UK Corrugated Board Packaging Market Size
| Study Period | 2019 - 2029 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2023 |
| Market Size (2024) | USD 11.67 Billion |
| Market Size (2029) | USD 14.14 Billion |
| CAGR (2024 - 2029) | 3.90 % |
| Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
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UK Corrugated Board Packaging Market Analysis
The United Kingdom Corrugated Board Packaging Market size is estimated at USD 11.67 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 14.14 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 3.9% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
Corrugated packaging is found in different styles, shapes, and sizes, depending on the application. Due to its 100% recyclability and cost-effectiveness, it is widely used in the packaging industry.
- Food packaging growth and increased purchases of lightweight corrugated boxes across industries are factors driving corrugated board packaging demand. Furthermore, innovative fluting design drives market demand by providing superior printing and cost savings through effective volume utilization.
- Rising demand for sustainable packaging solutions and the growing packaging needs of e-commerce platforms are expected to drive market growth. However, the concern about the durability of corrugated board, as it gets deformed if exposed to extreme pressure or when stacked, is limiting the market's growth.
- Manufacturers of corrugated board packaging work directly with e-commerce vendors to provide more agile and customizable solutions. According to the Office of National Statistics, internet sales in the United Kingdom increased to a record 37.8% of retail sales in January 2021, before declining in the following months. This can be viewed as a diminishing effect of market stabilization.
- Several key vendors in the country are indulging in product innovation to address the rising demand for corrugated packaging solutions. For instance, in August 2021, Mondi, a company headquartered in the United Kingdom, introduced its sustainable range of corrugated packaging solutions for the online grocery market across Central Europe.
- With the outbreak of COVID-19, the demand for corrugated board packaging in the region is witnessing significant growth due to the need for transport packaging of essential products, such as packaging for food and other consumer products, medical and pharmaceutical products, tissues, and hygiene products. Further, the Russia-Ukraine war has an impact on the overall packaging ecosystem.
- Moreover, several companies are launching new corrugated packaging products to meet the requirements arising from the COVID-19 crisis. For instance, DS Smith developed special emergency provision boxes to meet the increased demand for safer home delivery in the food retail sector.
UK Corrugated Board Packaging Market Trends
This section covers the major market trends shaping the UK Corrugated Board Packaging Market according to our research experts:
E-commerce Industry Expected to Stimulate Demand
- The e-commerce industry has emerged as a significant sector in recent years in the United Kingdom. Prominent e-commerce companies, such as Amazon, have been using corrugated board boxes for the principal packaging and relying on plastic packaging for individual items. According to GWP Group, e-commerce accounts for more than 20% of the total businesses in the United Kingdom, and 90% of e-commerce orders are shipped in corrugated boxes.
- According to the Office of National Statistics of the United Kingdom, the country's e-commerce revenue stands at GBP 129 billion (USD 177.47 billion) in 2021. On a sectoral basis, wholesale and manufacturing were the two leading industry sectors that generated the most e-commerce sales in the same year
- Another factor allowing corrugated boxes to overtake paperboard cartons is the introduction of e-commerce-ready packaging, which replaces lightweight and easy-to-open cartons with boxes that can withstand shipping rigors. Corrugated boxes used for e-commerce are more likely to be printed with high-quality graphics and customized to fit packaged contents to save on costs and increase the aesthetic impact during unboxing.
- Key vendors are introducing new products in response to the growing demand for corrugated board packaging solutions from the e-commerce industry. In September 2022, VPK Group launched its new European brand fit2size for Fanfold corrugated packaging solutions in response to its growth strategy to develop Fanfold corrugated packaging solutions across Europe. The company has launched a new product based on the latest Fanfold innovation to meet the increasing demand for e-commerce and logistics packaging and further strengthen its ambition to supply excellent sustainable packaging solutions.
Fresh Food and Produce Industry Expected to Gain Significant Traction
- The food industry is rapidly moving toward eco-friendly packaging by adopting corrugated board packaging solutions. The increasing concern for hygiene in food packaging has mandated several standards for the packaging industry and stimulated the adoption of eco-friendly packaging solutions in the country.
- The EU Regulation 1935/2004 on food contact materials and Regulation 2023/2006 on good manufacturing practice (GMP) are the laws applicable to corrugated packaging used in food applications in the EU. Hence, this poses several challenges in acquiring hygienic and sustainable packaging solutions for the food industry. In November 2021, the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers (FEFCO), which represents the corrugated packaging industry across Europe, including the United Kingdom, released its corrugated packaging recyclability guidelines aimed at optimizing recyclability via design parameters for paper and board packaging.
- Fruit packing necessitates extreme caution due to the product's fragile and perishable nature. Regarding rigid fruit transport packaging, corrugated fiberboard (CFB) is the most environmentally friendly solution. Corrugated boxes have recently gained a significant demand from fruit exporters owing to their improved adaptability for air, sea, and road transport.
- Several solution providers on the market are adopting recyclable packaging solutions. For instance, in January 2022, Oumph! One of the rapidly growing plant-based food producers from the UK announced plans to phase out plastic in its food product packaging by using recyclable cardboard packaging in all of its markets.
