- The global market for barrier papers is forecast to grow at 3.2% CAGR by volume and 3.8% CAGR by value over the next five years
- Asia-Pacific had the largest regional share in 2026 and is the fastest growing region between 2021 and 2031
- Food/foodservice accounted for almost 60% of the market in 2026 and is the fastest-growing end-use application through 2031.
Brand owners and retailers are driving demand for paper-based barrier packaging across a growing range of end-use applications, as the paperisation trend continues to gather pace. Mounting global regulatory pressure on packaging and packaging waste will fuel barrier paper demand over the next five years.
Built on extensive primary research with paper mills, coating suppliers, and end-users, this report delivers quantitative market sizes and forecasts broken down by grade, product, end-use, and geography, along with five-year forecasts and scenarios exploring adoption trends and competition with plastic alternatives.
It provides a global analysis of the current and future state of barrier papers, examining the key drivers and trends shaping demand through to 2031. It covers the core technologies behind barrier papers, their principal end-use applications, and the geographical markets driving growth.
Key questions answered in this report
- Where will barrier papers find the greatest opportunity in packaging?
- Which barrier technology is expected to have the greatest impact on the market?
- How will fluorocarbon-coated papers be phased out and replaced with PFAS-free barriers?
Keith Jacques has over 20 years' experience conducting market research for both multi-client and single-client projects, covering a variety of topics including packaging, raw materials, coatings, printing inks, adhesives, and related fields. Keith has worked as an Associate Consultant with Smithers for the last 10 years, during which time he has authored reports on a diverse range of topics. Keith brings a strong background in the coatings industry, with over 40 years of industry experience working for coatings companies and resin suppliers in the UK and Belgium. He has held a variety of roles spanning technical, sales and marketing, and new business development.
Report Format
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