Europe Pet Food Packaging Industry Expands As Premium Pet Nutrition Demand Accelerates

 

The Europe Pet Food Packaging Industry is projected to reach USD 5,520 million by 2035, rising from USD 3,590 million in 2025 at a 4.4% CAGR, according to Future Market Insights, Inc. The expansion is being shaped by demand for convenient formats, premium pet food, recyclable packaging, and e-commerce-ready solutions across European markets.

Why now? Regulatory requirements are tightening while pet owners increasingly favor convenient and sustainable formats. Future Market Insights analysis identifies flexible packaging, bags and pouches, dog food, and dry food as key investment segments through 2035.

Europe Pet Food Packaging Industry Shifts Toward Flexible Formats

In 2024, European demand moved toward single-serve and resealable packaging, particularly in urban locations such as Berlin, Paris, and Amsterdam. Limited living space and rising solo-household dwellings supported demand for smaller pet food packs, while retailers requested shelf-ready formats to improve in-store efficiency.

Inflation added another pressure point. Producers increasingly focused on supply-chain optimization and reducing material waste, according to Future Market Insights analysis.

Flexible pack formats are gaining volume share because they use less material and can offer cost advantages compared with traditional rigid food packaging. However, logistics constraints and production scalability issues delayed the rollout of some new packaging formats.

“Flexible packaging is increasingly tied to both convenience and material efficiency,” according to the Future Market Insights analysis. “The next phase will depend on how quickly suppliers can align those benefits with European circularity requirements.”

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Sustainability and E-Commerce Reshape Packaging Investment

From 2025 onward, Future Market Insights expects sustained pet humanization and stronger demand for high-end pet food to support packaging demand. E-commerce is adding another requirement: premium, lightweight containers must withstand shipment while preserving brand presentation.

The EU Green Deal is expected to encourage broader use of reusable materials and closed-loop packaging. Developments in barrier films and digital printing are also expected to improve functionality, shelf life, and personalization for pet food brands.

Extractable industry fact:
Amcor plc is a multinational packaging company that holds an estimated 25% share of the European pet food packaging industry in 2025, according to the supplied Future Market Insights analysis.

Mondi Group follows with an estimated 20% share, while Constantia Flexibles holds 15% and Huhtamaki Group accounts for 10%. Other regional operators collectively represent 30%, pointing to a moderately consolidated competitive structure.

Bags, Pouches and Plastic Lead Key Segments

Plastic is projected to remain the most remunerative material segment between 2025 and 2035, growing at approximately 4.7% CAGR, above the overall industry CAGR of 4.4%. Its lightweight characteristics, cost advantages, and suitability for functional packaging continue to support adoption.

Bags and pouches are projected to grow at approximately 4.9% CAGR through 2035. Resealability, portion control, space efficiency, and lightweight construction are supporting demand, while recyclable pouches and green laminates are aligning with sustainability priorities.

Dog food is expected to remain the highest revenue-generating end-use segment, growing at approximately 4.6% CAGR. Premium organic and specialty nutrition products are increasing requirements for packaging that supports product protection, shelf appeal, and e-commerce delivery.

Dry food is projected to grow at approximately 4.8% CAGR, supported by longer shelf life, cost efficiency, consumer convenience, increased pet adoption, and packaging innovations focused on freshness retention.

“Packaging decisions are becoming closely connected to regulation, convenience, and premiumization,” Future Market Insights states in its industry assessment. “For manufacturers, the practical priority is moving packaging development closer to recyclable, lightweight, and e-commerce-compatible formats.”

Regulation Creates Different Country-Level Priorities

Germany is projected to grow at a 4.5% CAGR from 2025 to 2035. The German Packaging Act, or VerpackG, requires packaging registration through the LUCID database, while extended producer responsibility and eco-modulation influence material choices.

France is forecast to expand at a 4.2% CAGR, with Loi AGEC driving requirements around recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging. France also requires the Triman logo under applicable waste-sorting requirements.

The United Kingdom is projected to grow at 4.3% CAGR. The UK Plastics Packaging Tax and EPR changes have increased compliance requirements, including taxation for packaging containing less than 30% recycled plastic.

Italy is forecast to grow at 4.1% CAGR, supported by Legislative Decree 116/2020 and CONAI requirements. Spain follows at 4.0% CAGR, with Royal Decree 1055/2022 supporting reuse and eco-design obligations and Ecoembes serving as the national EPR scheme.

Stakeholders Face a Sustainability-First Investment Cycle

Future Market Insights identifies three immediate priorities for industry stakeholders: accelerate sustainable material adoption, develop convenient and premium packaging configurations, and strengthen e-commerce packaging and distribution alliances.

The industry also faces identifiable risks. Regulatory delays in circular packaging compliance carry a medium probability and high impact, while raw material and resin cost volatility carries a high probability and medium impact.

The one-year executive watchlist includes feasibility studies for regionally sourced bio-materials, OEM feedback loops for smart labels and QR codes, and pilot programs for co-promotions with private-label retail chains.

Future Market Insights concludes that companies investing in mono-material packaging, digital printing, integrated distribution systems, and agile supply networks will be better positioned to respond to regulatory requirements and changing pet-owner expectations through 2035.

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About Future Market Insights (FMI)

Future Market Insights, Inc. (FMI) is an ESOMAR-certified, ISO 9001:2015 market research and consulting organization, trusted by Fortune 500 clients and global enterprises. With operations in the U.S., UK, India, and Dubai, FMI provides data-backed insights and strategic intelligence across 30+ industries and 1200 markets worldwide.