E-Commerce Packaging Market Size, Share, Industry, Forecast and Outlook (2024-2031)

Global E-Commerce Packaging Market is segmented By Product (Corrugated Boxes, Paperboard Boxes, Plastic Boxes, Foil Sealed Bags, Chipboard Packaging, Recyclable Packaging, Others), By Material (Plastics, Glass, Paper, Others), By Function (Attract Buyers Attention, Protect Goods, Decorative Packaging, Others), By End-User (Apparels and Accessories, Online shoppers, Auto Components, Food & Beverages, Retail, Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics & Personal Care Products, Consumer Electronics, Others), and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2024-2031

E-Commerce Packaging Market Overview

The Global E-Commerce Packaging Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.0% during the forecasting period (2024-2031). E-Commerce packaging is most commonly preferred by the warehousing, logistics and packaging companies that are supplying products through the e-commerce channel. E-commerce packaging is done through cardboard boxes, bags and envelopes, corrugated boxes, paperboard boxes, plastic boxes, foil sealed bags, chipboard packaging and recyclable packaging. This e-commerce packaging is used by several end-user industries such as online shoppers, auto components, food & beverages, retail, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics & personal care products and among others.

Online shopping demand has increased around the globe due to the ease and availability of a wide range of products. E-commerce packaging increased the optimal un-boxing experience which prefers a mix of the right box and the right infill with small details of the packaging of the product from an everyday delivery to a truly custom package.

E-Commerce Packaging Market Summary and Scope

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E-Commerce Packaging Market Dynamics and Trends

The global E-commerce packaging is driven by the rising online shopping trend due to the rising number of internet users around the globe. Further increasing demand by the logistics services due to surge in the purchasing power of the people the e-commerce websites such as Flipkart, Amazon, Foodpanda etc.

Rising demand by the E-commerce with growing global population and growing consumer spending

The market is driven by a surge in online shopping through E-commerce websites with growing consumer spending and a surge in the number of internet users around the globe. According to the UNCTAD, the global e-commerce sale increased by 13% in 2017 reached around US$ 29 trillion this is primarily due to a surge in the number of online shoppers, which are increased by 12% reaching around 1.3 billion people that’s is one forth of the world's population. It created a massive demand for the E-commerce packaging market. ITU estimates that at the end of 2019, 53.6 per cent of the global population or 4.1 billion people are using the Internet.

Rising number of online websites due to growing demand to buy accessories, apparel, cosmetics and personal care products around the globe

Increase in the adoption and launching of e-commerce packaging by the logistic companies due to growing demand to buy accessories, apparel, cosmetics and personal care products around the globe. For instance, on 26th Nov 2019, an online retail outlet sale launched an e-commerce site named outletsale.com for the European market to sell household products.

Regulatory issues from the government regarding corrugated packaging and rising concerns towards environmental safety

Rising strict government rules and regulations for the e-commerce industries may hamper the growth of this market. For instance, on 17th October 2020, the Government of India have issued notices to Amazon, Flipkart for not showing mandatory information such as mandatory display of 'country of origin' on the products.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis on E-Commerce Packaging Market

The global E-commerce packaging market has shown immense demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as several leading players have launched e-commerce websites to facilitate the services to the consumers of the necessary things such as foods, pharmaceutical medicines etc. For instance, on 3rd Sept 2020, Macpac launched a new e-commerce site that provides bakery packaging and general food trays to the Horticulture range to the consumers.

Further, several leading players have conducted campaigns to help the consumers during the covid-19 pandemic crisis. For instance, on 5th May 2020, DS Smith launched popular e-commerce packaging products for essential solutions through e-commerce websites which help SMEs transition through online trading. The company helped to provide packaging during the covid-19 pandemic for essential services including products in a variety of sectors, including; food and drink, apparel and footwear, home and garden, health and beauty, Sports and leisure and pharmaceuticals.

E-Commerce Packaging Market Segmentation Analysis

The global e-commerce packaging market is segmented based on types, material, function, end-users and region.

Rising demand for corrugated packaging due to rising sale of the consumer's electronics

In terms of type, the global e-commerce packaging market is bifurcated into corrugated boxes, paperboard boxes, plastic boxes, foil sealed bags, chipboard packaging, recyclable packaging and others. Among these corrugated boxes, the segment has the highest market share in 2019, this is primarily due to its demand for consumers electronics due to rising online sales which requires corrugated boxes for packaging.

Further rising initiatives of e-commerce websites such as Amazon, Flipkart to support its supply partners during the Covid-19 pandemic helped the growth of the e-commerce packaging sector. For instance, on 3rd June 2020, Amazon has expanded its packaging-free shipping (PFS) initiative in more than 100 cities in India. PFS is a sustainable packaging solution in which customer orders are shipped in their original packaging without any additional packaging.

