Growth despite Challenges: Ceresana Analyzes the European Market for Plastic Films

KONSTANZ, Germany - Oct. 6, 2025 - PRLog -- In many European countries the production of conventional plastic films is becoming less and less competitive, and the consumption of plastic bags is continuing to decline. Ceresana has analyzed the European market for plastic films for the third time. The report forecasts that plastic film demand in Europe will grow to around 13.8 million tonnes by 2033.

Challenges for Plastic Film Manufacturers

Demand for plastic films is increasing overall. However, crises and inflation are affecting consumer sentiment. In addition, the EU plastics own resource ("plastic tax") and the new EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) as well as an increasing maze of regulations aim to reduce packaging waste. Disposable sacks and shirt bags made from plastics are often replaced by paper bags or eliminated altogether. However, films are also used to make packaging films, shrink and stretch films, agricultural films, and construction films, for example. Specialized applications in industry include adhesive films, battery films, and insulating films. The new report also covers polypropylene films, PET films, and PVC films, which are increasingly available in bio-based variants. Other types, such as polystyrene, polyamide, or bioplastic films (e.g. PLA), are analyzed as an aggregate.

Trend Towards Ultra-Thin High-Tech Films

Agricultural films are recording above-average growth: Efforts to intensify agriculture, forestry, and horticulture are increasing the use of wrapping films, silage films, mulch films, anti-dew films, greenhouse films, and other innovative solutions. Plants increasingly need to be protected against extreme weather events. The demand for protective and functional films is also growing in the construction industry, for example for vapor barriers or as part of high-performance insulation materials. The consumption of construction films follows the order situation of the respective construction industry. In contrast, demand for secondary and transport packaging such as shrink and stretch films depends on the macroeconomic development and the consumer climate. The report also provides background information on the regulatory framework in the EU as well as the economic situation and the situation in the packaging industry in the individual European countries.

Further information: https://ceresana.com/en/produkt/market-study-plastic-film...

About Ceresana
As one of the world's leading market research institutes, Ceresana specializes in the packaging, plastics, chemicals, and industrial goods sectors. Special focus areas are bio-economy and automotive / mobility. More than 250 market studies provide more than 10,000 customers around the world with the knowledge for sustainable success.

Let's meet! The Ceresana online event series on the future of the bio-economy continues. "Future of BioPackaging" will take place on October 28 and 29, 2025: https://ceresana.com/en/events/future-of-biopackaging