Global market value of sustainable plastic packaging 2022-2032

The global sustainable packaging market was valued at 276 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, almost a quarter of the 1.2 trillion U.S. dollar global packaging market value. The sustainable packaging market value is forecast to reach nearly 500 billion U.S. dollars by 2032, as the industry evolves and integrates innovations. 

Sustainable packaging materials

Sustainable packaging, sometimes referred to as green packaging, consists of a range of materials, including bio-based plastics, metal, and glass. These materials can be more easily broken down and recycled, improving environmental conditions and enabling national and international climate goals to be met.

Future outlook for sustainability in the packaging industry

In a global survey carried out in 2023, consumer perceptions on the environmental sustainability of packaging ranked compostable packaging as the number one quality that a sustainable packaging product should have. There is considerable pressure on packaging industries, such as the plastic packaging industry, to improve environmental credentials. For instance, in 2021, only 40.3 percent of plastic packaging waste in the European Union was recycled, with the remainder going to landfill or being incinerated.