In 2023, thin wall plastic containers continued to dominate butter and spreads packaging in Vietnam, primarily due to the cost-effectiveness, lightweight nature, and durability of this pack type. These containers offer excellent protection against external factors such as moisture and contaminants, ensuring the freshness and quality of the product. In addition, their flexibility and ease of moulding allow manufacturers to create various sizes (ranging from 80g to 500g), and different shapes that

In December 2022, Almarai successfully conducted a commercial trial utilising 10% post-consumer recycled PET plastic in its Zabadi cups. This initiative, launched officially in 2023, aims to drive demand for post-consumer recycled material, thereby supporting the evolution of a waste recycling ecosystem. Starting in 2023, this initiative is expected to reduce packaging usage in these formats by up to 25%, without compromising on the quality, strength and sturdiness of the packaging. In addition,

PET bottles have become a popular choice for drinking yoghurt due to their lightweight nature, which makes them easy to carry and reduces transportation costs. In addition, PET bottles offer superior barrier properties, protecting the product from light, oxygen and microorganisms, thereby ensuring food safety and extending shelf life. In fact, PET bottles have an oxygen barrier that is 15-30 times more effective than that of HDPE bottles. This high level of protection preserves the quality and f

Consumers in Sweden have fully embraced the transition from glass bottles to alternative packaging in milk, with liquid cartons now dominating sales in this category. Gable top liquid cartons, in particular, offer greater utility than traditional round bottles, making milk easier to pour. These cartons are popular in milk packaging due to their space efficiency and improved pouring convenience compared to glass bottles. Moreover, the majority of gable top liquid cartons are more environmentally

Record growth in milk prices during 2022 led to sharp inflation in dairy products, with the impact of this continuing into 2023. Dairy producers were therefore faced with significant pressure from rising input costs, making livestock farming unprofitable and forcing some farmers to reduce the size of their herds, disrupting the supply chain. The Food Chain Law, effective since December 2021, prohibits selling products at below cost, compelling producers and retailers to increase end prices multi

While HDPE bottles remained the major pack type for drinking milk products in 2023, gable-top liquid cartons continued to gain share in this category in this year, and are even likely to become the leading packaging format over the forecast period. The most common material used to make gable-top liquid cartons is paperboard, which is both biodegradable and widely recyclable. This is in line with the growing preferences among consumers for packaging that is easily recyclable or can be disposed of

Sales of yoghurt continued to record strong growth in the Philippines in 2023, boosted by the rising health-consciousness among the local population. Packaging in yoghurt in the Philippines is dominated by 80ml other plastic bottles. The choice of these small bottles is based primarily on portion control and convenience. Other plastic bottles also have recyclable properties, meeting the growing demand for sustainable business processes. Continuous efforts are also being made to increase the recy

Brick liquid cartons are the dominant pack type in drinking milk products in Romania. This is down to a number of key factors, including the cartons’ superior ability to maintain the freshness and nutritional value of milk products, their robustness and their practicality. Brick liquid cartons are preferred in this regard due to their excellent barrier properties, which protect the contents from light, air and contaminants. These features are crucial for extending shelf life and ensuring product

Total dairy packaging volumes in Italy saw slight growth in 2023. Although cheese remained one of the most significant categories in terms of packaging volumes in this year, it saw fairly stable unit volumes. The price of cheese in Italy rose considerably due to the war in Ukraine, which significantly impacted the entire food chain by increasing production costs and decreasing labour availability. To mitigate these challenges, many producers adopted strategies to reduce costs and increase produc

Total dairy packaging volumes in Thailand increased for a second year in 2023, but were still unable to recover fully from the impact of COVID-19, and volumes remained below the pre-pandemic (2019) level. Shelf stable milk accounted for a high share of packaging volumes in this year. Brick liquid cartons remained the dominant pack type for shelf stable milk in 2023, as it provides a long shelf life, protects the milk from external contaminants, and packaging developments have continued. Neverthe

Flexible plastic has been recording strong growth in the packaging of butter and spreads as this pack type provides excellent barrier properties against oxygen, moisture and light, which are crucial for preserving the freshness and quality of butter. The airtight seals and high-barrier films used in flexible plastic packaging help keep butter safe from external contaminants, extending its shelf life. The barrier properties of flexible plastic packaging ensure that butter remains fresh for longer

Total dairy packaging volumes saw a second year of decline in the Netherlands in 2023, although this was continued normalisation after the higher volumes seen during the pandemic, and packaging volumes remained above the 2019 level. Thin wall plastic containers remained the pack type with the highest packaging volumes in butter and spreads, cheese, and yoghurt in dairy packaging. This pack type is highly durable and provides excellent protection against external factors such as moisture and ligh

