Europe Dairy Packaging Market Size (2024 - 2029)

The Europe Dairy Packaging Market is experiencing growth driven by a rising preference for protein-based products and the adoption of innovative packaging solutions. The market's expansion is supported by significant developments in milk production and packaging, such as large-scale projects and collaborations aimed at enhancing recyclability and supporting the Circular Economy Initiative. However, challenges such as regulatory impacts on packaging materials, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on demand and pricing, and increased packaging and freight costs pose threats to the market's stability.

Market Size of Europe Dairy Packaging Industry

europe dairy
Study Period 2019 - 2029
Base Year For Estimation 2023
Forecast Data Period 2024 - 2029
Historical Data Period 2019 - 2022
CAGR 5.20 %
Market Concentration High

Major Players

Europe Dairy Packaging Market Major Players

*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Europe Dairy Packaging Market Analysis

The Europe Dairy Packaging Market is expected to reach a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period (2020 - 2025). Factors such as growing preference for Protein based products, increasing adoption of innovative packaging are responsible for the growth in the dairy packaging market in Europe.

  • In April 2020, carton giant SIG was selected to supply one of the largest European greenfield UHT milk projects, spearheaded by Hochwald, one of the largest German dairy cooperatives. As part of the mega project, Hochwald will build a new plant with a capacity of more than 800 million litres of milk per annum. Milk will be processed and sold as UHT milk, cream, condensed milk and flavoured milk for the European market and export to China, Middle East and Africa from 2022. Such developments leading to the increase in the production of milk is expected to provide a boost to the dairy packaging market in the region.
  • Moving forward to recyclability, the structure proposed for the European region is highly complex. Multiple stakeholders, especially converters and recyclers have been witnessed to expand operations, collaborate and launch technologies aiding the Circular Economy Initiative.
  • For instance, ALPLA, a major Austrian converter, and recycler of plastics have a core product, a bottle made from PET which is recycled plastic to be used again and again. The firm collaborated with other businesses, including Nöm, an Austrian dairy company to supply ALPLA 100% recycled PET bottles for its milk products. ALPLA, additionally, is a signatory to the Circular Plastics Alliance, an initiative supported by the European Commission to boost plastic recycling inside the EU to 10 million tons by 2025.
  • However, the regulations regarding the use of plastic for packaging aided the growth of the glass packaging format for milk. Countries, like Russia and the United Kingdom, embraced this format of packaging for fresh milk.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant reduction in demand for dairy products from the EU and non-EU countries. This represents a serious threat to the EU dairy sector. The situation on this market, which remained stable over the last year, has shifted: a drastic fall in prices, difficulties in exporting products, a steep increase in packaging prices, and an increase in freight prices make exports to third countries uneconomic The reduction in consumption caused, among other things, by the total loss of the HoReCa market, is posing a real threat to farmers and processors. According to European Parliment it is estimated that the European dairy sector is currently losing EUR 120 million.
  • In April 2020, the European Dairy Association (EDA) has called on the European Commission for support in protecting the sector against the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak. The association called for "immediate action" to help the milk processing industry deal with the ongoing crisis.

Europe Dairy Packaging Industry Segmentation

As people seek out products that are healthy and all-natural, dairy is often positioned as an attractive option. Dairy proteins are often regarded as the 'gold standard' in protein, due to their amino acid profile, easy digestibility, and satiety benefits. Furthermore, dairy proteins are increasingly used for fitness and weight management. The report provides a detailed analysis of the dairy industry in European countries. It also provides a detailed analysis on the basis of material, Product type, Packaging type, and Country.

