Molded Pulp Packaging Market Insights From Industry Leaders And Experts

The global molded pulp packaging market size was estimated at USD 5.45 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2024 to 2030. Factors attributing to market growth include increasing demand for sustainable & eco-friendly packaging solutions and increasing demand from end-use industries such as food packaging, healthcare, food service, electronics, and others. Manufacturers are striving for maintain healthy competitive environment across market space by implementing various strategies. For instance, in July 2023, Tekni-Plex, Inc. announced opening of their facility in Ohio, for manufacturing of specialty molded pulp products, especially fiber-based egg cartons.

Food packaging and foodservice industries together dominated North American molded pulp packaging market. This dominance can be correlated to huge demand for packaged food and on-the-go food serving. Commercial food service establishment accounted for over USD 813.4 billion of total food marketing system market and thus, emerged as a major segment of industry. Commercial food service category includes restaurants, caterers, cafeterias, fast-food outlets, and other institutions that prepare, sell, and serve food. With such institutions looking forward to new packaging solutions having minimal carbon footprint, molded pulp packaging market is expected to witness strong growth over coming years.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Molded Pulp Packaging Market 

Detailes Segmentation:

Source Insights

Based on source, wood pulp segment accounted for over 85.0% of revenue share in 2023. This is owing to its abundant availability, cost-effectiveness, and customizable to have different depths, sizes, and shapes to fit various food items which also makes them a popular choice for packaging manufacturers. Wood pulp molded packaging has a wide application in various end-use industries. For instance, it is widely used in food & beverage industry as it offers excellent protection for food products during shipping and storage.

Molded Type Insights

Based on molded type, transfer molded segment type held the largest market share of over 57.0% in 2023. Transfer molded pulp has a wide application in the food packaging industry due to hygroscopic property of the material, and air permeability which results in longer shelf life of beverages and food products that are to be further shipped. Moreover, molded pulp packaging protects from shocks that cause breakage or damage to the products, especially fruits, vegetables & eggs, and non-alcoholic, and alcoholic beverages.

Product Insights

Based on products, the tray sub-segment dominated the market with over 41.0% revenue share in 2023 owing to wide application of these trays in food packaging and food service industries. These trays are molded pulp trays that are widely used for packaging of eggs in retail distribution channels as it provides protection from breakage and keeps the product safe.

End-use Insights

Food packaging emerged as a dominating end-use for molded pulp packaging application segment with a market share of over 44.0% in 2023. Molded pulp packaging is mainly used for packaging of fruits, vegetables, and eggs. Clamshells and trays are considered primary packaging types for eggs due to low price and cushioning offered. In addition, molded pulp trays and clamshells offer extended shelf life of eggs keeping them fresh by ventilation provided in this packaging.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific held the largest market share of over 41.0% in 2023. The region is segmented into China, Japan, Malaysia, and India. China accounted for largest market share of molded pulp packaging market in 2023 in Asia Pacific region. This is attributed to large food & beverage industry followed by electronics market owing to high population and increasing disposable income of consumers in country. Moreover, the country is home to several electronic companies such as Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd, Lenovo, Xiaomi, and others which gives rise to demand for molded pulp packaging to store and transport delicate electronic goods.

Key Molded Pulp Packaging Company Insights

• In June 2023, ANTAIRA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC., announed their transition to complete molded pulp packaging for its network devices across North America in line with companies moving towards sustainable packaging solutions.

• In March 2023, Eco-Products, Inc.'s Vanguard clamshell became the first molded fiber product with no added PFAS received approval from Compost Manufacturing Alliance.

• In February 2023, Huhtamako Oyj announced acquisition of a joint venture foodservice distribution in Australia. With this acquisition, company is serving food services packaging solutions to a wide network of regional and metropolitan wholesalers, restaurant businesses, and others.

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