Molded pulp, once mainly used for egg cartons and protective trays, has now become a widely accepted and scalable option for sustainable packaging in various industries. The regional revenue forecast you provided for 2022–2028 was originally expressed in Chinese yuan (CNY); in this version, those figures have been converted into U.S. dollars (USD) using a constant exchange rate of 1 USD = 7.1 CNY, and are shown in USD million. Based on these updated figures, this summary covers the overall market size, regional trends, growth drivers, and the strategic opportunities for brands and manufacturers shifting away from traditional plastics.
Forecast of Sales Revenue (or Estimated Market Size) for Molded Pulp Products by Major Regions (2022–2028, USD million)
| Year | North America | Europe | Asia-Pacific | Latin America | Middle East & Africa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1122.7 | 947.6 | 2578.6 | 195.4 | 259.3 |
| 2023 | 1202.8 | 1006.9 | 2704.1 | 204.4 | 254.5 |
| 2024 | 1273.8 | 1062.0 | 2839.0 | 212.1 | 269.0 |
| 2025 | 1355.6 | 1123.2 | 2984.1 | 221.7 | 296.6 |
| 2026 | 1429.6 | 1205.6 | 3243.5 | 251.5 | 309.4 |
| 2027 | 1505.9 | 1285.1 | 3425.2 | 267.2 | 319.6 |
| 2028 | 1601.3 | 1373.9 | 3581.5 | 279.3 | 336.6 |
Estimated sales revenue / market size (USD million, converted from CNY at 1 USD = 7.1 CNY)
What are the reasons behind the increasing market share of molded pulp packaging products across different countries?
- In APAC, scale advantages in papermaking and a robust electronics supply chain support molded pulp’s role as protective packaging for handsets, accessories, and small appliances. Local governments continue to set targets for plastic reduction and recycling, which reinforces buyer interest in fiber alternatives for foodservice and grocery.
- Europe’s growth is driven by regulatory alignment and retailer commitments: supermarket private labels, cosmetics, and premium beverages increasingly specify plastic-free or “plastic-reduced” packaging, opening opportunities for thermoformed fiber (also called FBB or TFP) with high surface quality.
- In North America, large consumer brands and direct-to-consumer sellers are converging on “frustration-free,” mono-material formats; molded pulp inserts that replace EPS or PET blisters are gaining acceptance because they ship efficiently and are easy to recycle with paper. Latin America and MEA remain price-sensitive but show clear momentum in eggs, produce, tableware, and protective end-caps for appliances and furniture as retailers modernize their supply chains.
2023–2028 North America (U.S. & Canada) Molded Pulp Product Sales Volume (or Estimated Market Size) (100M units)
What are the market size trends of molded pulp products in North America in recent years?
North American molded pulp products sales are set to expand steadily from 189.40 in 2023 to 251.08 by 2028, implying a compound annual growth rate of roughly 5.8%. The year-on-year gains are consistent but uneven: about +6.6% in 2024, +3.6% in 2025, +7.4% in 2026, +5.2% in 2027, and +6.3% in 2028. In other words, the market’s slope is decisively upward, with occasional mid-cycle breathing room (2025) followed by re-acceleration (2026–2028). This pattern is typical of a maturing sustainability-driven category where new regulations, capacity additions, and end-market conversions land in waves.
Why are more and more US companies opting to replace traditional packaging with molded pulp products?
- Policy and regulation. State and provincial bans or restrictions on single-use plastics and EPS foams continue to stack up across the U.S. and Canada. Even where mandates lag, many municipalities and large buyers pre-empt tighter rules by switching to fiber solutions. This policy tailwind creates a durable floor for molded pulp demand in foodservice, protective packaging, and consumer goods.
- Corporate commitments & retailer pressure. CPG firms and big-box retailers have made public packaging targets around recyclability, compostability, and plastic reduction. Molded pulp—already perceived as recyclable/compostable and “low-guilt”—tends to be an early swap for trays, clamshells, egg and produce carriers, and e-commerce dunnage.
- E-commerce and parcel protection. As e-commerce volumes stabilize at a higher post-pandemic baseline, shippers keep replacing plastic air pillows and foams with fiber cushions and molded inserts to simplify materials and improve curbside recyclability.
- Technology and design improvements. Newer thermoformed and fine-finish molded fiber grades rival plastic on strength, dimensional fidelity, and surface feel, opening premium beauty, electronics, and food applications that once resisted fiber due to aesthetics or performance.
- Supply-side buildout. North American mills and converters have been adding lines and upgrading tooling, which helps relieve bottlenecks and supports the re-acceleration visible from 2026 onward.
Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, etc.) Molded Pulp Product Sales Volume, 2023–2028 (100M units)
What are the market size trends of molded pulp products in European in recent years?
Europe’s molded pulp (fiber-based) packaging market rises from 158.01 in 2023 to 211.20 in 2028, a solid ~6% CAGR. Growth steps up in waves—+7.4% (2024), +4.4% (2025), +4.9% (2026), +7.2% (2027), +6.0% (2028)—with no contraction years, reflecting steady adoption of fiber formats across foodservice, grocery produce, e-commerce protection, and premium trays.
Why are more and more European companies opting to replace traditional packaging with molded pulp products?
Why fiber gains share: Policy pull, not plastic push. EU and national measures targeting single-use plastics (e.g., EPS/foam restrictions, EPR, taxes) don’t make pulp “plastic”—they simply redirect demand toward fiber solutions that are recyclable/compostable and curbside-friendly. Retailer and brand scorecards. European grocers/CPGs favor mono-material fiber for simpler recovery; molded pulp fits egg/produce carriers, clamshells, and protective inserts, lifting baseline volumes. Design advances in fiber. Fine-finish/thermoformed molded pulp improves edges, tolerances, printability, and barrier options, unlocking beauty and electronics trays from mid-decade. Local capacity additions. New converting lines and better tooling throughput reduce lead times, allowing large accounts to scale beyond pilots—hence the re-acceleration in 2027–2028.
Summary:
- Steady growth: North America rises from 189.4 (2023) to 251.1 (2028), ~5.8% CAGR; Europe from 158.0 to 211.2, ~6% CAGR—Europe a bit faster.
- Staircase, not a straight line: a softer 2025, then re-acceleration 2026–2028—waves driven by regulation rollouts, new capacity coming online, and customers moving from pilots to scale.
- Structural substitution: bans/taxes on single-use plastics and foams plus retailer/brand sustainability KPIs push fiberization across foodservice, produce, e-commerce protective packaging, and beauty/electronics trays.
- Technology tailwinds: fine-finish/thermoformed fiber, better surfaces and barriers open higher-value uses, lifting mid-to-late-period growth and unit economics.
- Supply enablers: added lines and faster tooling in the U.S./EU ease bottlenecks, supporting the 2026–2028 re-acceleration.
