The Flexible Packaging Market: Growth, Innovation… and New Challenges

The U.S. flexible packaging market is booming. In 2025, it’s valued at nearly $84.9 billion — and projections suggest it will exceed $123 billion by 2034. That’s a steady annual growth rate of over 4%.

Why? Because flexible packaging is uniquely suited to today’s consumer and business needs:
✅ E-commerce: Online shopping demands lightweight, durable packaging that lowers shipping costs.
✅ Convenience: Ready-to-eat meals and on-the-go lifestyles fuel demand for resealable, portion-controlled formats.
✅ Sustainability: Consumers and regulators alike are pushing for recyclable, compostable, and bio-based materials.
✅ Technology: “Smart packaging” with QR codes and sensors is making supply chains more transparent and products safer.

This all sounds like a recipe for growth and innovation — and it is. But there’s another side to the story.

The Market’s Double-Edged Sword

While demand is strong, the industry is grappling with unprecedented volatility. Global supply chain disruptions, rising material costs, and tariff-driven trade policies are reshaping the economics of packaging. For converters, balancing innovation with cost and supply stability has never been more difficult.

At Now Plastics, we’ve spent decades navigating these ups and downs. And what we see today is clear: growth and disruption are colliding head-on.

👉 In our next post, I’ll break down the biggest pain points converters are facing right now — from raw material shortages to fragile supply chains.