Total dairy packaging volumes in Switzerland saw another year of decline in 2023, in a normalisation trend after an exceptional year in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, although volumes remained above the pre-pandemic level. This same pattern was also seen by butter and spreads. Flexible aluminium/paper remained by far the preferred pack type for butter and spreads in 2023. It also saw a decline in packaging volumes slower than that of the overall category in 2023, therefore increasing its

Given Brazil’s equatorial and tropical climate, the country faces unique challenges in food packaging. The high temperatures and frequent rainfall necessitate packaging solutions that prioritise product preservation. Brick liquid cartons, renowned for their excellent barrier properties and heat resistance, are therefore an ideal choice for the storage of drinking milk products, in which shelf stable milk is the dominant product. Their dominance is further reinforced by their stackable design, wh

Brick liquid cartons are widely favoured for packaging flavoured milk and milk-based products in South Africa due to their lightweight and durable nature. These containers offer a convenient solution for both manufacturers and consumers. They are easy to transport and store, significantly reducing logistical costs for producers. In addition, brick liquid cartons provide an airtight seal that helps preserve the freshness and flavour of the products, which is particularly important in South Africa

Total dairy packaging volumes in Turkey maintained solid but slower growth than in previous years in 2023. After yoghurt, cow’s milk remained the most significant category in terms of dairy packaging volumes, and continued to see growth in 2023. Shelf stable milk accounted for much higher unit volumes, and also continued to record growth. Within cow’s milk, although brick liquid cartons remained the leading pack type in Turkey in 2023, gable top liquid cartons saw a slightly higher increase. Thi

Total dairy packaging volumes in Saudi Arabia continued to fall in 2023. However, drinking milk products, including milk, returned to growth in packaging volumes in this year. Milk is packaged mainly in brick liquid cartons in the country, although rigid plastic – PET and HDPE bottles – has been gaining share, and this continued in 2023. This shift is being driven by an increased preference amongst Saudi consumers for fresh milk, which is generally packaged in HDPE or PET bottles, while shelf st

Total dairy packaging volumes saw another year of decline in South Korea in 2023, with falling volumes across all the main categories. Although yoghurt and sour milk products also saw a decline in packaging volumes in 2023, it still accounted for the highest volumes in this year, as yoghurt is consumed by health-conscious consumers as a rich source of protein, calcium, and probiotics. This is a category in which packaging innovation remains relatively rare. Rigid plastic (mainly thin wall plasti

Total dairy packaging volumes remained fairly stable in Germany in 2023. In this year, thin wall plastic containers remained the leading pack type within dairy packaging, accounting for more than half of sales. Despite facing competition and a slight decline in share in recent years, this pack type maintained its share of overall packaging volumes in 2023, and continued to be a preferred choice for packaging various dairy products, such as yoghurt, cheese, fromage frais, quark, and cream.

India is the largest producer of dairy products in the world and within this, milk is the largest category in terms of volume sales. Traditionally, a large part of India’s milk sales were accounted for by informal trade in the form of door-to-door deliveries, which has been a very common practice in India. However, during the pandemic consumers became more conscious of product quality and hygiene. The demand for pure unadulterated milk therefore increased, leading to an increase in consumption i

Total dairy packaging retail volumes declined in Japan in 2023. PET bottles remained the most significant pack type in dairy packaging in Japan in 2023, and despite the decline in overall dairy packaging volumes in 2023, PET bottles saw increasing adoption in Japan, stemming from a mix of factors. First, consumer preference shifted to favour convenience and portability, which drove dairy producers to opt for PET bottles, due to their lightweight and unbreakable nature – unlike traditional packag

In 2023, yoghurt remained the largest dairy category in the US in terms of packaging unit volume sales. Prominent players in yoghurt, such as Chobani, are turning to packaging to sustain consumer interest and set themselves apart from the competition. In November 2023, Chobani launched special edition Halloween-themed secondary packaging for its Chobani Flip Greek Yoghurt four-packs featuring witches, skeletons and other Halloween imagery. In addition, the secondary sleeve packaging featured a Q

Flexible plastic is the most widely used packaging choice for dairy products in Colombia in unit volume terms due to its cost-effectiveness, lightweight nature, convenient features, branding potential, protective barrier properties and innovative design possibilities. Flexible plastic caters to evolving consumer preferences for on-the-go consumption, while advancements in sustainable materials align with environmental concerns. In addition, flexible plastic’s supply chain efficiency and adaptabi

Shaped liquid cartons, already a major pack type within the category, were gaining share in dairy food packaging in China in 2023 due to their versatility, convenience and superior branding possibilities. These cartons are easy to handle, pour and store, helping them to appeal to busy urban consumers. They also provide more space for eye-catching graphics and product information, helping products stand out on crowded shelves. In addition, shaped liquid cartons align with China's increasing focus