Summary

Since 2020, the global plastic packaging market has undergone significant change. In 2021, despite the impact of the pandemic on various sectors such as cosmetics, the French plastic packaging market grew in the second quarter, with a marked increase in the cosmetics packaging segment. The medical and pharmaceutical segment also stabilized, following a sharp rise during the health crisis. Food packaging remained stable, underlining the role of plastic packaging as an essential component in all industries.

Globally, the market was valued at $355 billion in 2021, with forecasts of a 4.2% CAGR leading to a value of $550.1 billion by 2030. The Asia-Pacific region dominated the market, with a share of over 43.1% in 2021. Regulatory changes, environmental concerns and consumer preferences for eco-friendly solutions are reshaping the market, as evidenced by European and French laws banning or restricting certain types of plastic packaging and setting recycling targets.

Consumer trends in France also point to a growing demand for sustainable packaging options. Although the market faced challenges with the advent of COVID-19, production rebounded strongly, reaching sales of 9.79 billion euros in 2022. Despite growth, the market has experienced a degree of concentration, with the number of companies falling to 555 by 2022, and employment in the sector declining.

France's trade balance also remains in deficit, with a coverage ratio down 7.5 points between 2021 and 2022, due to imports outstripping exports. Regulations and consumer sentiment are driving the industry towards more sustainable practices, including recycling, the use of natural or recycled materials, and general green behavior in consumption patterns.

Changing consumer preferences and the rise of eco-design in the French plastic packaging market

In recent years, the French plastic packaging market has been characterized by a dynamic interplay between traditional demand for versatile, cost-effective packaging solutions and consumers' growing preference for sustainable, eco-friendly options. With a marked shift towards environmental awareness, French consumers have voiced their concerns about plastic pollution. This is reflected in their approach to purchasing habits, with a significant proportion of consumers prepared to pay a little more for products with environmentally-friendly packaging. Trends in the French market reflect this change: cosmetics packaging has seen an unexpected surge in demand after the drop recorded during the pandemic, while necessities such as medical and pharmaceutical packaging are stabilizing, and food packaging continues to see sustained activity.

Although the presence of other European manufacturers poses a competitive threat, the French market has shown resilience and growth, with a notable rebound in the second quarter of 2021. The importance of the food industry cannot be overstated, as it accounts for over half of all plastic packaging sales, indicating its massive influence on the market. What's more, overall growth in France, although slower than in Europe, rebounded significantly after the pandemic crisis, with sales reaching between 9 and 10 billion euros in 2022. Consumer behavior has shifted strongly towards products with recyclable packaging, a trend reflected in their active participation in waste sorting, with a remarkable 90% of survey participants indicating that they regularly engage in recycling activities.

The regulatory environment is also undergoing a transformation, with stringent EU and national laws aimed at reducing plastic waste and promoting recycling. This growing regulatory pressure and consumer demand for greener products present both challenges and opportunities for manufacturers in the French market. Faced with changing market dynamics, the French plastic packaging sector has seen a notable concentration of players, with a decrease in the number of companies but a growing dominance of large groups. This consolidation is driven by the need to invest significantly in production technologies and achieve economies of scale.

The plastic packaging industry is also influenced by the different production methods available, such as injection molding, thermoforming and extrusion. Manufacturers have to strike a balance between product complexity, production scale and profitability, which is further complicated by price volatility due to external factors such as the conflict in Ukraine, which has led to an inflationary situation.

In conclusion, the French plastic packaging market is undergoing a significant evolution, with demand trends leaning towards sustainability, a consolidating market structure, and manufacturers facing both regulatory and consumer pressure to innovate.

Key players in the plastic packaging market

In the dynamic landscape of the plastic packaging market, several notable companies stand out for their influential role and specialist expertise. Exploring the contributions and activities of each of these companies highlights not only their individual importance, but also the complex tapestry that makes up the competitive field of plastic packaging.

  • Scellé Air France stands out as a formidable manufacturer of plastic packaging solutions. Its expertise lies in creating innovative packaging that guarantees product safety and improves shelf life, responding to market demand for reliable, safe packaging.

  • With a focus on sustainable development and ecological options, Guillin Emballages (Guillin Group) aims to strike a balance between practical packaging solutions and respect for the environment, highlighting their adaptability and forward-thinking approach in a market that increasingly values green initiatives.

  • APTAR FRANCE SAS is a key player with a global footprint in distribution systems, offering a range of packaging options that boast both functionality and aesthetics. The company serves a wide range of markets, including the beauty, pharmaceutical, food and beverage sectors.

  • U.S.-based Alpha Packaging is renowned for its specialization in plastic bottles and jars for the nutrition, pharmaceuticals, personal care and niche food and beverage markets. Its products are distinguished by the quality and versatility they offer customers worldwide.

  • Part of the Japanese multinational conglomerate, Toray Films Europe brings high-tech solutions to the market with its range of films and plastic packaging options, reflecting the sophistication and technological advancement synonymous with the Toray brand.

