German flexible packaging sector revenue falls 0.7% in 2025

Industry association IPV reports German flexible packaging makers' sector revenue fell 0.7% to about EUR 2.045bn in 2025, with volumes stable at low levels in the first half of 2026. The association cites weak demand, high material and energy costs, labour shortages and mounting regulatory requirements including the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) as pressures on the sector.

Why this mattersWith volumes flat at low levels and material costs not easing, German flexible packaging converters face PPWR obligations and a possible plastic packaging tax with little margin headroom.

• IPV estimates German flexible packaging sector revenue fell 0.7% to about EUR 2.045bn in 2025
• German packaging industry overall production value fell 1.7% to EUR 36.4bn in 2025, with volume down 2.4% to about 16.7m tonnes
• Paper, board and film converting sector revenue fell 1.0% to EUR 20.03bn in 2025
• Food retail nominal sales rose 3.4% in 2025 but only 1.1% in real terms; out-of-home catering volumes fell 2.1% in real terms
• First PPWR requirements on recyclability, recycled content and extended producer responsibility took direct effect in EU states from 12 August 2026
• IPV opposes a proposed national plastic packaging tax in Germany, citing additional cost burden

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