Global Composite Cans Market – Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast,Segmented By Closure Type (Caps and Lids), By Production Type (Spiral Winding, Convolute Winding, and Linear Draw), By Can Diameter (Less than 50 mm, 50mm-100mm, and Others), By End User (Food & Beverage, Agriculture, and Others), By Region, By Competition Forecast & Opportunities 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 6.21 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.22%
Fastest Growing Segment	Lids
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 8.92 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Composite Cans Market will grow from USD 6.21 Billion in 2025 to USD 8.92 Billion by 2031 at a 6.22% CAGR. Composite cans are rigid, cylindrical containers typically constructed from multiple layers of spiral-wound recycled paperboard, lined with a protective barrier and sealed with metal or plastic ends to ensure structural integrity. The market is primarily driven by the escalating global demand for sustainable packaging solutions, as manufacturers increasingly seek biodegradable alternatives to rigid plastics to lower their environmental footprint. This shift is supported by the container's ability to provide extended shelf life and superior branding surface area, which appeals to consumer goods companies. According to the Confederation of European Paper Industries (Cepi), in 2024, the production of packaging paper and board grades increased by 6.5% compared to the previous year, underscoring the robust industrial momentum behind fiber-based packaging solutions.

Despite these favorable drivers, the market faces a significant challenge regarding the recycling complexity inherent in multi-material designs. Although the paperboard body is renewable, the integration of metal or plastic closures and liners often creates difficulties during the separation process at standard material recovery facilities. This technical limitation can impede the efficiency of waste streams and may hesitate strict regulators or brands committed to 100% mono-material recyclability, thereby restraining the potential for broader market expansion in highly regulated regions.

Key Market Drivers

The shift toward sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions acts as a primary catalyst for the global composite cans market. Manufacturers are increasingly transitioning from rigid plastic and metal containers to fiber-based alternatives to reduce their environmental impact and meet circular economy goals. This strategic pivot is exemplified by major consumer goods entities reformulating their packaging architectures to enhance recyclability without compromising structural integrity. For instance, according to Kellanova, January 2024, in the 'Pringles reveals new paper tube' press release, the company launched a new recyclable Pringles tube in Belgium made from 90% paper, replacing the traditional steel base to facilitate compatibility with standard paper recycling streams. Such innovations address strict regulatory requirements regarding single-use materials while satisfying the growing consumer preference for biodegradable and renewable packaging options.

Simultaneously, the rapid expansion of the ready-to-eat and convenience food sectors is driving substantial demand for high-performance composite containers. These cans offer essential barrier technologies that preserve freshness and extend shelf life for snacks, confectionery, and powdered beverages, while their resealable nature supports on-the-go consumption habits. The robust demand for these consumable goods is evidenced by recent industry metrics; according to the National Confectioners Association, March 2024, in the 'State of Treating 2024' report, total confectionery sales in the United States reached an all-time high of $48 billion in 2023. To support this massive consumption volume, packaging leaders are maintaining significant production outputs. According to Sonoco Products Company, in 2024, the Consumer Packaging segment reported net sales of $928 million for the second quarter, underscoring the critical commercial role rigid paper containers play in the global food supply chain.

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Key Market Challenges

The recycling complexity inherent in multi-material designs constitutes a substantial restriction on the Global Composite Cans Market. Unlike mono-material packaging, composite cans typically combine a paperboard body with adherent metal or plastic linings and closures, creating significant technical obstacles at material recovery facilities where efficient separation is often cost-prohibitive. This limitation frequently forces waste management operators to divert these containers to incineration or landfills rather than recycling streams, directly contradicting the sustainability targets of eco-conscious brands. Consequently, major consumer goods companies display increasing caution regarding the adoption of composite formats, fearing non-compliance with stringent Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations that increasingly favor simplified, easily separable packaging structures.

This structural friction is reflected in broader industry performance data regarding fiber-based packaging recovery. According to the European Paper Recycling Council (EPRC), in 2024, the recycling rate for all paper products reached 75.1% across Europe. While this figure indicates a mature recovery infrastructure for standard grades, the remaining unrecovered fraction highlights the persistent struggle to effectively capture and process complex, multi-layered packaging types within existing municipal systems. This recoverability gap directly hampers the ability of composite can manufacturers to market their products as fully circular solutions, thereby limiting their expansion in regions where 100% recyclability is a prerequisite for market entry.

Key Market Trends

The expansion into luxury personal care and cosmetic applications represents a transformative shift in the Global Composite Cans Market, moving the format beyond its traditional stronghold in commoditized food products. Premium beauty brands are increasingly adopting rigid paper containers to align with "clean beauty" standards, leveraging the tactile quality of paperboard to convey high-end aesthetics while eliminating single-use plastics from their supply chains. This migration is commercially viable because affluent consumers demonstrate a tangible willingness to absorb higher price points for environmentally responsible presentation. According to Smurfit Kappa, August 2024, in the 'UK Half-Yearly Insights Report 2024', 49% of consumers stated they would pay more for sustainable packaging and delivery, providing the necessary economic incentive for luxury manufacturers to invest in these fiber-based, value-added container formats.

