Industry snapshot
Key public data points
Historical & forecast
Base year 2023. Each series is official through its own latest government-data year (shown in the legend on each chart), and years beyond that are Claight estimates. As of July 2026 the current year is still in progress (2026 annual data is not yet published), so the forecast runs to 2028.
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Connect to an analyst →Industry Definition and Scope
What does the Plastic Film, Sheet & Bag Manufacturing in European Union industry cover?
The industry comprises the transformation of polymer resins into plastic sheets, blocks, films, foils, strips, and flexible bags. Under official European classification, these activities fall predominantly within the manufacturing of semi-manufactured and finished plastic packaging products. It excludes the primary production of synthetic resins and plastic materials.
- •Covers both self-adhesive and non-adhesive plastic plates, films, and foils.
- •Includes the processing of plastic bags, pouches, and cellophane sheets.
- •Strictly excludes rubber manufacturing and primary form plastic chemical synthesis.
Market Structure and Operators
Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?
The European market is highly regionalized, consisting of thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating alongside a few large multinational converters. Production hubs are heavily concentrated in major European industrial economies like Germany, Italy, Spain, and France, which command the highest volumes of plastics processing. However, Eastern European countries have demonstrated varying growth dynamics in recent multi-year structural trends.
- •Germany and Italy represent two of the largest national processing hubs by volume in the EU.
- •Lithuania's plastics production index reached 166.8 points in 2022, marking it as a high-growth regional outlier.
- •SMEs represent over 80% of the structural business entities within the broader EU plastic converting domain.
Demand Drivers
What drives demand in the industry?
Demand is fundamentally dictated by the food and beverage packaging sector, which requires specialized multi-layer barrier films to maximize shelf-life. Industrial logistics and e-commerce additionally sustain high demand volumes for protective stretch hoods, shrink wraps, and shipping bags. Furthermore, infrastructure projects and modern agricultural methods drive continuous demand for construction membranes and greenhouse silage films.
- •Food safety standards drive technical innovations in high-barrier flexible films.
- •Industrial logistics rely heavily on polyethylene (PE) pallet wraps and heavy-duty shipping sacks.
- •Agricultural cultivation trends bolster demand for specialized UV-resistant mulching films.
Competitive Landscape and Notable Public Companies
Who are the notable companies in the industry?
The competitive landscape features intense regional competition with companies differentiating through technological advancements in polymer extrusion and thin-film downsizing. Major European-headquartered and multinational corporations dominate high-performance barrier film and commercial industrial packaging markets. These large-scale operators heavily invest in specialized localized manufacturing units to maintain proximity to major European retail and industrial clients.
- •Amcor plc operates extensive flexible packaging and film manufacturing facilities throughout the European Union.
- •Berry Global Group, Inc. maintains a significant European footprint specializing in flexible films and agricultural laminates.
- •Mondi plc produces an extensive range of industrial and consumer flexible plastic bags and barrier laminates.
- •Coveris Holdings S.A. operates as a prominent European manufacturer of flexible packaging and high-performance films.
Recent Trends and Outlook
What are the recent trends and outlook?
The industry faces an intensive transition toward circular economy concepts, driving the integration of post-consumer recycled (PCR) resins into film architectures. Monomaterial film formulations are increasingly replacing complex multi-layer structures to guarantee domestic recyclability. According to official short-term business statistics, the producer price index for EU plastic plates, sheets, tubes, and profiles has stabilized around 115.70 points in early 2026, moderating down from historical peaks of 121.30 points reached in August 2022.
- •Monomaterial PE and PP films are displacing unrecyclable multi-material laminate alternatives.
- •Producer price indices have moderately softened from their 2022 peak down to 115.70 points by April 2026.
- •Increasing adoption of bio-based resins is observed in specific consumer bags and compostable applications.
Regulation and Compliance
How is the industry regulated?
Compliance requirements are dictated by stringent European Union environmental policies aimed at reducing plastic waste and increasing recycling rates. Manufacturers must closely adhere to specific directives governing packaging waste and single-use plastic limits. Material safety rules also demand meticulous testing for chemical migration in food-contact film applications.
- •EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) mandates strict PCR content quotas for plastic packaging.
- •The Single-Use Plastics Directive (Directive EU 2019/904) places prohibitions and collection targets on specific bag categories.
- •European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) regulations control strict chemical migration thresholds for food-grade sheets.
Sources
Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.
- Eurostat Producer Prices in Industry Dataset 2026 ·
- Eurostat Structural Business Statistics 2025 ·
- European Commission Directorate-General for Environment Policy Releases 2024
Claight analysis of public industry data.