In 2024, Italy’s packaging landscape underwent a transformation driven by sustainability mandates, cost pressures and evolving consumer lifestyles. Across food, beverages, beauty, home care and pet care, brands embraced recent formats, such as paper-based packs and refill pouches, and growing formats, such as lightweight PET jars and flexible plastic, alongside smaller pack sizes (250-500ml) and single-serve options to meet portion-control needs and affordability demands.

In 2024, the Netherlands saw strong packaging shifts across industries, driven primarily by sustainability targets and stricter EU regulations as well as rising consumer sensitivity to waste and microplastic concerns. Paper-based and recyclable mono-material packaging expanded rapidly in food, beauty and pet care as brands moved away from plastic-heavy designs. Well-established players such as Alpro, Innocent or Albert Heijn continued scaling shaped cartons and Pure-Pak packaging, while Unilever

The packaging industry in France in 2024 is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the growing importance of sustainability as both a regulatory mandate and a competitive advantage. A combination of stricter government policies, economic constraints and evolving consumer values is influencing how packaging is designed, manufactured and delivered across industries such as food, beverages, home care, beauty and pet food. These factors are collectively pushing the industry towards more env

There were reasons to be positive in 2025 in Colombia with interest and inflation stabilising and consumer confidence returning. This provided a boost the number of financial card in circulation as well as leading to an increase in card transactions. Efforts to expand card acceptance, including into rural areas, as well as digitalisation within the market also helped to drive growth. The rollout of Bre-B, Colombia’s new instant payment system, was also seen as significant to the future growth of

In 2024, Indonesian packaging trends across food, beverages, beauty and home care were defined by moves towards more flexible, sustainable and cost-effective packaging. Companies widely adopted refill pouches, lightweight flexible plastics and paper-based cartons, expanding beyond traditional pack types to cut plastic use and meet new regulatory goals, while satisfying consumer demand for convenience. Cost-of-living pressures drove pack-size shifts: many brands introduced “mini” sachets and sing

In 2024, the packaging industry in the Philippines was seeing increasing use of novel and growing pack formats across categories, driven by sustainability, cost pressures and evolving consumer preferences. Paper-based cartons, such as Tetra Pak’s 70% FSC-certified beverage cartons, and aluminium trays, such as those used by Pedigree and Cesar, were gaining share thanks to their recyclability and barrier properties. Refill pouches and concentrated formats were expanding in home care and beauty an

In 2024, packaging across the food, beverages, beauty, home care and pet food industries was defined by a strong shift towards sustainability, convenience and premiumisation. Food and beverage brands adopted flexible formats like pouches, HDPE bottles and folding cartons to support urban lifestyles and smaller households, while also integrating sustainable materials such as recyclable mono-material pouches and recycled PET bottles. Beauty and personal care packaging focused on e-commerce-ready d

Canada’s packaging market in 2024 was shaped by sustainability, convenience and cost efficiency as brands responded to regulatory pressure and shifting consumer priorities. Flexible formats such as pouches were gaining share due to their lightweight design and resealable features, particularly in categories like baby food and seafood. Brands such as Gerber and Baby Gourmet leveraged pouches for portion-controlled feeding, while Clover Leaf adopted aluminium/plastic pouches for shelf stable seafo

Overall, financial cards and payments in the Czech Republic witnessed further growth in cards in circulation and transaction volume and value terms in 2025, albeit at slower rates than in 2024. Moreover, debit cards remained the dominant category, driving growth, along with pre-paid cards, while charge cards and credit cards experienced niche and limited appeal, respectively. Many Czechs owned more than one bank card, as they also had more than one bank account, which supported debit cards. In g

Hosiery in Japan is characterised by maturity and slow growth, with a 1% increase in retail current value terms in 2025, reaching JPY403 billion. Despite sluggish growth, the category remains attractive due to its potential for innovation and character collaborations. The dominance of non-sheer hosiery in value terms, and the continued value growth of sheer hosiery driven by innovations and collaborations, indicate opportunities. Brands that focus on functionality, self-expression, and health be

Jeans in Japan experienced continued retail value growth momentum in 2025, driven by market polarisation, and evolving lifestyle needs. The rebound in inbound travel boosted demand for high-quality, culturally rooted Japanese denim, while the casualisation of workwear expanded the occasions for wearing jeans. As a result, premium brands focused on delivering value beyond price by emphasising artisanal craftsmanship, heritage storytelling, and immersive brand experiences. With a forecast CAGR of

Sportswear in Japan performed strongly in 2025, with retail value sales rising by 4% to reach JPY1,777 billion, driven by its versatility beyond athletic use and major sporting events. Sales are expected to continue growing, driven by new brands, sustainability efforts, and technological innovation. Key players like adidas and Nike maintain their dominance, but emerging brands are gaining traction. Offline retail remains the leading distribution channel, although e-commerce is growing, with new