Simultaneously, the integration of smart and connected packaging technologies is redefining consumer engagement and supply chain visibility within the composite can sector. Manufacturers are embedding near-field communication (NFC) tags and dynamic QR codes directly onto the paperboard surface, turning the container into a digital interface that offers product authentication, traceability, and interactive content without requiring additional labeling materials. This digitalization is rapidly gaining traction as brands seek to bridge the physical and digital worlds to retain tech-savvy customers. According to QRCodeChimp, November 2024, in the 'QR Code Statistics for 2025' report, the marketing and advertising industries registered a 323% rise in QR code scans in 2023, underscoring the massive growth in consumer readiness to interact with such smart packaging technologies.

Segmental Insights

The Lids segment is emerging as the fastest-growing category within the global composite cans market due to heightening demand for product safety and consumer convenience. This trajectory is largely driven by the adoption of peel-off and resealable closures that ensure content freshness, particularly in the food and beverage industry. Additionally, rigid standards regarding tamper-evident packaging enforced by regulatory entities like the Food and Drug Administration compel manufacturers to integrate secure sealing solutions. Consequently, the industry focus on functional and sustainable closure systems is significantly accelerating the expansion of this specific segment.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific maintains a dominant position in the global composite cans market, driven by rapid urbanization and a widely expanding retail infrastructure. The region experiences high demand for packaged food and beverages, particularly in densely populated economies like China and India, necessitating durable and cost-effective packaging solutions. Additionally, evolving packaging regulations from institutions such as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India promote the use of hygienic and tamper-evident materials. This combination of demographic shifts and regulatory support ensures the region remains the primary hub for market expansion.

Recent Developments

• In October 2024, Sonoco Products Company introduced a new 95% paper-based composite can as part of its EnviroSense sustainable packaging portfolio. This innovative rigid paper container, which replaces the conventional metal bottom with a fiber-based alternative, was developed to meet the high barrier requirements of sensitive products like coffee. The launch highlighted the application of the new can for Nestlé’s coffee products, offering a fully recyclable solution that maintains product freshness and durability while enabling consumers to recycle the entire package in household paper waste streams.
• In September 2024, Robinson PLC showcased its latest range of sustainable rigid paperboard packaging at the Food and Consumer Pack Exhibition in London. The company, which specializes in custom packaging for the food, homecare, and beauty sectors, highlighted its "New for 24" product line, which includes innovative composite container designs aimed at reducing environmental impact. The showcase demonstrated the company's agility in creating value-added, paper-based solutions that meet the specific hygiene, safety, and aesthetic needs of premium consumer brands while minimizing plastic usage.
• In July 2024, Smurfit Kappa Group and WestRock Company completed their merger to form Smurfit Westrock, creating a global leader in sustainable packaging with a strong presence in the composite can sector. WestRock, a key player in the market known for its paperboard canisters used for products such as dough and snacks, brought its extensive rigid paper container capabilities to the combined entity. This strategic consolidation brings together complementary portfolios and innovation resources, positioning the new company to better serve the growing demand for renewable and recyclable rigid packaging solutions across the Americas and Europe.
• In January 2024, Sonoco Products Company collaborated with Kellanova Europe to launch a new sustainable version of the iconic Pringles tube. This redesigned composite can features a paper-based bottom instead of the traditional metal base, making the package significantly easier to recycle in standard paper streams. The development, which utilizes a high percentage of recycled paper, was the result of extensive research and development to ensure the paper bottom could withstand the sealing process and protect the crisp product for up to 15 months, matching the shelf-life performance of the previous steel-bottomed design.

Key Market Players

• Ace Paper Tube
• Bharath Paper Conversions
• Canfab Packaging Inc.
• Compocan Industries
• Corex Group
• Halaspack Bt.
• Heartland Products Group LLC
• Kunert Gruppe
• Marshall Paper Tube Company, Inc.
• Mondi Group

By Closure Type	By Production Type	By Can Diameter	By End User	By Region
Caps and Lids	Spiral Winding Convolute Winding Linear Draw	Less than 50 mm 50mm-100mm Others	Food & Beverage Agriculture Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Composite Cans Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Composite Cans Market, By Closure Type:

• Caps and Lids

• Composite Cans Market, By Production Type:

• Spiral Winding
• Convolute Winding
• Linear Draw

• Composite Cans Market, By Can Diameter:

• Less than 50 mm
• 50mm-100mm
• Others

• Composite Cans Market, By End User:

• Food & Beverage
• Agriculture
• Others

• Composite Cans Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE