Last Updated: 28 Jul 2025
Source: Statifacts
The global secondary packaging market size accounted for USD 52.18 billion in 2024 and is predicted to touch around USD 92.53 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 5.89% from 2025 to 2034. The secondary packaging market is experiencing growth driven by local considerations, including e-commerce growth, sustainability, and technological advancements. The key sectors include pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and global logistics. Smart packaging, automation, and personalization ensure that packages remain safe and secure from production to delivery.
| Reports Attributes | Statistics |
| Market Size in 2024 | USD 52.18 Billion |
| Market Size in 2025 | USD 54.81 Billion |
| Market Size in 2032 | USD 81.30 Billion |
| Market Size by 2034 | USD 92.53 Billion |
| CAGR 2025 to 2034 | 5.89% |
| Base Year | 2024 |
| Forecast Period | 2025 to 2034 |
Secondary packaging is the real shield for the product, plus it is further consolidated when logistics and retailing stand on the other side of the aisle. It encompasses all the outer-packaging types, from cartons, trays, shrink films, and the like, that cluster the primary package for safer handling, transportation, and storage. It offers shelf appeal, branding, and visibility in a competitive retail environment. Trends in the secondary packaging market are veering towards intelligent packaging that incorporates tracking and marketing functions. With the modernization of the industry through automation, processes are expediting with better consistency. Minimal designs are preferred for the sake of sustainability and consumer backlash against too much clutter. New-age features such as easy-open seals and ergonomic designs augment the end-user experience, thereby cementing with importance of secondary packaging in today's supply chains and aiding in the growth of the market.
Using AI, secondary packaging enters an era of refinement: more efficient, less costly, and sustainable. In sectors such as pharmaceuticals, many AI-vision systems are defect detectors. Sustainability is reached when the packaging design considers lowering material consumption while providing sufficient protection to the product. AI thus optimizes shipping container space, cutting emissions and transportation expenses. Automation enhances production speed, lessening manual intervention and errors. Hence, cost savings are realized through reduced use of materials, reduced waste, predictive maintenance, etc. AI strengthens supply chain management through demand forecasting and production schedule optimization. It also looks into customer behavior and product data to create personalized packaging. Conclusively, AI for secondary packaging ensures product quality, efficiency, and enhanced customer engagement.
The major market drivers in the secondary packaging market are the booming e-commerce sector, rising environmental concerns, and advancements in packaging technology.
The growth of the secondary packaging market is restrained by factors such as fluctuating raw material prices, environmental regulations, supply chain disruptions, and intense competition.
The opportunities in the secondary packaging market are associated with sustainability concerns and advancements in packaging technology.
Sustainability Focus:
Sustainability is gaining prominence in secondary packaging because of environmental consciousness and regulatory requirements. Paperboard made from recycled materials, molded fiber, biodegradable films, and compostable plastic are just some of the greener options companies are now opting for to reduce carbon footprints and landfill waste. Such a transition in packaging increases brand positioning and consumer acceptability; green packaging companies already have a stigma for good. Major retailers and e-commerce platforms have also come up with packaging guidelines to promote sustainable practices that foster new opportunities for suppliers. The companies that prioritize sustainability will lead the market as well as have access to green financing.
Technological Advancements:
The secondary packaging market is proliferating massively owing to technological advances. The advent of automation gives companies the ability to speed up processes while cutting labor costs and improving throughput. Smart packaging technologies-short of description-better supply chain management, and customer interaction supply coordination for inventory
accuracy and customer engagement. Personalization is a huge opportunity with actual brands able to design packaging targeted at different groups and tastes, thus transforming the unboxing experience while also forging brand equity. AI and AR are further disrupting packaging design and marketing by aiding data-driven decisions on packaging format, materials usage, and inventory forecasting. These opportunities offer immense growth and are a great lever for differentiation for innovators in packaging firms.
“This is the first-ever packaging solution of its kind for 1.5-litre multipacks of Coca-Cola, Fanta, and Sprite. It’s the result of our entrepreneurial mindset, an absolute belief in collaborating with trusted partners and our focus on reaching net zero emissions by 2040.”
“Our industry is working tirelessly in designing fully renewable and sustainable packaging solutions that meet the needs of both consumers and the planet. We are excited to expand globally and champion the role of beverage cartons in building a more resilient, low-carbon future.”
The shrink wrap segment dominated the market and is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. By their versatility and value for money, coupled with excellent protection, shrink wraps are the fastest-growing segment from the secondary packaging perspective. It finds wide acceptance among the food & beverages, personal care, pharmaceutical, and electronic industries to establish tamper evidence, resistance against moisture, and shelf appeal. Being very thin compared to poly boxes and crates, shrink wraps prove to reduce a lot of shipping costs while maintaining structure. The need for safe packaging and smaller boxes in e-commerce and retail logistics has pushed the adoption of shrink wraps. Biodegradable and recyclable shrink films have emerged as a big platform for sustainability. As more companies now look for packaging that is flexible, protective, and good-looking, it is shrink wraps that come forth as a big opportunity for high growth.
