North America

While nut- and seed-based spreads, such as peanut butter, continued to be predominantly packaged in PET jars in the US in 2023, flexible plastic continued to gain pack type share, as they are increasingly adopted by prominent players such as Jif.…

Although PET jars still lead packaging in chocolate spreads, glass jars have been gaining unit volume share in this category. Glass jars are considered more environmentally friendly than plastic packaging as they are recyclable and can be reused.…

PepsiCo Beverages North America recently made another significant step on its sustainability journey by replacing plastic rings with paperboard packaging for carbonates multipacks in North America, starting from 29 August 2023. This was for both…

There has been an increasing shift towards smaller formats in the packaging of soft drinks among Canadian consumers. This shift can be primarily attributed to the convenience offered by smaller packaging, like fitting easily into bags or cup holders…

COVID-19 resulted in a sharp increase in demand for sauces, dressings and condiments packaging during 2020, particularly for rigid plastic and glass, which account for the bulk of packaging units for these products. Rigid plastic dominates packaging…

The generation of plastic waste has been an important concern for players in the packaged food industry for a number of years now, with brand owners continuing to innovate their packaging to boost sustainability credentials and meet plans to reduce…

While HDPE bottles, PET bottles and PET jars are the main pack types in mayonnaise in Canada, glass jars were gaining share in unit volume terms in this category over the review period, with this expected to continue over the forecast period. Glass…

2020 saw a surge in demand for ready meals packaging, as fears of supply chain disruption led consumers to stockpile ready meals, with frozen ready meals in paper-based cartons proving to be particularly popular. Frozen pizza was also a standout…

Within processed meat categories such as chilled processed meat, the naturalness of meat products is becoming increasingly important as US consumers are continuously growing more aware of the impact of their consumption both on their health and on…

Processed meat and seafood packaging had been in decline for a number of years before the pandemic resulted in a growth spike in 2020 in Canada. Since 2020, it has been back in decline, including another fall in its packaging unit volumes in 2023.…

Shelf stable fruit player GoGo squeeZ is constantly innovating its packaging in order to align with its sustainability goals, with initiatives such as transitioning its aluminium/plastic retort pouch packaging to use 100% recycled materials in 2020…

Glass jars are popular for use in shelf stable vegetables packaging in Canada due to their exceptional preservation properties, visual appeal and environmental credentials. These qualities make them a popular choice for manufacturers and consumers…

Plant-based yoghurt, following in the footsteps of the popularity of plant-based milk, is increasingly growing in the US from a niche to a mainstream product, attracting a growing eco- and health-conscious consumer base. Awareness around the growing…

While brick liquid cartons and gable top liquid cartons are still the biggest pack types in the category in unit volume terms, shaped liquid cartons are seeing strong growth and gaining share in the packaging of plant-based milk in Canada. Shaped…

In 2022, the US saw a significant rise in the demand for convenient packaging solutions, reflecting evolving consumer lifestyles and preferences. This trend was catalysed by a multitude of factors, including the busy, on-the-go nature of modern life.…

In 2022, packaging in Canada was consumer-centric, with their lifestyles and demands shaping the packaging industry. Sustainability was the key concern driving packaging innovation in Canada in 2022. The Canadian government released its Single-Use…

Chilled ready meals are largely regarded as a convenience food as they contain prepared meals that require only heating before consumption. These meals are primarily packaged in specific ready meal containers, which are typically microwave-safe…

Due to factors like recyclability and functional design, folding cartons continue to gain pack type share in frozen ready meals in Canada, having already become the most popular packaging format in the category over the review period, just ahead of…

Single-serve fresh ground coffee pods that are compostable are gaining significant traction in the US hot drinks market, championed by brands like Bugle Call Coffee and San Francisco Bay Coffee. Bugle Call Coffee offers convenient and compostable…

Thin wall plastic containers were the leading pack type in coffee packaging in 2023, and are expected to record growth in this category over the forecast period. This trend is attributed to the prevalence of fresh ground coffee pods in Canada, with…

The retail unit volumes of HDPE bottles continued to hold the biggest share in overall home care products in 2022. The preference for HDPE bottles can be attributed to their practicality and user-friendliness in dispensing home care products. These…

Volume sales of home care wipes and surface care products were declining over 2022, leading to a fall in the packaging unit volume sales of the main pack types in these categories, flexible plastic and other rigid containers for the former and HDPE…

In 2023, yoghurt remained the largest dairy category in the US in terms of packaging unit volume sales. Prominent players in yoghurt, such as Chobani, are turning to packaging to sustain consumer interest and set themselves apart from the…

In 2023, the pack type share of HDPE bottles continued to increase for goat milk packaging. HDPE is a food-safe plastic that does not leach harmful chemicals into the products it holds. This helps maintain the freshness and quality of dairy products…

Growing eco awareness across the US is driving consumers to seek out products that provide more sustainable end-of-cycle outcomes for packaging and the reduction of plastic waste generation. In turn, packaging players are responding to this demand by…

Flexible packaging continues to be the dominant packaging in confectionery, with flexible plastic the main individual pack type thanks to its strong position in chocolate confectionery. Flexible plastic is also the most-used pack type for sugar…

Hair care lost its position as the biggest category in unit volume terms in beauty and personal care packaging to bath and shower in 2020, when the latter product area experienced a massive spike in demand due to the pandemic arriving in the US in…

The growth of skin care packaging in Canada can be attributed to an increasing demand for skin care products as Canadians place a greater emphasis on self-care and wellness. This has led to a greater need for packaging solutions that accommodate the…

Although 2023 was an exception, aluminium/plastic pouches have generally been gaining share in baby food in packaging unit volume terms, with this expected to continue over the forecast period. Aluminium/plastic pouches are particularly widely used…

Stand-up pouches are the most popular pack type in Canadian baby food, including both plastic pouches and aluminium/plastic pouches. They are viewed as offering a modern look, while being lighter and safer than glass, and enabling infants to feed…

The continued increase in packaging unit volumes for RTDs in the US, despite the overall decline in the alcoholic drinks packaging industry in this country, is attributed to factors such as convenience and portability, changing consumer preferences…

Alcoholic drinks packaging declined in the retail channel, increased in the foodservice channel and saw only minimal growth overall in Canada in 2022. While shifting consumer preferences towards premium and craft beverages have been seen in recent…