Molded Pulp Packaging Market

Updated on : July 11, 2024

Molded Pulp Packaging Market

The global molded pulp packaging market was valued at USD 4.6 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 5.7 billion by 2027, growing at 4.3% cagr from 2022 to 2027. The market is growing due to the end-use industries such as food & beverages, food service, healthcare, electronics and others. Hence, the rapid growth of these industries is expected to contribute to the development of the market.

Attractive Opportunities in Molded Pulp Packaging Market

Note:e-estimated,p-projected.

Source: Expert Interviews, Secondary Sources, and MarketsandMarkets Analysis

To know about the assumptions considered for the study, Request for Free Sample Report

Molded Pulp Packaging Market Dynamics

Driver: Sustainability of molded fiber pulp

Molded fiber pulp is made completely from scrap or recycled material. The molded fiber pulp is recycled and remade with normal papers. This drives the market for molded fiber pulp in the packaging industry. Continuous research and innovation in production are expected to fuel the demand for molded fiber pulp packaging which is used as protective packaging during storage and transportation and also to overcome concerns about sustainability.

Restraint: Stringent rules and regulations

Growing concerns related to the environmental impact of packaging waste have led governments in adopting stringent policies. Various concerns related to greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing plants are also creating several hindrances in the manufacture of high-quality raw materials. Standard tests are also performed to validate the packaging system’s ability to adhere to the regulations mandated by the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) standards which focus upon specific concerns of transportation packaging such as shock, vibration, and compression.

Opportunity: Emerging economies such as Brazil, India, and China provide significant opportunities for the logistics of molded fiber pulp packaging that offer protection to products. These countries also have extensive availability of raw materials for the molded fiber pulp packaging market. Strong economic development in China and India has provided a stimulus for manufacturing sectors including food & beverages, electronics & appliances, and healthcare. This market is driven by the growing usage of packaging across a range of electronics, particularly in smartphones, laptops, and other gadgets.

Challenge: Fluctuation in prices of raw material

The molded pulp packaging market is facing challenges in the form of fluctuations in the prices of raw materials. The packaging industry is trying to cope with these challenges by undertaking innovative research & development activities. The increasing prices of raw materials such as wood and non-wood pulp and paper adversely affect operations in the molded pulp packaging industry. In addition to the key raw materials, the prices of other raw materials such as water and fuel are also increasing due to weather conditions, market fluctuations, exchange rates, currency control, and government control.

Molded Pulp Packaging Market Ecosystem

Thick wall segment is projected to grow at a highest CAGR from 2022 to 2027, in terms of volume

Thick wall molded pulp packaging has a thickness of 3/16 to 3/18 inches. It is manufactured with a single mold and is primarily used for support packaging for non-fragile and heavier items such as vehicle parts, furniture, and motors. Manufacturers are also using it to make plants, floral, and nursery pots and containers. This type of molded pulp packaging has a moderately smooth finished surface, while the other side is coarse. Thick wall molded pulp packages are mainly used for packaging non-fragile and heavy items.

Wood pulp segment is projected to dominate from 2022 to 2027, in terms of volume

Wood pulp can be soft wood or hardwood pulp. Molded pulp items are generally produced by mixing water with wood pulp made either from virgin fibers or recovered paper and paperboard; for instance, old newspapers, with a consistency commonly of 4% to 1% by weight. The pulp recipe depends mainly upon the surface quality and stiffness properties required to manufacture the product and its application. Soft wood pulp offers excellent strength to the product, whereas hard wood pulp enhances the sustainability of the packaging.

Trays segment to lead market from 2022 to 2027, in terms of volume

Trays are widely used in the food packaging industry to pack meat, fish, frozen food, fruits & vegetables, bakery items, and confectionery products as well as for food service packaging. They also have applications in the medical and pharmaceutical industries for packaging medicines, surgical instruments, and medical devices.

Healthcare segment projected to grow at highest cagr from 2022 to 2027, in terms of volume

Molded fiber pulp packaging is an effective packaging for the temperature sensitive and fragile products in healthcare industry. Healthcare products, such as pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and life science products, are required to be protected from external conditions such as light and moisture as well as contamination and physical damage, as these can alter the quality of products. Trays are the widely used molded pulp packaging products in the healthcare sector.

Molded pulp packaging market in india projected to grow at highest CAGR

The packaging industry in India is driven by new product launches by local packaging players, growth of the food packaging industry in the country, and the growth of the middle-class population. However, consumers in this country are still costconscious and are always on the lookout for cost-effective alternatives, which could prove to be a barrier to the growth of the molded fiber pulp packaging market.

To know about the assumptions considered for the study, download the pdf brochure

Molded Pulp Packaging Market Industry Players

Huhtamaki Oyj (Finland), Sonoco Products Co. (US), Fabri-Kal (US), Genpak LLC (US), UFP Technologies (US), Sabert Corporation (US), Brodrene Hartmann A/S (Denmark), and Pro-Pac Packaging (Australia) among others are some of the major players operating in the global market.

Read More: Molded Pulp Packaging Companies

Molded Pulp Packaging Market Report Scope

This research report categorizes the global molded fiber pulp packaging market on the basis of Molded Type, Source, Product Type, End Use, and Region

Molded pulp packaging market by Molded Type

• Thick Wall
• Transfer Molded
• Thermoformed Fiber
• Processed Pulp

Molded pulp packaging market industry by Source

• Wood pulp
• Non wood pulp

Molded pulp packaging market by Product

• Food
• Trays
• Clamshells
• Cups
• Plates
• Bowls
• Others

Molded pulp packaging market by End Use

• Food Service Disposables
• Food Packaging
• Healthcare
• Electronics
• Others

Molded pulp packaging market industry by Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific (APAC)
• South America
• Middle East
• Africa

The market has been further analyzed for the key countries in each of these regions.

Recent Developments

• In 2022 Huhtamaki Oyj invested in the sustainable packaging fund run by Emerald Technology Ventures AG, which focuses on cutting-edge sustainable packaging technologies.
• In 2022, Sonoco Products Company stated that it acquired the remaining one-third stake from private investors in the joint venture, Sonoco do Brasil Participacoes, Ltda, which produces flexible packaging in Brazil.
• In 2021, UFP Technologies Inc. acquired Das Medical Inc. This acquisition is expected to be able to accelerate the development of UFP technologies in the future with the help of UFP’s sales engine, development engineers, and the expanding technological portfolio of Das medical Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

To speak to our analyst for a discussion on the above findings, click Speak to Analyst