Corrugated boxes are expected to grow at a notable rate during the forecast period. Corrugated boxes are dressed in their greatest glory in the secondary packaging market because of being strong, recycled, and versatile to various industries. They constitute long-distance shipping, warehousing solutions in e-commerce, transportation, Food & Beverage, and pharmaceuticals, etc. Lightweight freight reduces freight as well as high load bearing. Corrugated boxes can be tailored to the needs of branding, printing, and size. The development of e-commerce has further elevated the demand for corrugated boxes as they provide a good deal of structural support and product safety. From a sustainability point of view and on the directives of the laws, corrugated materials are normally recycled from paper. Increased automation of packaging centers further strengthens the integration of corrugated boxes into high-speed operations.
Paper and paperboard materials needed for secondary packaging are favoured due to being eco-friendly. However, supply-oversupply imbalances have crept in. With operational costs rising and regulations impeding expansion and modernization, it is not all that easy. Still, paper-based packaging holds its ground against demand on the grounds of environmental consciousness and further considerations involving a preference toward leaves. To keep viable, all players in the industry are currently making changes to their operational structure, making more investments into process optimization, and paving the way toward new-age, lightweight, and high-performance paper packaging. A correct reflection of market dynamics, global sustainability themes, and consumer expectations of responsible packaging will decide the future of the segment.
Easy folding cartons are secondary packaging for consumer products. This specific type of packaging gives branding and intricate design to the product, visibility, and consumer engagement. The carton structure supports different industries and is being developed for packaging technologies for digital tracking and bulk inventory management. These folding cartons are recyclable or are accepted for biodegradation; hence, they come in handy for any sustainability-conscious company. A flat design aids in optimizing space utilization and least logistics costs for shipping and handling. Folding cartons thus fill that versatile need as more companies go toward usable, green, and attractive packaging solutions.
Secondary packaging is imperative in the healthcare industry for the safety, integrity, and usability of medical products such as drugs, devices, and diagnostics. Secondary packaging conveys treatment information, dosage instructions, storage requirements, and warnings to ensure the correct administration of the medicine by healthcare providers or patients. There are packaging forms widely used for secondary packaging of healthcare products-the folding carton, blister pack, and other special containers-which are dimensioned to accommodate the uniqueness of the healthcare product and ensure sterility or tamper evidence throughout the supply chain. These developments have been enhancing traceability, authentication, and convenience. Secondary packaging is increasingly in demand, further inspired by the patient-centric approach and personalized medicine, which thus becomes one of the critical players in enhancing healthcare and maintaining high industry standards.
North America dominated the market in 2024. With its advanced economic bases, infrastructure, and well-established transport networks, North America is the world leader in the secondary packaging area. Unique packaging solutions are provided to protect products, build brand visibility, and accord with local regulations in core sectors such as retail, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, electronics, and automotive industries. By emphasizing consumer consciousness towards sustainability and product innovation, North America poses an increasing demand for environmentally friendly and efficient packaging solutions. Proceedings are ongoing in the region in adopting new materials and hybrid designs that lessen environmental footprints without compromising product safety. In addition, the packaging industry's strategic mergers and acquisitions will surely augment their current capabilities while widening the market outreach.
Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The secondary packaging market finds an enticing scope in the Asia-Pacific region, elaborating upon the economic growth and industrial expansion of the area. Countries like China, India, Japan, and South Korea serve as manufacturing centers, fueling the demand for packaging. A very diverse customer base demands efficacious packaging-protection of the product while in transit, shelf appeal, and regulatory requirements. The packaging industry of the region is one where rapid innovation acts as its heartbeat, where companies focus much on sustainability, material optimization, and automation. These changes combine to achieve better protection and presentation of products from an environmental standpoint, thus cementing itself to become the world's key competitor in secondary packaging.
The market is moderately fragmented with local players like Amcor PLC, Nippon Paper Industries Co Ltd, Berry Plastics, Oji Holdings Corp, Deufol SE, Crown Holdings Inc., International Paper Company, Ball Corporation, SCG Packaging, etc., wishing to take the time to edge their presence through investments, partnerships, acquisitions, and mergers. They also invest in product development and competitive pricing. These strategies will promote market growth and lucrative opportunities for market players
Ball Corporation's most recent twelve-month (TTM) revenue is $12.02 billion, reflecting a 0.53% increase year-over-year. In the first quarter of 2025, the company reported $3.10 billion in sales, a 7.76% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.
Oji Holdings Corp's revenue in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, was 1.85 trillion JPY, with a 9.02% growth. In the quarter ending March 31, 2025, the company's revenue was 465.53 billion JPY, reflecting a 15.27% increase.
SCG Packaging (SCGP) reported a revenue of Baht 132,784 million in 2024, a 3% increase compared to the previous year.
Published by Vidyesh Swar