Material
Plastic
PET
LDPE
HDPE
Other Plastics
Paper & Paperboard
Glass
Metal
Product Type
Milk
Cheese
Frozen Products
Yogurt
Other Product Types
Packaging Type
Bottles
Pouches & Bags
Cartons and Boxes
Cups, and Tubs
Other Packaging Types
Country
United Kingdom
Germany
Italy
France
Poland
Rest of Europe
Need A Different Region Or Segment?
Customize Now

Europe Dairy Packaging Market Size Summary

The Europe Dairy Packaging Market is experiencing growth driven by a rising preference for protein-based products and the adoption of innovative packaging solutions. The market is witnessing significant developments, such as the collaboration between carton giant SIG and Hochwald, a major German dairy cooperative, to supply one of Europe's largest UHT milk projects. This initiative is expected to boost milk production and, consequently, the dairy packaging market in the region. The focus on recyclability and sustainability is also shaping the market, with companies like ALPLA leading efforts in the Circular Economy Initiative by using recycled plastics for dairy packaging. However, regulatory challenges regarding plastic use have led to an increased adoption of glass packaging in countries like Russia and the United Kingdom.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges to the dairy sector, causing a decline in demand and impacting exports due to increased packaging and freight costs. Despite these challenges, the market for dairy plastic packaging, particularly in the United Kingdom, is anticipated to register significant revenue due to substantial manufacturing facilities. The introduction of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers has expanded plastic bottling applications, offering brands opportunities for differentiation and extended shelf life of products. Regulatory measures, such as the UK's plastic packaging tax, are encouraging the use of recycled materials, while initiatives by companies like Arla to switch to bio-based plastics highlight the industry's commitment to sustainability. The market is characterized by high competition, with established brands and new players driving innovation and value-added services in dairy packaging.

Explore More

Europe Dairy Packaging Market Size - Table of Contents

  1. 1. MARKET DYNAMICS

    1. 1.1 Market Overview

    2. 1.2 Industry Attractiveness - Porter's Five Forces Analysis

      1. 1.2.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

      2. 1.2.2 Bargaining Power of Consumers

      3. 1.2.3 Threat of New Entrants

      4. 1.2.4 Threat of Substitute Products

      5. 1.2.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry

    3. 1.3 Industry Value Chain Analysis

    4. 1.4 Market Drivers

      1. 1.4.1 Increasing Consumer Preference Toward Protien-Based Products

      2. 1.4.2 Increasing Adoption of Packages Incorporating Small Portion Sizes

    5. 1.5 Market Challenges

      1. 1.5.1 Greenhouse Gas Emission Due to Dairy Activities Leading to Legislative Issues

    6. 1.6 Impact of Covid-19 on the Industry

  2. 2. MARKET SEGMENTATION

    1. 2.1 Material

      1. 2.1.1 Plastic

        1. 2.1.1.1 PET

        2. 2.1.1.2 LDPE

        3. 2.1.1.3 HDPE

        4. 2.1.1.4 Other Plastics

      2. 2.1.2 Paper & Paperboard

      3. 2.1.3 Glass

      4. 2.1.4 Metal

    2. 2.2 Product Type

      1. 2.2.1 Milk

      2. 2.2.2 Cheese

      3. 2.2.3 Frozen Products

      4. 2.2.4 Yogurt

      5. 2.2.5 Other Product Types

    3. 2.3 Packaging Type

      1. 2.3.1 Bottles

      2. 2.3.2 Pouches & Bags

      3. 2.3.3 Cartons and Boxes

      4. 2.3.4 Cups, and Tubs

      5. 2.3.5 Other Packaging Types

    4. 2.4 Country

      1. 2.4.1 United Kingdom

      2. 2.4.2 Germany

      3. 2.4.3 Italy

      4. 2.4.4 France

      5. 2.4.5 Poland

      6. 2.4.6 Rest of Europe

Europe Dairy Packaging Market Size FAQs

The Europe Dairy Packaging Market is projected to register a CAGR of 5.20% during the forecast period (2024-2029)

Huhtamaki Group​, Schur Flexibles Holding GesmbH, Stora Enso Oyj , Greiner Packaging international GmbH and Sealed Air Corp. are the major companies operating in the Europe Dairy Packaging Market.

Europe Dairy Packaging Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2024 - 2029)