2025 The New Material World: Packaging’s Path Toward Sustainability
This report explores how packaging materials are evolving in response to shifting consumer demands, regulatory pressures, and sustainability goals. Drawing on insights from CPGs, OEMs, and suppliers, it examines trade-offs, material transitions, and the future of recyclable, reusable, and compostable solutions. The findings highlight emerging challenges, collaboration opportunities, and the critical role of packaging machinery in enabling a more sustainable future. Reflecting on our work for this topic from 2023 Packaging Compass, we aim to support and promote the dialogue on the ongoing industry conversation about balancing packaging’s core functions with the push toward sustainability and to measure what’s changed in this dynamic industry.
Be sure to check out our interactive dashboard, for insights into which materials CPG customers are currently using, as well as what they plan to phase out and replace in the coming years.
Explore how packaging is pivoting toward recyclability, where costs, retailer rules, and state laws shape choices. Learn which materials will be replaced or retained, how OEMs are retooling, the biggest trade-offs for CPGs, and where collaboration can unlock sustainable gains over the next five years.
Why read this report?
- Discover 2025’s top sustainable packaging material trends
- Learn how cost impacts green packaging decisions
- See what drives OEM and CPG collaboration success
- Uncover key insights on recyclable vs. compostable materials
- Stay ahead with PMMI’s exclusive sustainability forecast
View PMMI’s member-exclusive How’s Business dashboard to analyze 20 years of packaging machinery data, track key industry trends, and explore insights tailored for your business.
View PMMI’s member-exclusive State of the Industry Dashboard to interact with packaging machinery forecasts and analyze shipment values by machine type and industry.
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