The packaging industry is undergoing profound changes

Innova Market Insights' 2025 Major Packaging Trends Report shows that "connected platforms" have become the core focus of the industry. With the rapid development of interconnected technologies, packaging is gradually evolving into a digital platform, which is expected to comprehensively revolutionize the packaging value chain, covering multiple links such as waste management and brand-consumer interaction. The widespread application of AI systems will further promote and accelerate this industry change.

Other major trends pointed out by Innova, such as "paper transformation", "monomaterial promoter", "natural solutions" and "promotion of reusable solutions", also fully reflect the current top concerns of the industry.
Paper transformation: responding to regulatory challenges and moving towards a green future Against the backdrop of increasingly stringent regulations on non-recyclable packaging, the "paper" or "fiberization" transformation will continue to accelerate in 2025. Paper packaging has become the first choice for companies to replace plastic packaging and avoid penalties due to its easy recycling advantages.

Monomaterial promoter: balancing product performance and environmental protection needs Although plastic packaging still dominates the food and beverage industry, especially in the field of perishable foods, its recycling problem is becoming increasingly prominent.
Natural solutions: Bio-based materials lead the new trend in packaging Renewable packaging solutions will usher in greater market opportunities in 2025, especially in the food service sector. As consumer resistance to petrochemical plastics rises, market demand for bio-based alternatives continues to grow.

Innova survey shows that only 5% of global consumers consider bioplastics "unsustainable", and 27% believe that these materials are "excellent" in reducing carbon footprint. The European Chemical Industry Council predicts that by 2035, bioplastic production will be roughly the same as fossil fuel-based plastics. In 2024, Asia will account for 59% of global bioplastic production, and packaging (flexible and rigid packaging) will remain the largest market segment, accounting for 53%.
Promotion of reusable packaging: a dual push of policy drive and market demand Reusable and refillable packaging models have begun to emerge in some food and beverage, personal care and home care categories, but they still account for a small proportion compared to single-use systems.

In 2025, regulatory measures on single-use packaging will prompt companies to accelerate the adoption of reusable packaging. The EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation requires food delivery companies to accept reusable containers free of charge and ensure that 10% of products are sold in reusable packaging. European regulators have also set a target of 10% of beverage containers being reusable by 2030 and 40% by 2040. Danone revised its plastics regulation plan this week to focus more on reusable solutions after being sued by NGOs for failing to comply with France's law on responsible regulation of plastic use.

Consumer demand for reusable packaging is also continuing to rise. Innova consumer surveys show that 31% of global consumers have increased their use of reusable packaging in the past year, 39% are willing to pay more for it, and 30% are willing to pay more for refillable packaging. Innova data also shows that the number of claims about reusable packaging in new food and beverage launches around the world has achieved a compound annual growth rate of 18% between 2020 and 2024.

Innova Market Insights' consumer survey covers Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Spain, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States, providing comprehensive and in-depth insights into the industry development. In 2025, the packaging industry will usher in profound changes driven by technological innovation and sustainable development.