Market Report
The Future of Sustainable Barrier Coatings to 2030
Innovation spurs growth in at $9.2 billion sustainable pack coatings market
Its new market report – The Future of Sustainable Barrier Coatings to 2030 – analyses historic, current and future demand for coatings that combine effective barrier properties with superior recyclability, biodegradability, or bio-based feedstocks.
Smithers data show that volume demand will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% to reach 4.6 million tonnes in 2030, and a value of $11.7 billion, at constant pricing.
Across the market polymers and metal foil remain the preferred solutions, even as bio-derived and biopolymer coatings find greater traction. Thermoplastic polymers are the largest coating type, with 66.0% of contemporary demand by volume. With an increased use of water-based coatings, thermoplastics are forecast to maintain market share over the next five years. There will also be wider use of aluminum barriers; but waxes, high-barrier polymers, and silicone coatings will lose market share.
The fastest rate of growth will be in bio-based coatings, which will increase at a CAGR of 25.0%, from $146.4 million in 2025 to $446.8 million in 2030. These answer brand owner calls for greener input materials, as well as for better biodegradable polymer coatings in some segments. Bio-based polyethylene (PE) coatings are increasingly being adopted, alongside polylactic acid (PLA); while polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) promise genuine biodegradability.
Better, more sustainable barrier coatings will benefit multiple segments, especially for paperboard companies endeavoring to displace rigid plastic packs. Folding carton stocks will remain the highest users of green barrier coatings across 2025-2030, although there is increased competition from corrugated materials.
There are opportunities in many product segments, but food and food-service present some of the best. Better coatings will enable multinational CPG companies to adopt more eco-friendly packaging, and restaurant chains to accelerate their transition away from single-use plastics.
Technical and regulatory developments will aid the adoption of easier to recycle barrier coatings. In Europe, these will be considered specifically in new design-for-recyclability criteria set to be drafted before the full implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation 2025/40 in 2030. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes for packaging are creating a financial incentive, lowering the cost of newer innovations against proven, but hard to recover, coatings.
The Future of Sustainable Barrier Coatings to 2030 is available to purchase now from Smithers priced $6,750 (€6.350, £5,475).