The demand for meat packaging is expected to show strong growth for the next decade, largely due to rising meat consumption in emerging economies.
A report from Future Market Insights predicts meat packaging sales will grow at a 4.7 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from an estimated $6.9 billion in 2021. Fresh meat products account for 44.3 percent of this market. With the popularity of fresh meat products, overwrap and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) remain favorite packaging formats. In fact, growth in MAP, which changes the composition of the internal atmosphere of a package, is expected to exceed the overall industry growth rate and expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4 percent through 2031, partly due to an expanding role in smart packaging for seafood. MAP offers benefits for producers of meat, poultry, and seafood products, retailers, and consumers. It can extend shelf life, reduce shrink and food waste, improve product color and eliminate leaking packages.