Germany Flexible Plastic Packaging Market

Germany Flexible Plastic Packaging Market Analysis

The Germany Flexible Plastic Packaging Market size in terms of production volume is expected to grow from 2.00 million tonnes in 2025 to 2.29 million tonnes by 2030, at a CAGR of 2.72% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

Consumers in Germany have increasingly favored flexible plastic packaging over other options, drawn to its lightweight, unbreakable nature that enhances handling convenience. Notably, significant manufacturers are gravitating toward plastic packaging due to its cost-effectiveness.

• Germany is increasingly embracing plastic packaging solutions, driven by advancements from solution providers and end users. The strong consumer trust in products labeled "Made in Germany" has bolstered the performance of local plastic packaging firms.
• While the European Commission's Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) sets the current recycling target for plastics at 22.5% for each EU member state, several countries have already surpassed this goal. Notably, Germany sets its sights higher, with recycling targets of 58.5%. It is increasingly evident that all EU member states will likely need to revamp their collection systems to encompass all forms of flexible plastic packaging.
• Germany is the foremost European pharmaceutical market and ranks fourth globally. The surge in flexible packaging adoption within Germany's pharmaceutical landscape is driven by its ability to shield medications like tablets and capsules from oxygen and moisture, safeguarding their potency until consumption.
• According to the International Trade Administration (ITA), e-commerce penetration in the German market reached around 80% in 2023. The online population in Germany is expected to increase from 62.4 million in 2020 to 68.4 million in 2025. Flexible packaging is increasingly favored in e-commerce for its enhanced protection and durability. It aids in resisting breakage, preventing spills, and bundling multiple products securely.
• Germany's regulations for packaging waste are set in the German Packaging Act (Verpackungsgesetz). It includes general packaging requirements, including packaging volume and mass, reusability, recyclability, and secondary raw materials. The country's stringent regulations regarding plastic packaging might promote alternative materials such as paper and aluminum foil.

Germany Flexible Plastic Packaging Market Trends

The Food Industry is Expected to Witness Growth in the Market

• In the food industry, factors like sustainability, transparency, food safety, waste reduction, and convenience play pivotal roles in driving the preference for flexible packaging in baked goods, snack foods, meat, and others.
• According to Germany Trade & Invest in 2023, in-store bakeries and discount bakery chains are predicted to grow and offer manufacturers premixes and dough sales opportunities. Further trends include wholegrain products, premium pastries, international delicacies, and healthy snacks. Growth potential also rests on Mediterranean and gluten-free products and the growth of convenience and ready-to-eat baked goods, including sandwiches, wraps, and bagels.
• German consumers are increasingly sophisticated, emphasizing variety and quality in their food choices. Recent trends in the German food market reflect broader societal shifts. A rising emphasis on sustainability and ecological practices drives interest in alternative foods, innovative production methods, and a focus on seasonal, regional, and fair trade products. While organic items have firmly entered the mainstream, fair trade goods, notably coffee and cocoa, are also gaining traction. Such trends in the food industry would further leverage the recyclable plastic packaging in the country.
• According to the organic food industry report (BOLW), the revenues from organic foods in 2020 were EUR 14.99 billion (USD 16.22 billion) and reached EUR 16.08 billion (USD 17.40 billion) in 2023. Given the rising consumer focus on food production methods and a growing emphasis on healthy living, this trend is poised for sustained growth in the foreseeable future.
• Moreover, food companies are expanding into the region as part of expanding their business reach. For instance, Newrest, a specialist in multisector catering, is set to invest EUR 10 million (USD 10.74 million) in setting up inflight catering units in Berlin and Frankfurt (Main). The company has inked agreements with major airlines, including EasyJet, China Airlines, Air Astana, LATAM Chile Airlines, and Egypt Air. Newrest aimed to penetrate the German market by introducing new inflight catering units in Munich and Hamburg by 2023. Newrest sought consultancy and investment assistance from Germany Trade and Invest to bolster its expansion. Such expansions might increase the flexible plastic packaging in the country.