Womenswear in Japan experienced retail value growth in 2025, driven by the increasing demand for professional attire among the employed female population, which rose to 31.2 million in 2025. The category was also shaped by technological advancements, particularly in functional textiles, and the growing importance of sustainability. With consumer expenditure expected to grow at a CAGR of 2% to JPY3,796 billion in 2030, brands that adopt innovative strategies and leverage technological advancement

Menswear in Japan demonstrated resilience in 2025, with 3% growth in retail current value terms to reach JPY2,170 billion, driven by the increasing demand for comfort and functionality. Sales are expected to continue growing, with a forecast CAGR of 2% to reach JPY2,369 billion by 2030. Key trends shaping the category include the casualisation of workplace norms, advancements in textile technology, and the influence of inbound tourism. Brands that focus on quality, functionality, and experientia

Footwear in Japan is characterised by a strong focus on comfort, functionality, and innovation, driven by consumer demand for high-quality products. In 2025, retail value sales reached JPY1,331 billion, representing growth of 3% from 2024, with men's footwear being the largest category and also seeing the strongest growth. Sales are expected to continue growing, driven by the ageing population and increasing demand for functional and comfortable footwear, with retail sales forecast to reach JPY1

In 2025, childrenswear in Japan experienced retail value growth despite the resale and rental trend, with inbound tourism boosting sales of premium products. The category is characterised by a competitive landscape dominated by major retailers, with a focus on value-added innovation, functionality, safety, and comfort. Despite demographic challenges such as a declining birth rate, brands are sustaining growth through strategic collaborations and innovative product design. Childrenswear is foreca

Apparel and footwear in Japan demonstrated resilience in 2025, with 3% retail current value growth, reaching JPY8,489 billion, driven by inbound tourism and experience-driven retail. Tech innovation is reshaping apparel and footwear. With the extreme summer heat brands are launching advanced materials and product innovations that emphasise breathability, UV protection, and moisture control. Growth is set to continue, with a forecast retail current value CAGR of 2% over the next five years, reach

In 2024, Vietnam’s packaging industry experienced a wave of innovation across food, beverage, home care, beauty, and pet food sectors. Flexible pouches, refill packs, and paper-based cartons rapidly gained ground, replacing or supplementing traditional rigid plastics and metals. These new formats were especially prominent in dairy, baby food, home care, and beauty, where brands responded to both regulatory pressure and consumer demand for more sustainable and convenient options. Smaller, single-

Apparel accessories in Japan is characterised by notable polarisation, with both the luxury and affordable segments driving value growth, resulting in a 1% growth in retail volume terms and 2% growth in retail current value terms in 2025. Sales are being driven by the increasing demand for functional and practical accessories that support daily comfort and climate adaptation. To succeed in this market, brands need to focus on developing innovative products using advanced textiles, such as moistu

Sales of fish and seafood saw strong growth in volume terms in 2025 with pelagic fish such as sardines and mackerel remaining highly popular. Increasing awareness of the health benefits of regularly consuming fish, especially oily fish, also continued to fuel demand. However, with a further decline in the amount of fish being caught, prices continued to rise, which placed limits on growth. Moving forward, the focus is on developing local aquaculture and expanding the local fishing fleet.

Although there is a growing awareness of the health benefits of incorporating a selection of fruits and vegetables into your diet, the market continued to be limited by price rises and a deflated economy. With many households seeing their disposable income squeezed they were forced to prioritise their spending, which had a negative impact on sales of fruits. Most consumers looked for the cheapest options, such as imports of cheap mango from Senegal.

While some fresh food products struggled during 2025 due to the impact of inflation and price rises, this situation offered some benefit to pulses which offer an affordable source of protein. With meat and fish prices soaring, some consumers switched to pulses such as lentils and broad beans which are not only much cheaper but are also packed with healthy nutrients. There has also been an increase in the availability of locally produced and imported lentils which has helped to keep prices stable

Potatoes remain a central ingredient to the local diet, with their versatility meaning they appear in a wide range of traditional and modern dishes. Potatoes are also widely used in the foodservice channel, especially fast food restaurants. Other types of starchy roots have limited demand, which is linked to a lack of distribution and awareness for these products. Thanks to a strong harvest year the price of potatoes declined slightly in 2025 which helped to boost demand.

Sugar and sweeteners saw polarised performances in the retail and foodservice channels in 2025. Retail demand was negatively impacted by rising health concerns, with consumers increasingly looking for ways to tackle serious health issues such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. In contrast, foodservice sales rose, with locals having a long tradition of consuming their mint tea and coffee with sugar. Moving forward players could focus on offering healthier options such as organic and natural sugar an