The circular packaging puzzle: 5 pieces shaping an uncertain picture

Momentum has mounted in recent years for the packaging industry to drive towards a far more sustainable future. However, the speed of this transition and the winners and losers within the packaging industry are far from obvious. This report examines five fundamental pieces of the circular packaging puzzle: pricing, legislation, brand commitments, chemical recycling and bottlenecks. We consider how these five factors will influence long-term circular packaging growth, and at a more micro-level through the lens of mono-material flexible packaging (mono-materials). We currently expect mono materials’ global share of flexible packaging to remain fairly steady in the 2020s. However, it is easy to envisage a tipping point towards mono-materials: their upside case is highly plausible.