Packaging in 2026: Why the smart money is on corrugated & fibre-based formats

25/11/25

The packaging industry never stands still for long; continually adapting and evolving alongside consumer needs, but major trends are making corrugated and fibre-based packaging the format to watch for 2026.

With global online sales surpassing $6.4 trillion in 2025 and the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) now coming into force, manufacturers and brand owners face a key shift in how they approach their packaging strategy.

Simultaneously, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes are expanding across multiple markets, e-commerce is demanding more protective yet sustainable packaging, and digital printing is making short-run fibre packaging economically viable.

For manufacturers and brand owners, these trends all point in the same direction: towards corrugated transit packaging, folding cartons, and cartonboard solutions that can deliver performance, compliance, and circularity simultaneously.

It's a change that Grenadier Packaging, which brings together a range of specialist packaging capabilities, is uniquely positioned to support.

Regulation is driving fibre packaging adoption

The EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) entered into force in 2025, setting a clear trajectory: by 2030, all packaging placed on EU markets must be recyclable, or face significant financial penalties. Similarly, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes are expanding rapidly, putting the focus on circular economy principles in packaging design.

Gartner predicts that by 2028, 75% of organisations with voluntary sustainable packaging targets will align directly with legislative guidelines. For fibre-based packaging, whether corrugated transit packaging, folding cartons, or solid board, this regulatory environment is accelerating adoption.

With recovery rates consistently above 80% in the UK and EU, fibre packaging benefits from established recycling infrastructure and proven circular economy models. FSC® certification, for example, provides traceability for virgin fibre sourcing, while high recycled content options address circular economy targets. At Grenadier Packaging, we ensure our fibre supply chains, from kraft liners for corrugated board to premium coated cartonboard, meet the highest sustainability standards.

E-commerce and digital printing are guiding the design brief

Online retail growth continues to drive fundamental changes in packaging specifications. With corrugated packaging representing approximately 80% of e-commerce packaging by volume, transit packaging requirements have intensified. Data from consumer intelligence firm Smithers shows that parcels are now handled up to 20 times during standard distribution, creating fresh demands for durable protective design.

In terms of production, digital printing capabilities are transforming what's economically viable across both corrugated and cartonboard applications. Shorter runs, personalised packaging, regional variations, and seasonal designs can now be produced cost-effectively. Box-on-demand systems are becoming mainstream for corrugated applications, while digital carton printing enables brands to iterate quickly, test new designs, and respond rapidly to market opportunities.

At Grenadier Packaging, our in-house CAD and structural design teams create packaging solutions across multiple formats, from automotive component packaging that must perform across complex supply chains to retail-ready cartonboard for the grocery sector. We engineer solutions that perfectly balance performance requirements and ease of handling with sustainability.

Material efficiency across all formats

Rising logistics costs and dimensional weight pricing have put an important focus on material efficiency. For corrugated applications, Western European box weights are typically 80% of US equivalents, achieved through advances in flute combinations and performance-engineered board grades. For cartonboard packaging, manufacturers are developing lighter-weight grades that maintain rigid structures and printability.

The skill lies in ‘right-weighting’, selecting the optimal material specification, designing structures to maximise strength-to-weight ratios, and eliminating unnecessary material without compromising performance.

For corrugated packaging, this means precise board grade selection, matching Board Crush Test (BCT) values and burst strength to actual performance requirements. For cartonboard applications, it involves selecting an appropriate basis weight and ensuring the board grade supports the printing process whilst minimising material use.

Through established relationships with major UK and European board producers, Grenadier Packaging has access to extensive material options across both corrugated and cartonboard formats, enabling us to specify precisely the right material for each application.

Integrated capability delivering comprehensive solutions

Grenadier Packaging combines specialist expertise across fibre packaging formats with the manufacturing scale and purchasing power of an integrated group operation.

Our manufacturing footprint spans multiple sites across the Midlands, South, and North of England, with comprehensive conversion equipment including advanced flexo-folder-gluers, high-speed die-cutters, and specialist carton production machinery. FSC® certification and ISO 9001:2015 accreditation across our operations provide the quality assurance and traceability that regulated supply chains demand.

This integrated approach enables knowledge sharing and continuous innovation. Investment in energy-efficient manufacturing equipment benefits all our operations, while design innovations developed for one sector can be adapted for others. The result is faster response times, better technical solutions, and more competitive pricing, whilst maintaining the specialist focus each customer requires.

Ready for 2026 and beyond

The packaging industry's move towards circular economy models requires robust specification data management. As EPR schemes multiply and reporting requirements become more granular, manufacturers need accurate data on packaging weights, materials, and recyclability. At Grenadier Packaging, we maintain detailed specification records across our entire product portfolio and can provide the data our customers need to meet their reporting obligations.

The global packaging market is forecast to reach $1.43 trillion by 2028, with sustainability, digitalisation, and circular economy principles driving innovation.

Grenadier Packaging brings together specialist capabilities across the packaging spectrum, incorporating businesses including Grenadier Smithpack, Grenadier Dean Packaging, Grenadier Trenton Box, Grenadier Kentmere, and Grenadier Pactivate. This integrated approach enables us to serve customers requiring anything from high-volume corrugated transit packaging to premium folding cartons. We're ready for 2026, and we're ready to help you navigate what comes next.

Email us at enquiries@grenadierpackaging.com to get in touch with our team and learn more about Grenadier Packaging's capabilities.