Increasing demand for the paper packaging using papers due to strict rules for plastic usage

Based on material, the global e-commerce packaging market is divided into paper, plastics, glass and others. Among these, the paper packaging segment has the highest share in 2019, this is primarily due to rising demand for packaging using paper material by the E-commerce leading players. For instance, as per the India Brand Equity Foundation Organization, the Indian E-commerce market reached around US$ 38.5 in 2017 and is projected to reach US$ 200 billion by 2026. This is primarily due to the rising penetration of the internet and smartphone.

The launch of decorative packaging for the packing of the gifts may boost the demand for this market

Based on function, global e-commerce packaging is divided into attracting buyers attention, protecting goods, decorative packaging and others. Among these, the decorative packaging segment has the highest market share in 2019, this is due to rising the adoption and launching of e-commerce packaging based products with the surge in the digital transformation and the rising number of internet users. For instance, as per the India Brand Equity Foundation in 2019, India’s total number of internet users in 2019 reached around 636.73 million and is projected to reach around 829 million by 2021.

Rising online shopping trend around the globe with the surge in the presence of the e-commerce websites

Depending on end-users, the global e-commerce packaging market is divided into apparel and accessories, online shoppers, auto components, food & beverages, retail, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics & personal care products, consumer electronics and others. Among these, the online shopper's segment has the highest market share in 2019, due to the rising number of online shoppers due to the rising prevalence of the Covid-19 cases around the globe. For instance as of 2020, around one-fourth of the global population that is around 2.05 Billion people become online shoppers 2020 (Oberlo).

Similarly, apparel and accessories, online shoppers, auto components, food & beverages, retail, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics & personal care products, consumer electronics segments are also growing due to rising internet penetration around the globe as well as a surge in the online E-commerce online drug delivery platforms due to Covid-19 pandemic all over the world. For instance, on 20th August 2020, Reliance launched e-pharmacy by completing the acquisition of Netmeds Pharma Distribution Company for around US$ 84 million.

E-Commerce Packaging Market Geographical Share

Asia-Pacific region holds the largest market share global E-Commerce Packaging market owing to rising population demand with the surge in the internet users

Asia-Pacific region is dominating the global e-commerce packaging market accounted for the largest market share in 2019, due to the rising number of internet users and presence of the several manufacturing industries followed by North America. For instance, as per International Telecommunication Union in Asia-Pacific, around 63.2% of digital buyers are available in the region with India having 10.4% and Japan with 9.4% in 2019 whereas the retail e-commerce industry in Asia-Pacific accounted for 10.2% of all retail sales in Asia-Pacific and is projected to rise to 20.4% by 2025.

Similarly, North America is also growing at the fastest speed due to rising consumer spending, presence of the manufacturing facilities and the presence of the leading e-commerce websites. As per the corrugated Organization in the United States, there are over 1,154 corrugated manufacturing facilities with approximately 100,000 employees in nearly 1,000 cities and towns.

E-Commerce Packaging Companies and Competitive Landscape

The E-Commerce Packaging market is moderately competitive with the presence of local as well as global companies. Some of the key players which are contributing to the growth of the market include RENGO PACKAGING INC, Orora Packaging Australia Pty Ltd, SAN DIEGO PAPER BOX COMPANY, Spartan Paperboard, NIPPON PAPER INDUSTRIES CO., Roberts PolyPro, International Paper, Smurfit Kappa, Crawford Packaging, Georgia-Pacific, DS Smith, Mondi, Packaging Corporation of America, Salazar Packaging, Lil Packaging USA, Amcor Plc, Klabin S.A. and among others.

The major players are adopting several growth strategies such as product launches, acquisitions, and collaborations, which are contributing to the growth of the e-commerce packaging market globally. For instance, on 3rd July 2019, Amcor launched AmLite Ultra Recyclable, unique, recyclable, high-barrier flexible packaging that can reduce a pack’s carbon footprint by up to 64% with new recyclable packaging.

DS Smith

Overview: DS Smith, founded in 1940, office based in San Diego, California, United States. IrieHemp is the global leading provider of packaging solutions, flexible packaging and bag-in-box solutions, paper products and recycling services.

Product Portfolio: The company has a diverse product portfolio of E-Commerce Packaging including Packaging Design, Innovative Packaging, Industrial Packaging, Retail and Shelf Ready Packaging, Promotional Packaging, POS Displays, Consumer Packaging, Corrugated Pallets, Recycling, and Paper

Retail and Shelf Ready Packaging:

• More stock and more range on the shelf
• Faster replenishment in store
• Better availability
• Brand and promotional communication
• Successful launches
• Good merchandising
• Product visibility and easy navigation for shoppers

Industrial Packaging:

• Industrial packaging protects during each phase of manufacture such as storage and transport of spare parts, semi-finished and finished products. Industrial packaging helps to develop innovative packs for preventing damage and reducing cost in your Supply Cycle. Through an extensive network, we can supply large-format boxes in volume, or single pallet quantities.

Key Development: DS Smith won the award for the reusable e-commerce box with sustainable innovation at the Slovenian Packaging Oscar 2020.