Benelux Flexible Plastic Packaging Market

Benelux Flexible Plastic Packaging Market Analysis

The Benelux Flexible Plastic Packaging Market size in terms of shipment volume is expected to grow from 0.67 million tonnes in 2025 to 0.81 million tonnes by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.04% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

The Benelux flexible packaging market brims with competition, driven by its wide array of products. Plastic packaging is gaining ground across the region, buoyed by consumer preferences.

• The Benelux, home to approximately 28 million consumers, boasts a per capita income well above the EU average in its three countries. This makes a robust Benelux market appealing to local and international packaging businesses.
• While all stand to benefit, the SMEs and consumers are the primary beneficiaries. SMEs gain the confidence to expand across borders, significantly broadening their reach, while consumers can anticipate improved pricing, services, and product variety.
• In the Benelux region, consumers strongly prefer personalized and convenient packaging. This trend boosts the demand for materials and products such as stand-up pouches. In response to shifting consumer tastes, manufacturers are broadening their packaging offerings. Moreover, manufacturers are pivoting toward recycled and biodegradable materials in a nod to sustainability.
• However, these countries face challenges due to the plastic bans implemented. In 2023, grocers in Luxembourg implemented measures to cut down on plastic packaging, such as films or wraps in their fruit and vegetable sections. This might lead to alternative materials for packaging the food and other products, limiting the growth of the market studied.

Benelux Flexible Plastic Packaging Market Trends

Rise in Supermarkets and Hypermarkets to Drive the Demand for Pouches

• Understanding the surging popularity of grocery shopping, consumers can now project the evolving sales landscape for flexible packaging products such as pouches, primarily in supermarkets or hypermarkets. This evaluation encompasses metrics like supermarket square footage per capita, demographic shifts, local lifestyles, and the market penetration of online grocery platforms.
• According to CBRE Group, in September 2023, Waterland, Bloemendaal, and Blaricum municipalities in the Netherlands stood out with the highest sales potential for physical supermarkets. These locales boast a sizable population of high-income residents, translating to increased shopping expenditures. The surge in grocery spending is expected to be primarily propelled by population growth.
• In Belgium, the retail landscape is primarily shaped by critical players like Colruyt, Jumbo, Delhaize, Carrefour, Lidl, and Aldi. Jumbo, a rising contender, is carving its niche by matching low prices and enhancing the overall shopping experience. Jumbo's expansion strategy in Belgium is evident; the company aims to launch 50 new stores by the end of 2025, primarily through a robust franchising model.
• The retail market has undergone significant and lasting changes due to the rapid expansion of e-commerce. While day-to-day shopping still predominantly gravitates toward physical supermarkets, the trend is shifting. Online grocery purchases have surged the demand for pouches, yet physical supermarket sales have also increased. Notably, investments in online platforms and distribution networks are escalating, spearheaded by industry giants like Albert Heijn and Jumbo, as well as newer entrants such as Picnic and Crisp.
• According to Supermarket & Ruimte, supermarket giant Picnic's share of online grocery shopping was 27% in 2021 and 39% in 2023. Similarly, Jumbo's share was 21% in 2021 and 22% in 2023. Therefore, a slight increase in supermarkets' online shopping share is expected to push the demand for the flexible plastic packaging market in the country.

Food Industry to Widely Use Flexible Packaging Products

• The region's food packaging market is witnessing robust growth, primarily fueled by consumers' preference for convenient, on-the-go food options. Shifting dietary habits and a rising appetite for international flavors further propel spending on out-of-home dining.
• Factors like a rising influx of tourists, a burgeoning young workforce, and the proliferation of quality-driven fast-food chains are bolstering the market. As consumers grapple with increasingly hectic schedules, the trend toward takeaways and home deliveries is set to gain momentum, spurring the growth of innovative food outlets.
• The countries consume various types of packaged food, including snacks, meat, confectionery, and more. According to Minister of Agriculture Martine Hansen, in 2023, Luxembourg's meat consumption averaged 85.4 kilos per person. Luxembourg residents spent an average of EUR 6,200 (USD 6,709.9) on meat, a notable increase from EUR 4,900 (USD 5,303) in 2019.
• According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the compound annual sales growth rate of organic packaged food in Belgium from 2021 to 2026 by category was 10.2% for ready meals, followed by baby food with 10%. Organic sauces, dressings, and condiments are projected to see a modest annual growth rate of almost 3% in their retail sales value, marking them as the slowest-growing segment within the organic packaged products market. Dairy, biscuits, snack bars, and fruit snacks, and confectionery stood at 4.6%, 4.3%, and 4%, respectively.
• According to the US Department of Agriculture, the appetite for sustainably sourced, nutritious, and plant-based foods, alongside convenience products, remains robust. A surge in online shopping is anticipated, with a persistent preference for home grocery deliveries. Moreover, the market share of expedited delivery services is poised for further expansion. Retailers are set to double down on innovative food service offerings to entice foot traffic into their brick-and-mortar establishments. These developments are expected to push the market for flexible plastic packaging in the region.

Benelux Flexible Plastic Packaging Industry Overview

The Benelux flexible plastic packaging market is fragmented, with domestic and global players such as Amcor PLC, Sonoco Products Company, Constantia Flexibles GmbH, Optimum Group, Berlin Packaging Netherlands BV, and more. Players operating in the region are focused on expanding their business through mergers, collaborations, acquisitions, product innovations, and more.

For instance, Amcor, one of the global leaders in designing and producing responsible packaging solutions, opened its Amcor Innovation Center Europe (AICE) in Ghent, Belgium, in May 2024. The AICE will pioneer new material technologies to make packaging more sustainable and performant while focusing on designs that stand out in shops and increase consumers' ease of use.

Benelux Flexible Plastic Packaging Market Leaders

Benelux Flexible Plastic Packaging Market News

• June 2024: INEOS Olefins and Polymers Europe achieved a significant milestone by inaugurating a cutting-edge pilot line, marking a global first in the polymer industry. This line collaborates with customers to develop recyclable flexible packaging films. Located at INEOS' R&D hub in Brussels, Belgium, the new multilayer, blown film line featuring Machine Direction Orientation (MDO) stands ready for action.
• January 2024: TekniPlex Healthcare, a global leader in healthcare packaging, unveiled a new multilayer blown film manufacturing line in Puurs, Belgium. This addition directly responds to the surging demand for advanced barrier solutions within the healthcare sector. The installation bolsters TekniPlex's film and bag production and positions the company to meet the escalating market needs.