  • Linpac Packaging Pontivy combines innovation with practicality, offering a diverse set of plastic packaging options designed to meet the needs of the food industry, demonstrating its strategic alignment with one of the market's key sectors.

  • Operating under a new identity, Reborn Holding (formerly Excelrise) prides itself not only on producing flexible plastic packaging, but also on its strong commitment to plastic recycling. Its work in the field of the circular economy positions it well in the face of growing environmental concerns.

  • Silgan Dispensing provides a variety of dispensing solutions for the fragrance, beauty, healthcare and garden care markets. Their products add value to consumer goods through user-friendly designs and ergonomic features.

  • Amcor (France) is part of a global packaging giant renowned for its innovative and sustainable packaging solutions in a variety of industries, reinforcing the sector's move towards environmentally-friendly practices.

  • Finally, Mondi (France) enriches the market with its customer-centric packaging solutions.
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  • Number of pages : 30 pages
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  • Last update : 16/10/2023
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Summary and extracts

1 Market overview

1.1 Overview of the plastic packaging market

Plastic packaging is ubiquitous in the retail sector, and is used to display, preserve and transport consumer products such as cosmetics, food products (fruit and vegetables, meat, etc.) and cleaning products.

As with cardboard packaging, which is expanding mainly thanks to e-commerce, plastic packaging has also become indispensable, thanks to its versatility, which enables us to produce packaging of varying rigidity, transparency and complexity.

In 2021, French plastic packaging manufacturers finally returned to growth in the second quarter.

The cosmetics packaging segment posted the strongest growth. The fact that the majority of manufacturers are reporting a jump or stabilization in their activity is unexpected (but we'll explain why later in the study), given that the pandemic caused a sharp decline in the cosmetics market, and in make-up in particular. The trend now seems to be reversing, as the prospect of further confinements recedes.

Two-thirds of plastic medical and pharmaceutical packaging manufacturers reported stable business in the second quarter of 2021 compared with the previous quarter. 29% of players saw their business increase, and only 4% reported a decrease. After exploding during the health crisis, demand for medical and pharmaceutical packaging finally appears to be stabilizing.

Manufacturers of plastic food packaging, for their part, reported more stable business than in other segments. in fact, 62% of them feel that their business has remained stable compared with the first quarter of 2021, compared with 31% who report an increase. Only 7% are experiencing a slowdown in business.

However, the sector is relatively fragile in France, given the presence of German, Italian and Spanish plastic packaging manufacturers. Over the past 10 years, this has led to a significant concentration of players in the sector, with a dozen or so major groups now controlling most of the market.

However, new growth drivers exist for smaller players, as French consumer habits are tending to evolve towards greater consideration of eco-design for packaging. With European environmental regulations, this is a major challenge for a sector that absolutely must develop more environmentally-friendly plastic packaging.

This market study includes an interview with a market expert: Sébastien Wolff, Managing Director of Reborn

1.2 The global plastic packaging market: estimates point to strong growth in the sector

The size of the global plastic packaging market

The global plastic packaging market size was valued at $***.* billion in **** and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (***) of *. *% from **** to ****.[***]

Evolution of the global plastic packaging market size World, ****-****, in billions of US dollars Source: ****

By ****, the ...

1.3 A recovering French market

The French plastic packaging market is particularly dependent on the outlook for the following customer segments:

Cosmetics Food industry Cleaning products

Food industry products are particularly important, accounting for **.*% of packaging sales. [***]

Market growth is much lower in France than in Europe, averaging just *.*% per year over the period **** - ****.[***]

plastic ...

1.4 Foreign trade

International trade in plastic packaging France, ****, millions of euros Source: ****

Thanks to the graph above, we can notice several things. Firstly, in ****, exports were up In fact, between **** and ****, French imports of plastic packaging rose by **.**%, from *.** billion euros in **** to *.** billion euros in ****.

Exports rose by **.**%. From *.** billion euros in ...

1.5 The impact of the Covid-19 crisis

However, the Covid-** crisis has benefited some plastic packaging companies, which have seen their business increase since March ****. This is particularly the case for manufacturers of packaging for food distributors, with over **% of companies experiencing an increase in activity of over **%. [***]

While a certain cyclicality seems inherent to the market (***).

The ...

2 Demand analysis

2.1 French consumer preferences

European demand for plastic packaging

Packaging is the leading sector for plastic demand in Europe, accounting for **.*% of total plastic demand.

Plastic demand, by sector Europe, ****, as % of total demand Source: ****

Note that the share of plastic demand associated with the packaging sector has fallen slightly compared to **** (***). The construction sector ...

2.2 Consumers increasingly sensitive to eco-friendly packaging

Every year, French retailers invest *.* million euros in making plastic packaging more environmentally friendly. These investments reflect the importance that these distributors must attach to these issues today, as consumer concerns evolve, directly or indirectly influencing their purchasing habits. [***]

However, retailers are finding it difficult to change their practices, as **% of ...

