Global paper packaging industry - statistics & facts
The history of paper packaging dates back centuries to Ancient China, but it wasn't until the Industrial Revolution that the mass production of packaging solutions like cardboard and corrugated boxes began. In the twentieth century, the popularity of paper packaging soared, becoming a staple in various industries including food, consumer electronics, and protective packaging.
The increase in paperboard packaging production in recent decades has mainly come from China, which is now the world’s leading packaging paper and paperboard producer. In 2000, China produced 17.4 million metric tons of packaging paper and paperboard, and by 2022 its annual output had quadrupled to 79.07 million metric tons.
Paper packaging is considered more sustainable than plastic. Because of this, several major companies such as Apple have shifted towards using mostly paperboard packaging for their products.
Rising demand for paper packaging
With the rise of digitization, many feared that the paper industry would be rendered obsolete, but the paper packaging sector has not only weathered the storm but also experienced significant growth. Although the increased use of digital media has caused global graphics paper production to fall more than 30 percent since 2010, packaging paper and paperboard production has increased considerably during this period to a high of 266.5 million metric tons in 2021 and a value of 265.03 million metric tons in 2022. One of the biggest drivers of this growth has been the rise of e-commerce.The increase in paperboard packaging production in recent decades has mainly come from China, which is now the world’s leading packaging paper and paperboard producer. In 2000, China produced 17.4 million metric tons of packaging paper and paperboard, and by 2022 its annual output had quadrupled to 79.07 million metric tons.
What are the main types of paper packaging?
Some of the main types of paper packaging include folding cartons, paper bags and sacks, and corrugated boxes. Corrugated boxes are commonly used for shipping heavy goods due to their high strength. Containerboard is used to manufacture corrugated boxes and is the most consumed paper type worldwide. Containerboard consumption is projected to continue rising over the next decade, reaching 226 million tons by 2032.Paper packaging is considered more sustainable than plastic. Because of this, several major companies such as Apple have shifted towards using mostly paperboard packaging for their products.
