Ambient Food Packaging Market Trends

Ambient Food Packaging Market Overview

Ambient Food Packaging Market Size was valued at USD 79.95 Billion in 2023. The ambient food packaging market is projected to grow from USD 83.55 Billion in 2024 to USD 125.33 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% during the forecast period (2024 - 2032). Ambient food packaging is popularly known for packaging and storing a food product that undergoes the process of sterilization and pasteurization of the food packets to increase its quality and shelf life. This market trend emerges in the food packaging sectors and ambient food items are recommended by the majority of the consumers compared to others. 

Rising demand for having much space in cold cabinets terms for the assumption of the food packaging techniques that may provide a better shelf life to the packed items even in the absence of a refrigerator. More in the shelf life of packed foods react as a necessary factor that could drive the market growth of the ambient food packaging industry.

August 2023 - Amcor launched AmFiber high-barrier performance paper packaging for curbside recycling in North America, aiming at delivering the exact barrier, shelf life and machine performance qualities required by different brands and products. By coming up with a recyclable alternative to conventional plastic packages that are non-biodegradable, Amcor's AmFiber packaging aids brands in meeting their sustainability goals. A high barrier coating ensures maximum protection to packaged goods enhancing their shelf life as well as retaining product freshness within them. It is designed for optimal processing on packaging machines so as to ensure smooth production and minimum downtime. The introduction of Amcor’s AmFiber High-Barrier Performance Paper Packaging in North America highlights a growing need for sustainable packaging solutions across the region.
The aim of this offering is to provide a superiorly effective barrier while maintaining the recyclability of the package through curbside recycling systems.

COVID 19 Analysis

The pandemic outbreaks almost impact all the sectors in the industries. But some of the exceptional sectors like ambient food packaging industries due to its demand. Because of the concern of the costumer’s health the ordered products must be packed properly. The ambient food packaging trend is most demanding and essential during the lockdown period. Food products like meat, fruits, dairy products, and vegetables are required to pack and deliver.

The packaging companies growing high due to the demand for provisions like packed pulses, packed sweets, packed meals, etc. these kinds of products are perishable so the expiry time is very less compared to other products. The market share of the ambient food sector is huge because of its necessity during the pandemic crisis.

Ambient Food Packaging Market Dynamics

Market drivers

The major factors that drive the market of ambient food packaging were the manufacturers of the food products in various forms. The ambient packaging helps the food products sustain a longer shelf period. The materials used for the packing products like trays, bags, cups, bottles, pouches, and wrappers. 

The increasing growth for the food packaging market is because of the quality of the packaging, user friendly, eco-friendly, food safety, and customer satisfaction. The main factor for the growth of the ambient food packaging market trends is due to the process of pasteurization and sterilization of the packed products to increase the lifetime of the product. That rise the market share of the ambient food packaging market trend.    

Market opportunities

The new technologies used in the packaging industries emerge the growth of the ambient food packaging market. The recent methods utilized in food packaging markets such as smart packaging and active packaging. Manufacturers estimate the intrinsic and extrinsic properties of the packed food products that impact their safety and equality.

Smart packaging can solve many problems in various industries. Presently, the most general appearance of smart packaging, specifically out of food and beverage industries, is called active smart packaging. This depends on modern chemistry or elements to minimize product destruction and preserve product quality.

But multinational professional services network points to an enormous opportunity in connected food product packaging, that uses mobile communication data and wireless technology to combine information. The ambient food packaging industries provide an opportunity to the mobile applications for traceability, supply chain, track the orders, and the consumer interaction.

August 2020 - Cosmo Films introduced a Bi-axially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) based transparent film apply suited for large packs and pouches used in the fresh food packaging industry.

Market restraints

The ambient food packaging market has some restraints like the packaging materials cost is high based on the material used for the packaging of the products. Some of the vendors provide low-quality packaging products which may impact the customers. The toughest part is to earn customer satisfaction. It may vary because of its transporting medium. 