2.3 Deposits: the future of plastic packaging?

In view of the environmental problems posed by today's use of disposable packaging, deposits are often seen as a solution. It's a solution that appeals to many consumers:

"Would you be in favor of introducing a deposit system in France?" France, ****, in Source: ****

The vast majority of respondents (***) would be ...

3 Market structure

3.1 Market organization and dynamics

The plastic packaging manufacturing sector is made up of a multitude of players, each with a clearly defined role. Manufacturers are generally responsible for the design and manufacture of packaging, in line with the specifications set by their customers. [***]

The packaging thus produced is then shipped to customers, who use it ...

3.2 A wide range of production methods

Average annual production of plastic packaging rose slightly over the period **** - ****, by an average of *.*% each year. However, it fell between **** and ****, demonstrating the uncertainties weighing on the sector even before the crisis of ****.

In ****, production began to rise again, and this has continued into **** , although the pre-pandemic level has ...

3.3 Interview with Sebastien Wolff, Excelrise CEO

Cantiane: Hello and welcome to Vue d'ensemble, the podcast that gives you a **-minute insight into the challenges facing a market. My name is Cantiane and I'm an analyst at Businesscoot, a start-up specializing in market research. Today, we're going to talk about the plastic packaging market, and to do so, ...

4 Offer analysis

4.1 A wide range of plastic packaging products

Plastic packaging can take a variety of forms, the main ones being[***] :

flexible films ; formed sheets ; hollow bodies (***) ; foams; compact molded shapes.

The following table lists the prices of six plastic food paper products[***]:

4.2 Price trends

The graph below clearly illustrates the inflation experienced in France, and more broadly in Europe, since the start of the war in Ukraine, and the consequence of very low interest rates during the crisis.Since July ****, the index has been rising steadily, reaching a record high in March ****. However, according to ...

5 Regulations

5.1 Regulatory environment for plastic packaging

Given that plastic packaging is used for the presentation and preservation of many consumer products, it is subject to relatively strict regulations to avoid any risk to the consumer.

According to EC regulation n°****/****, plastic packaging must not present a health risk or alter the composition of foodstuffs (***). [***]

All products that ...

5.2 Unfavorable regulatory trends for plastics

Between **** and ****, a number of laws were passed at national and European level, which constrain manufacturers of plastic packaging in several ways:

The EGALIM law, passed in **** and coming into force in ****, prohibits the provision of cutlery, glass lids, ice cream pots and other disposable products, except those that are compostable ...

5.3 The AGEC law (Anti-waste for a circular economy)

Promulgated in early ****, the so-called AGEC law aims to transform consumption patterns to combat waste, reduce waste production and impact on biodiversity. In concrete terms, it comprises over *** articles, structured around * themes:

getting rid of disposable plastic ; better informing consumers ; combating waste and promoting solidarity-based re-use; acting against programmed obsolescence; better ...

List of charts

  • Trends in the size of the global plastic packaging market
  • Breakdown of the plastic packaging market by category
  • Worldwide share of the plastic packaging market
  • Breakdown of plastics demand
  • Breakdown of demand by type of plastic
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Latest news

Guillin takes over Italian food packaging specialist Ciesse Paper. - 31/10/2022
  • Europe's leading producer of plastic trays acquires Ciesse Paper, Italy's number 1 producer of cardboard trays for fruit and vegetables
  • The group has 31 subsidiaries in Europe, including 9 in the paperboard sector
  • 3,000 employees
  • Family-owned group listed on Euronext
  • Consolidated sales of 741 million euros by 2021
Aptar invests 42 million euros in Oyonnax - 01/07/2023
  • Aptar Group has eight sites in France, mainly in Normandy, Alsace, Île-de-France and Auvergne Rhône-Alpes.
  • The company has invested 42 million euros in its Oyonnax site (Ain)
  • From 2020 to 2024, Aptar Group has invested over 174 million euros in France.
  • Aptar Group has also invested in France in an "InVision Lab" innovation center in Louveciennes (Yvelines), and at its sites in Niederbronn-les-Bains (Bas-Rhin) and Le Vaudreuil/Val-de-Reuil (Eure)
Beauty: Aptar boosts its Oyonnax plant | Aptar boosts its Oyonnax plant - 31/08/2023
  • Aptar, the American specialist in health and beauty packaging, has moved into its €42 million plant in Oyonnax (Ain), in the Plastics Valley
  • More than half of Aptar's customers are in Europe.
  • The plant serves 2,400 customers worldwide.
  • The plant employs 460 people
  • Aptar's sales for the first half of 2023 were $1.7 billion
  • Aptar has 49 plants, including 12 in France. Aptar plans to invest 133 million euros in Granville.

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Berry Global France
Amcor
Mondi France
Sealed Air France
Plastipak Packaging France
Silgan Dispensing France
Toray Films Europe
Linpac Packaging (Klöckner Pentaplast)
Albea Tubes France
Rkw Group
Coveris
Guillin Emballages (Groupe Guillin)

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