Choices

    • Shoppers hold manufacturers responsible for eco-friendly choices
      • Figure 16: Responsibility for environmentally friendly food and drink choices, 2019-22
    • An opportunity for brands to build trust around packaging sustainability
      • Figure 17: Sources for sustainability information, 2022

  9. Interest in Food Packaging Features

    • Strong interest in minimizing food waste
    • Functional features draw moderate interest
      • Figure 18: Interest in food packaging features, 2022
    • Older shoppers look to minimize food waste, maximize accessibility
      • Figure 19: Interest in food packaging features, by age, 2022

  10. Food Label Communication Preferences

    • Shoppers prioritize expiration date, signalling importance of freshness
      • Figure 20: Food label communication preferences, 2022
    • Younger shoppers look for ethical, sustainability claims
      • Figure 21: Food label communication preferences – Preferred on front of package, by age, 2022

  11. Attitudes toward Food Packaging

    • Education could help turn shoppers’ good intentions into action
    • Food waste reduction could help bridge sustainability and value
      • Figure 22: Attitudes toward food and drink packaging – Sustainability, 2022
    • Bulk packaging and refills could help to counter rising prices
      • Figure 23: Attitudes toward food and drink packaging – Value and savings, 2022
    • Younger shoppers express interest in convenience-oriented packaging
      • Figure 24: Attitudes toward food and drink packaging – Convenience features, by age, 2022

  12. Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations

    • Data sources
    • Consumer survey data
    • Abbreviations and terms
    • Abbreviations
    • Terms

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