Thermoplastic polymers are the largest group of sustainable polymers with consumption forecast at 3.07 million tonnes to 2030.
The global sustainable barriers market has a CAGR of 4.8% for the years 2025-2030
Sustainable barrier coatings for packaging are as materials that provide effective barrier properties while minimizing environmental impact through recyclability, biodegradability and the use of biobased materials. This report highlights the importance of recyclability, dissecting the market by key drivers, process, end use, coating type and region.
The market remains dominated by traditional materials such as thermoplastic polymers although alternative materials, including biobased and natural polymer coatings are starting to take hold as brand-owners and packaging manufacturers' develop sustainability strategies.
Growth for sustainable barrier coatings in packaging is expected to be steady overall, with a strong link to forecast GDP growth, in particular for biobased polymers.
This report is essential to:
Packaging raw material suppliers
Packaging converters and manufacturers
Retailers and brand owners
Key Questions:
Where is the focus of sustainability efforts across global coatings markets?
How to paper substrates compare to plastic substrates in coating sustainability?
How have sustainability regulations impacted the use of coatings?
Does the market favour recyclability over biodegradability ?
Table of Contents
Contents
Executive summary
1. Introduction and methodology
Introduction
Objectives
Methodology
Definitions
Abbreviations
2. Key drivers and trends in sustainable barrier coatings
End of life: recycling vs biodegradability
Substrates, paper and plastic
The importance of process
Extrusion barrier coatings
Wet-barrier coatings
Wax coating
Barrier metallisation
The path to sustainability
Thermoplastic polymers
High barrier polymersh
Aluminium
Waxes
Silicone and other natural materials
Biobased polymers
3. Legislation and industry response
The regulatory environment
Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and packaging coatings
The path to PPWR
Key articles identified by EUROPEN
Single Use Plastics Directive (SUPD)
Bans on PFAS
Extended producer responsibility (EPR)
Industry and agency cooperation
EUROPEN
CAA and PSI
The US Plastics Pact
Global trends in sustainable packaging
Case study: steel food can
Recyclers' feedback
Challenges at material recovery facilities (MRFs)
AI and optics
Recovery logistics
Recycling by design
AI boosts recycling goals
Solutions in Asia
Brand owner involvement
Collaborations to eliminate plastic waste
Canopy and industry alliances
Alliances in Europe and the US
4evergreen
Poly Coated Paper Alliance (PCPA)
4. Technological and commercial developments
Elimination of PFAS progresses
Micro Powders, Inc phasing out PFAS
Biodegradable, biobased and recyclable coatings
UPM and Eastman collaborate on biobased, biodegradable and recyclable material
Recyclable coated paper
Orkla Suomi and UPM develop recyclable chocolate wrapper
ProAmpac and Marks and Spencer's recyclable paper-coated potato package
Mondi launches barrier-coated paper construction bag
Greif announces recycled and recyclable/pulpable paperboard
Ahlstrom launches new paper for flexible packaging
Monolayer coatings for better recyclability
Siegwerk's recyclable mono-PE bag with advanced barrier coatings
Constantia's mono-PE pouch facilitates recycling
Mondi's new extrusion line in the Czech Republic
Natural polymers
Walki and Lactips create biodedgradable, natural polymer materials
Kelpi diversifies seaweed packaging
Sea6Energy producing seaweed-based coatings for fibre packaging
Other sustainable initiatives
Shangdong LXBIO CO2-based plastic PPC-P to market
GRECO to study biobased, biodegradable and recyclable PLA
AI and improved recyclability
5. Coating and substrate materials
Coating materials
Overview
Sustainable barrier coating markets by process
Sustainable barrier coating markets by type
Thermoplastic polymers
High barrier coatings
Green PVOH/EVOH
Aluminium
Waxes
Silicone and other natural materials
Biobased polymers
Bio-based PE
Bio-PE South America
Bio-PE Asia
Bio-PE Europe
Bio-PE North America
PHA
Substrate materials
6. Sustainable barrier coating markets by end-use sector
Overview
Food
Significance of sustainable coatings for food applications