Environmentally friendly claims are set to become increasingly important in food packaging, as the impact of plastic waste on the environment takes centre stage in the media. This spotlight puts mounting pressure on brands and retailers alike to take a proactive and responsible approach to reducing food packaging waste and to help support higher levels of recycling. While alternative materials can offer standout, the higher production costs – particularly at a time when food prices are rising and real incomes are being squeezed – is a barrier. However, the preference to buy loose fresh fruit and vegetables rather than pre-packed, and the notable interest in buying other food products loose, bodes well for plastic-free aisles in supermarkets. Where plastics continue to be used in food packaging, ensuring that the recycling process is quicker and more straightforward is important, particularly as a fifth of consumers feel that recycling takes up too much time.

Catering to the needs of older age groups will also become increasingly important for companies. Products that highlight features such as being easy-to-open and resealable hold the greatest appeal among older cohorts.

This Report examines NPD and consumer trends in the UK market for food packaging in relation to consumer products. This includes outer and inner packaging purchased with products, but excludes packaging used for bulk transportation and industrial purposes.

This Report does not follow the usual format of Market Intelligence Reports, due to the nature of the industry. For example, the large numbers of suppliers in this industry means that it is not applicable to include a section on manufacturer/brand share data, while due to the absence of consumer-facing sales of packaging as a standalone product, it is not applicable to include a section on market size.