Italy Flexible Plastic Packaging Market

Italy Flexible Plastic Packaging Market Analysis

The Italy Flexible Plastic Packaging Market size in terms of shipment volume is expected to grow from 0.54 million tonnes in 2025 to 0.69 million tonnes by 2030, at a CAGR of 5.29% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

• In Italy, the plastic packaging industry is poised for growth, buoyed by rising living standards, increasing incomes with more working professionals, and a broader array of goods being purchased by consumers. Social factors and market trends in developed economies significantly shape the demand for packaging materials. While plastics, especially in lightweight forms, are gaining traction, they still constitute a minor portion of the overall packaging weight.
• Over the past years, it has surged ahead, driven by the prowess of companies specializing in food packaging and luxury goods. Flexible packaging is increasingly gaining popularity in the food industry for its quality, flexibility, barrier properties, printability, environmental sustainability, and high-service content.
• This is owing to the benefits of using flexible packaging, such as being lightweight, flexible, and resistant to moisture and humidity. Thus, instant noodles, biscuits, and snack packaging materials are widely used in the food industry. Typically, flexible plastic packaging consists of multiple layers of different materials, meeting food safety requirements while being lightweight and flexible.
• The country is also focused on waste management to recycle plastic waste as part of making the packaging sustainable. For instance, in May 2024, BlueAlp, an advanced recycling technology company, signed an agreement with Recupero Etico Sostenibile SpA (RES), an Italian waste management pioneer. BlueAlp will deliver a technology license and engineer, procure, and manufacture the unit in its workshop in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The plant will be set up in Pettoranello del Molise, Italy, and is estimated to be operational by mid-2026. This responds to the significant market for high-quality recycled content solutions, such as from FMCG players with ambitions to make plastic food packaging circular.
• The plastic packaging industry has been witnessing a surge in prices of all types of plastic materials, attributed to several factors, including the increase in the introductory price of the materials. Consequently, the cost of the finished product has witnessed a significant surge in recent times. The market continued to exceed supply as the availability of raw materials needed to be increased. Cost inflation was significant and broad-based, affecting raw materials, labor, distribution, and energy.

Italy Flexible Plastic Packaging Market Trends

An Increase in Consumer Living Standards and Disposable Incomes is Expected to Drive the Market

• The Italian flexible plastic packaging market is projected to expand, driven by various factors such as rising living standards, increased disposable income, and consumer demand for different goods. Adopting lightweight packaging materials, particularly plastics, also contributes to the growth.
• According to the Bank of Italy, the country's GDP is projected to increase by 0.6% in 2024, 0.9% in 2025, and 1.1% in 2026; without adjusting for calendar effects, GDP growth would be 0.8% in 2024, 2025, and 1.2% in 2026, respectively. Economic activity is anticipated to benefit from the acceleration in foreign demand and the recovery in disposable income. This might change consumer preferences when purchasing packaged products.
• Further, according to the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), in January 2024, Italian families saw growth in disposable income, purchasing power, and savings in the third quarter of 2023. The National Statistics Institute's quarterly non-financial General Government (GG) account revealed that household gross disposable income and final consumption expenditure increased by 1.8% and 1.2%, respectively, compared to the second quarter of 2023. In real terms, the purchasing power of Italian consumer households increased by 1.3% from the previous quarter, outpacing a 0.5% rise in prices. Therefore, increased incomes might lead to a surge in consumer spending, driving the demand for a flexible plastic packaging market.
• The market share of the leading grocery retailers in Italy as of October 2023 includes Conad, Selex, and Coop Italia. In 2023, Conad claimed the top spot as Italy's premier food retailer, commanding a 15% market share. Following closely behind was Selex Gruppo Commerciale, securing a 14.7% share. Noteworthy, among the top ten retailers were prominent supermarket chains like Coop Italia, Esselunga, Carrefour, and Lidl.
• The country also witnessed a rise in the expansion of international and domestic supermarkets. In April 2023, DESPAR Italia's partners have recently inaugurated four new stores and undertook extensive modernization efforts on six existing ones across Italy. These actions underscore the ongoing commitment of the retail consortium to bolster its presence in the Italian market. The rise in supermarkets across the country, owing to demand for consumer demand for shopping, is expected to drive the market's growth.

The Food Segment is Expected to Witness Growth

• The Italian low-calorie food market is growing, driven by shifting consumption habits and a growing preference for healthier food choices. Consumers seek convenient, budget-friendly snacks that satisfy their daily nutritional requirements and satisfy their cravings. The food industry swiftly adapts, embracing advanced raw material sourcing, processing, and preservation methods alongside innovative packaging solutions.
• According to a study by Rome Business School in July 2023, demographic and lifestyle shifts fuel a rising interest in healthy eating. Post-COVID, there's a heightened awareness of how diet impacts health and the environment, spurring an appreciation for traditional food experiences. According to Eurostat, the wholesale of meat and meat products witnessed growth. In 2020, the revenue was USD 12.74 billion, reaching USD 13.30 billion in 2023. A rise in meat consumption is expected to raise the demand for flexible plastic packaging products in the country.
• Further, Italy, a top 3 favorite for European tourists in 2023, stands out as the global frontrunner in food and wine tourism. A remarkable 67% of Italian tourists recently indulged in at least five culinary experiences, with Sicily, Emilia-Romagna, and Campania emerging as the most alluring regions. This marked a significant uptick from 2021, with a 25% surge, fueled by 94% of tourists exploring culinary delights in restaurants and 74% venturing to production sites.
• In April 2024, Eatable Adventures and the Italia del Gusto food consortium revealed six pioneering projects through their packaging challenge; these range from industrial packaging crafted with alternative materials to innovative proposals that streamline production processes. The challenge's core pillars are recycling, reducing, exploring alternative materials, and enhancing process efficiency. Launched in December, this initiative is a joint effort by Italia del Gusto, a private consortium of prominent Italian food and wine producers, and Eatable Adventures, a key player in global food acceleration. Such initiatives might further encourage biodegradable plastic packaging in the country.

Italy Flexible Plastic Packaging Industry Overview

The Italian flexible plastic packaging market is fragmented with domestic and global players such as Amcor PLC, Berry Global, and Mainetti SpA. Players operating in the region are focused on expanding their business through mergers, collaborations, acquisitions, product innovations, and others.

• February 2024: Mainetti SpA, a global packaging company, expanded its operations to Bangladesh, specifically Dhaka, to enhance its sustainable, flexible packaging business and amplify its Polyloop recycling initiative. The newly inaugurated facility, covering 85,000 sq. ft, is poised to redefine sustainable packaging solutions, catering to local and international retail brands. This move highlights Mainetti's dedication to meeting the dynamic demands of retailers and realizing its ambitious five-year growth strategy in flexible packaging.

Italy Flexible Plastic Packaging Market Leaders

Italy Flexible Plastic Packaging Market News

• June 2024: Crocco (SpA SB), a flexible packaging company, and Versalis, Eni's chemical company, launched a partnership to produce food packaging film made from raw materials partly derived from the recycling of post-consumer plastics. The partnership targets mass production for the large-scale retail market. Versalis' product, Balance, is the crucial ingredient in the packaging, enabling the creation of a recycled film specifically designed for food contact. This film upholds the necessary technical performance standards and ensures the health properties vital for food packaging.
• April 2024: Flow Materials launched a new range of flexible packaging adhesives. Flow Materials launched its latest range of solvent-free, water-based adhesive solutions as a sustainability-minded asset for flexible packaging. The company collaborates with clients in Italy and other countries to revolutionize supply chain dynamics. The company focuses on adhesive supply for flexible packaging converters.