Market Trends of North America Paper Packaging Industry
Environmental Concerns Creating Demand for Paper Packaging
- Over the decades, due to numerous government initiatives and increasingly stringent regulations, there has been growing awareness regarding the environmental hazards related to the disposal and recycling of packaging materials. The American Forest and Paper Association reported that the recycling rate for paper and paperboard in the United States reached approximately 68% in 2022.
- Notably, cardboard, often referred to as corrugated in the industry, stands out as the top recycled packaging material in the United States. In fact, around 34 million tons of cardboard were recovered for recycling. Moreover, about 50% of the material used nationwide for producing new boxes is sourced from recycled paper.
- In recent years, there has been a significant push for more ecological packaging of common things, particularly food and beverages. This has mostly taken the form of campaigns to drastically restrict the use of single-use plastics, a subject that has gathered massive public support in the previous five years.
- Consumers are using their purchasing power more readily to force major foodservice brands to change, choosing brands with sustainable commitments and even being willing to pay more for sustainable choices. Major foodservice brands are moving away from plastics and toward alternatives like recyclable fiber and paper packaging. North American governments are enacting plastic-free regulations, which is causing merchants and consumer brands to reconsider their supply chains and packaging options.
- The most evident trends in the packaging industry revolve around a circular economy. Currently, the packaging industry is dominated by paperboards that are 100% recyclable, which caters to environmental safety and standards to eliminate pollution. The liquid packaging market is expected to grow at a higher rate owing to the surge in demand for various beverages, such as organic drinks, fruit juices, tender coconut water, energy drinks, and non-dairy drinks (almond and soy milk).
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The Expanding E-commerce and Pharmaceutical Industries Creating Demand for Various Paper Packaging Types
- As more consumers shift toward online shopping, there is a corresponding increase in the need for packaging materials to deliver these products to customers safely. Corrugated and folding carton packaging are among the primary materials used for packaging goods in the e-commerce industry due to their versatility, durability, and cost-effectiveness.
- The increasing demand for e-commerce is driving the growth of the North American paper packaging market by necessitating packaging materials suitable for online retail, customizable, sustainable, and optimized for efficient logistics and fulfillment operations. According to the US Census Bureau, in the second quarter of 2024, retail e-commerce sales in the United States amounted to roughly USD 291.6 billion, marking an increase compared to the previous quarter.
- With higher demand for prescription drugs, there will be a corresponding increase in the requirement for secondary and tertiary packaging solutions to store, transport, and display these medications safely. This increased demand for packaging materials is expected to benefit companies in the North American paper packaging market, as they play a crucial role in providing packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical industry.
- According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), in 2023, the total expenditure on non-prescription drugs in Canada amounted to CAD 6.7 billion (USD 4.9 billion), while spending on prescription drugs increased to CAD 41.1 billion (USD 30.27 billion). According to the same source, in 2020, the expenditure on prescription drugs was recorded at CAD 35.3 billion (USD 26 billion).
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