These are the major factors that restrict the market growth of the ambient food packaging industries and the crisis impacts the market share value of the food packaging market

Market challenges

The ambient food packaging industry has many challenges because the packaging materials mostly depend on plastic material. Some of the developed and developing countries banned plastics items and polythene bags which makes the market suffers a lot. These sudden changes should be adopted by the investing vendors of the food packaging industries. This is very difficult because of the traditional systems. 

Additionally, some of the customer's requirements for durable, eco-friendly packaging products. If it is implemented the profit growth will be decreased because of its higher cost. The consumers also think about the cost which they spent only for the packaging material. These factors are reducing the value of the market size and market trends.

Cumulative growth analysis

Customers anticipate ambient food packaging products that are Eco-friendly and reliable. Enterprises are investing in research and development to enhance food packaging products that could be salvaged and have the traditional competence of friction, heat resistance, and moisture. A new unique technology invented by the Aero-Clay technology and western university aids in converting clay and other elements into a versatile product that is environment-friendly, sturdy, and heat-resistant. The market size of the ambient market was at USD 308.3 billion in the year 2019 and it is expected to reach USD 6.2 million by the year 2027 and register a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period.

It could be utilized as an enveloped packaging product and could keep materials fresh and tasty for quite longer, those are the basic demand for ambient food packaging materials. Even though, the processing layers are more which is the mandatory things required for the ambient food packaging process that emerges the rise of the market growth of ambient food packaging materials. 

Value chain analysis

Ambient food packaging grants a longer shelf period to the packed product as analogized to the general packaging technique, providing storage of materials at room temperature. In addition, it intricated the usage of large barrier sheets, it promises aspects like the safety of the packed food, customer convenience, and appealing design. These supporting elements have yielded in rising demand for the market trend of ambient food packaging out of international food manufacturers.

Governments, over regions, have fixed some regulations to decrease the packaging waste, which drives the market demand for eco-friendly packaging elements such as renewable ambient food packaging. The considerable growth in e-Commerce and trading has also expanded the rise of ambient food packaging. 

Manufacturers estimate the intrinsic and extrinsic properties of the packed food products that impact their safety and equality. It consists of the manufacturing process, materials used, packaging type, and conditions. There are two mandatory processes for ambient food packaging are pasteurization and sterilization. Rising competition for cold cabinet space considerable growth in requirement of food packaging, it could enhance shelf life. The utilization of reliable packaging products is a market trend in the packaging market, this increases the market demand for legitimate packaging materials.

Ambient Food Packaging Market Segment overview

Ambient Food Packaging Market Based on Segments

• Product Type


• Material Type


• Region

Ambient Food Packaging Market Based on Product Type

• Flexible Packaging


• Rigid Packaging

Ambient Food Packaging Market Based on Material Type

• Glass


• Metal


• Plastic

Based on Region:

• Europe


• APAC


• North America 


• Other parts of the world

Regional analysis

The market of ambient food packaging is occurred in many developed and developing regions of the world. This includes Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, and Japan.

Asia-Pacific dominates the ambient food packaging market due to the rise in product advancements and growing food processing industries in this region.

North America is the expected region in terms of growth in the ambient food packaging market due to the rise in the penetration of the internet and smartphones, coupled with significant growth in the E-commerce sector in this region.

Competitive landscape

• Tetra Pak (India)


• Mondi (South Africa)


• FFP Packaging Solutions Ltd. (U.K)


• Amcor Limited (Australia)


• Dupont (U.S)


• Amcor Limited (Australia)


• Ampac (U.S)


• SIG Comb iBlog Obeikan (Switzerland)


• Rexam (U.K)


• RPC Group (U.K)

Recent developments

In July 2023, Sealed Air announced the launch of its new compostable food packaging. The new packaging is made from plant-based materials and is designed to be composted in home and commercial composting facilities.

This report has covered:

• Market overview


• COVID 19 Analysis


• Market dynamics


• Cumulative growth analysis


• Value chain analysis


• Segment overview


• Regional analysis


• Competitive landscape


• Recent developments

Segmentation Table:

Based on Segments:

• Product Type


• Material Type


• Region 

Based on Product Type:

• Flexible Packaging


• Rigid Packaging 

Based on Material Type:

• Glass


• Metal


• Plastic

Based on Region:

• Europe


• APAC


• North America 


• Other parts of the world