Green packaging market seen doubling by 2031

A new Allied Market Research report says the global green packaging market will grow from $164.17 billion in 2020 to $337.54 billion by 2031, driven by consumer demand and tighter rules on nondegradable plastics. Food and beverage packaging leads the market now, while recycled content packaging remains the biggest segment.

Why it matters: - Green packaging is moving from a niche sustainability play to a major global packaging category. - The market’s projected growth signals more demand for recycled, reusable and degradable materials across food, personal care and healthcare. - Stricter rules on nondegradable plastics could speed adoption of alternatives and reshape packaging supply chains.

What happened: - Allied Market Research said the global green packaging market generated $164.17 billion in 2020. - The report projects the market will reach $337.54 billion by 2031. - The forecast implies a 6.6% compound annual growth rate from 2022 to 2031. - The report covers the market by application, packaging type, material and region.

The details: - Food & beverage and other applications accounted for more than three-fourths of the overall market share. - Personal care and healthcare are also listed as major application segments. - Recycled content packaging held the largest share, at nearly 60% of the market. - Reusable packaging and degradable packaging are the other packaging-type categories. - Paper, plastic, metal and other materials make up the material split in the report. - Bioplastics are described as an ecological alternative to oil-based polymers, with promising growth in pharmaceutical uses. - Oil-based polymers remain widely used but are nonbiodegradable and difficult to recycle or reuse when contaminated. - Biodegradable plastics were developed from renewable resources to address those drawbacks. - Reverse logistics in the packaging industry helps move municipal waste to recycling plants. - Europe is expected to lead the market over the forecast period, followed by North America. - North America and Asia-Pacific together accounted for more than half of the market in 2020. - The report lists Amcor Limited, DuPont, Mondi Limited, Sealed Air Corporation, TetraPak International S.A., Ardagh Group Co., PlastiPak Holdings, Bemis Company, Uflex Limited and ELOPAK AS as leading players.

Between the lines: - Consumer awareness around sustainability is now a core growth driver, not just a branding advantage. - High production and setup costs still slow adoption, especially where government recycling subsidies are limited. - The report’s regional split suggests Europe is benefiting most from policy pressure, while North America and Asia-Pacific remain major demand centers.

What's next: - The report sees stronger demand ahead for recycled packaging products. - Government restrictions on nondegradable plastics could create more room for biodegradable and reusable formats. - Bioplastics may gain more traction in pharmaceutical packaging if current growth trends continue. - Allied Market Research is offering sample, purchase-enquiry and discount links for the report, including requesting a sample report, purchasing the report and submitting a purchase enquiry.

The bottom line: - Green packaging is on track for steady expansion through 2031 as regulation, recycling demand and consumer pressure push the market toward lower-waste materials.