UK Corrugated Board Packaging Industry Overview
The United Kingdom corrugated board packaging market is fragmented owing to the presence of many players with new solutions in the country. Also, several global players are expanding their presence by expanding their operations in the United Kingdom. The market players are also forming strategic partnerships and collaborations to boost their market presence and gain maximum market traction. For instance,
- In October 2022, a 30% share in CorrBoard UK Ltd, a privately held corrugated sheet company in North Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, was purchased by VPK Packaging Group NV (VPK). CorrBoard UK would be fully supported by the Rigid Containers Ltd, a VPK company that converts 340 Million m² corrugated material annually in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
- In May 2022, Smurfit Kappa acquired cardboard box company Atlas Packaging an independent corrugated packaging provider that has a significant domestic presence having production capacity ranging from 500 to 1000 units.
UK Corrugated Board Packaging Market Leaders
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DS Smith PLC
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GWP GROUP
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Belmont Packaging
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Saxon Packaging (Smurfit Kappa Group)
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Atlas Packaging Limited
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
UK Corrugated Board Packaging Market News
- April 2022: DS Smith introduced a corrugated cardboard box for the e-commerce shipment of medical devices. The corrugated cardboard box features a single-material solution instead of glued packaging with a single-use plastic insert.
- March 2022: For orders shipped from Amazon's fulfillment centers, Amazon replaced single-use plastic delivery bags with recyclable paper bags and cardboard envelopes in the United Kingdom. This included items sold by Amazon as well as third-party selling partners that use Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA).
UK Corrugated Board Packaging Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
- 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
- 1.2 Scope of the Study
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4. MARKET INSIGHTS
- 4.1 Market Overview
- 4.2 Industry Value Chain Analysis
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4.3 Industry Attractiveness - Porter's Five Forces Analysis
- 4.3.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
- 4.3.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers
- 4.3.3 Threat of New Entrants
- 4.3.4 Threat of Substitute Products
- 4.3.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry
- 4.4 Assessment of COVID-19 Impact on the Market
- 4.5 Overview of the Global Corrugated Board Packaging Market
5. MARKET DYNAMICS
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5.1 Market Drivers
- 5.1.1 Strong Demand from the E-commerce Sector
- 5.1.2 Growing Adoption of Light Weighting Materials and Scope for Printing Innovations Propelling Growth in the Electronics and Personal Care Segment
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5.2 Market Restraints
- 5.2.1 Concerns over Material Availability and Durability of Corrugated Board-based Products
6. MARKET SEGMENTATION
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6.1 By End-user Industry
- 6.1.1 Processed Foods
- 6.1.2 Fresh Food and Produce
- 6.1.3 Beverages
- 6.1.4 Paper Products
- 6.1.5 Other End-user Industries (Electrical Products and Others)
7. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
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7.1 Company Profiles
- 7.1.1 International Paper Company
- 7.1.2 Mondi Group
- 7.1.3 Smurfit Kappa Group
- 7.1.4 DS Smith PLC
- 7.1.5 WestRock Company
- 7.1.6 Sealed Air Corporation
- 7.1.7 GWP GROUP
- 7.1.8 The Box Factory Limited
- 7.1.9 Belmont Packaging
- 7.1.10 Saxon Packaging (Smurfit Kappa Group)
- 7.1.11 Atlas Packaging Limited
- 7.1.12 The Corrugated Case Company
- 7.1.13 NUTTALL Packaging
- 7.1.14 Cardboard Box Company
- *List Not Exhaustive
8. INVESTMENT ANALYSIS
9. FUTURE OF THE MARKET
UK Corrugated Board Packaging Industry Segmentation
Corrugated board packaging is a versatile and cost-efficient method to protect, preserve, and transport a wide range of products. It is used as a secondary or tertiary packaging solution because it keeps moisture from the products packed inside and can withstand long shipping times. Paperboard boxes are commonly made entirely of paperboard.
The United Kingdom corrugated board packaging market is segmented by end-user industry (processed foods, fresh food and produce, beverages, paper products, and other end-user industries (electrical products and others)). The market sizes and forecasts are provided regarding value (USD million) for all the above segments.
| By End-user Industry | Processed Foods |
| Fresh Food and Produce | |
| Beverages | |
| Paper Products | |
| Other End-user Industries (Electrical Products and Others) |
UK Corrugated Board Packaging Market Research FAQs
How big is the United Kingdom (UK) Corrugated Board Packaging Market?
The United Kingdom (UK) Corrugated Board Packaging Market size is expected to reach USD 11.67 billion in 2024 and grow at a CAGR of 3.9% to reach USD 14.14 billion by 2029.
What is the current United Kingdom (UK) Corrugated Board Packaging Market size?
In 2024, the United Kingdom (UK) Corrugated Board Packaging Market size is expected to reach USD 11.67 billion.
Who are the key players in United Kingdom (UK) Corrugated Board Packaging Market?
DS Smith PLC, GWP GROUP, Belmont Packaging, Saxon Packaging (Smurfit Kappa Group) and Atlas Packaging Limited are the major companies operating in the United Kingdom (UK) Corrugated Board Packaging Market.
What years does this United Kingdom (UK) Corrugated Board Packaging Market cover, and what was the market size in 2023?
In 2023, the United Kingdom (UK) Corrugated Board Packaging Market size was estimated at USD 11.23 billion. The report covers the United Kingdom (UK) Corrugated Board Packaging Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The report also forecasts the United Kingdom (UK) Corrugated Board Packaging Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
UK Corrugated Board Packaging Industry Report
Statistics for the 2024 UK Corrugated Board Packaging market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. UK Corrugated Board Packaging analysis includes a market forecast outlook to 2029 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