Plastic Recycling Trends are Expected to Encourage the Market's Growth

• The plastic packaging market solutions are increasingly used for innovative and customized products. Plastic packaging that involves new technologies and improved processes creates significant efficiencies, making plastic packaging more appealing.
• According to the EU strategy on plastics in a Circular Economy 2030, all plastic packaging materials within the EU market must be recyclable, which requires higher standards and new technology solutions from packaging producers and recyclers. At the same time, the German recycling technology industry will have to increase recycling capacities significantly, raising the country's flexible plastic packaging market.
• According to Montalvo Corporation, in response to demand, biodegradable flexible packaging highlights the significant impact on the flexible packaging landscape. Comprising materials that naturally decompose, biodegradable flexible packaging stands in contrast to its traditional counterparts, which often end up as landfill waste. The proliferation of biodegradable options, from bags to films, swiftly positions it as the preferred choice for consumers and businesses.
• Significant players operating across the region are focused on expanding their business through innovations. For instance, in March 2024, TOPPAN Inc., a TOPPAN Group company and a wholly owned subsidiary of TOPPAN Holdings Inc., and India-based TOPPAN Speciality Films Private Limited (TSF) designed GL-SP. This barrier film utilizes biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) as the substrate. GL-SP is a new addition to the range of products for sustainable packaging in the TOPPAN Group’s GL BARRIER1 series of transparent vapor-deposited barrier films. TOPPAN and TSF will launch sales of GL-SP for dry-content packaging, focusing on markets in Europe and other regions.
• According to Statistisches Bundesamt, the country's revenue from packaging activities witnessed growth. In 2020, the packaging activities revenue was valued at USD 3,469.27 million and is projected to reach USD 3,892.84 million in 2024. Rising demand for packaging across various end-user industries would improve the market for flexible plastic packaging in the country.

Germany Flexible Plastic Packaging Industry Overview

The German flexible plastic packaging market is fragmented with various players such as Empac GmbH, Folien + Druck GmbH, Bischof+Klein SE & Co. KG, BFT Packaging GmbH, Dsmart GmbH, Amcor PLC, Toppan Inc., Constantia Flexibles, ALPA Group, Berry Global Inc., Mondi PLC, and Huhtamaki Oyj. Players operating in the region are focused on expanding their business through mergers, collaborations, acquisitions, product innovations, and others.

• January 2024: Bischof+Klein launched its new CC-Bag TS. Its innovative CC-Bag TS product is a flexible packaging solution for liquids with a volume of three to ten liters. This flexible packaging is suitable for various liquids and consumes less packaging material.
• September 2023: TOPPAN Inc., a subsidiary of InterFlex Group (a global flexible packaging supplier and converter), completed the acquisition of Skymark Packaging International (Skymark), an innovative European manufacturer. With the acquisition of Skymark, InterFlex Group and TOPPAN expanded their growing presence in the EU and extended their reach in food, converter films, and non-food segments. Its various portfolio of sustainable, flexible packaging products includes a range of specialty blown, flat cast, and embossed PE and PP films.

Germany Flexible Plastic Packaging Market Leaders

Germany Flexible Plastic Packaging Market News

• February 2024: Source One Plastics, a joint venture between 23 Oaks Investments and LyondellBasell, started its plastic waste sorting and recycling facility in Eicklingen, Germany. The new unit processes difficult-to-recycle post-consumer plastic waste, such as composite plastic packaging and flexible polyolefin materials. The annual expected processing capacity of 70.000 metric tons equals the amount of plastic waste produced by approximately 1.5 million German citizens annually.
• August 2023: The German Packaging Award in the Sustainability category for Recyclability/design for Recycling was clinched by a de-linkable, recyclable mono-material PE-pouch. These pouches boast exceptional barrier properties and result from a unique collaboration value chain involving Siegwerk, ExxonMobil, Henkel, Kraus Folie, and Windmöller & Hölscher. These pouches, crafted through a blend of innovative solutions, offer a high oxygen barrier and superior package integrity and boast excellent shelf appeal. Moreover, after the removal of printing ink and the oxygen-barrier coating layer, they yield an almost colorless recyclate.