What’s Driving Decisions Made by Beverage Packaging Companies

An important factor drives many of the decisions beverage packaging companies make.

Beverage Packaging Consumer Preference Head Image
One primary factor will affect pack types beverage companies use for their products.
PMMI Business Intelligence: Beverage Industry Packaging Trends

Beverage packaging companies take many factors into account when making decisions. However, one stands out in the crowd as a major influencer: consumer preference.

Consumers desire more sustainable and recyclable packaging while also demanding a greater variety of sizes, flavors, and beverage types. However, existing packaging does not always align with consumer expectations.

That’s according to PMMI Business Intelligence’s “Beverage Industry Packaging Trends,” a report done in collaboration with Advantage Research to provide PMMI member companies and the broader industry with insights into beverage packaging trends that will impact the packaging and processing industry. The research stems from a quantitative online survey conducted from Nov. 21, 2024, to Jan. 21, 2025, and fifteen in-depth interviews conducted between Dec. 2024 and Jan. 2025 among CPG companies and contract packagers in the beverage industry.

Consumers would like to see packaging move away from plastics, but rigid plastic is the most common beverage packaging material used, according to those who participated in the business intelligence team’s survey. Although less common, flexible packaging, metal, and glass are the next most frequently used materials.Beverage Company Survey ChartAs seen, rigid plastic, flexible packaging, and metal are the top three pack types participating beverage companies use.PMMI Business Intelligence: Beverage Industry Packaging Trends

Moreover, survey respondents anticipate a decrease in the use of glass and rigid plastic packaging over the next two to three years, while all other packaging types are expected to increase.

Packaging Increases ChartFuture beverage packaging types are expected to coincide with consumer preferences.PMMI Business Intelligence: Beverage Industry Packaging Trends

SOURCE: PMMI Business Intelligence: Beverage Industry Packaging Trends

For more insights from PMMI’s Business Intelligence team, find reports, including “2024 Snack Foods Packaging Trends” and “2024 Technology & Workforce: Using Smart Technologies to Bridge the Skills Gap at pmmi.org/business-intelligence

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