Report Overview
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This report is part of a series of studies available on the food packaging market and is targeted at customers with a specific interest in egg packaging. A broader perspective on competition among various food packaging products can be found in our comprehensive report Food Packaging. This study acts as an update for study 3897: Egg Cartons with an expanded scope including all egg packaging.
Packaging Formats (Rigid vs. Flexible)
Packaging for eggs is forecast to grow 2.4% per year to $894 million in 2025, supported by the continued popularity of eggs as an economical, nutritious, and easy-to-prepare food, as well as increased foodservice demand as restaurant revenues rise from a low 2020 base that resulted from pandemic-related closures and capacity limits:
- Retail will remain the largest market for packaging due to the position of eggs as a basic food staple and the use of higher value packaging types.
- Foodservice is a significant market for processed eggs and related packaging.
Packaging for eggs is dominated by rigid formats, which comprise over 95% of total demand due to the need for sturdy packaging for fragile shell eggs. Rigid egg packaging is mostly comprised of egg cartons and flats, but boxes and pails also see use.
Flexible packaging is more prevalent in the smaller foodservice market due to its heavy use of processed eggs. Flexible formats are popular for packaging frozen, liquid, and dried egg products since they are lighter, easier to store, and have source reduction benefits. Flexible packaging (primarily pouches) is also used – albeit to a lesser extent – with retail products, particularly prepared hard-boiled eggs, liquid eggs, and dried egg powder.
Market Trends
Egg packaging for retail consists primarily of cartons for shell eggs, with smaller shares for other product formats for processed eggs, including:
- bottles
- composite cans
- gable top cartons
- pouches
Egg flats are used to package larger quantities of shell eggs for retail sale, often through warehouse stores.
Demand for retail egg packaging is forecast to grow about 1.8% annually on average through 2025, a deceleration from the prior period as growth comes off of an elevated 2020 base when both unit sales and package pricing spiked. Growth will continue to be supported by the:
- popularity of eggs and egg products as healthy, convenient meal options
- increasing use of higher value packaging – especially in egg cartons – related to sustainability initiatives and the desire for better performance or appearance
Egg cartons will continue to account for the vast majority of demand, with growth arising in party from the rising popularity of higher-value retail egg packaging, especially among premium and organic brands.
Egg flats at the retail level will see below average growth, in part due to coming off a high base fueled by lockdown inspired sales of larger quantities of eggs and a moderation in packaging prices. Growth will be further mitigated as the proportion of single and small-family households in the US rises, as these households are unlikely to purchase large packages of eggs.
Gable top cartons for retail will see average growth in line with historical trends as liquid eggs continue to be seen as a convenient alternative to shell eggs that may better fit consumers’ dietary habits.
Demand by Material
The materials used in egg packaging are heavily influenced by the format of eggs being packaged and the sales channel through which they are distributed. Due to the dominance of shell eggs, materials used in their packaging dominate overall demand. Retail sales are dominated by cartons, while a broader array of packaging products and materials are used for processed eggs sold to foodservice.
Rigid plastic is the most prevalent material used in the packaging of eggs due to its regular use in egg trays, egg cartons, and other containers such as pails and jugs. Rigid plastic:
- makes up a significant portion of egg carton packaging demand and is expected to continue to gain share of the market, aided by growing sales of high-end eggs
- accounts for the majority of egg tray and flat packaging due to its strength and light weight
- is used prevalently for packaging processed eggs in the form of bottles and jugs for liquid eggs
Molded pulp is the second largest material category for egg packaging – primarily in the form of egg cartons, flats, and trays – due to its good cushioning properties and favorable sustainability profile. In addition to being recyclable, molded pulp is compostable and biodegradable. Molded pulp may face some competition in the future from other molded fiber materials such as sugarcane.
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam is used almost exclusively for egg cartons, where it has historically been most chosen for its low cost, light weight, and good cushioning and insulation properties. However, demand will decline slightly due to sustainability concerns surrounding the material.
Paperboard sees significant use in the packaging of processed eggs in the form of corrugated boxes and gable top cartons. This is primarily due to paperboard’s low cost and recyclability. Furthermore, compared to rigid plastic bottles and jugs, paperboard gable top cartons convey a more premium image for liquid eggs.
Flexible plastic is used primarily with ready-to-eat, hard-boiled eggs and bulk, processed eggs for foodservice due to its low cost and light weight.
This study analyzes US demand for egg packaging by packaging product, material (rigid plastic, paperboard, EPS foam, molded pulp, other), application (shell eggs vs. processed eggs) and market (retail and foodservice).
Shell eggs are uncooked eggs sold still in their shell.
Processed eggs consist of:
- liquid eggs and eggs products, including egg whites and egg substitutes
- powdered (also known as dried or dehydrated) eggs and egg whites
- frozen egg liquid
- fresh ready-to-eat or frozen hard-boiled eggs
- frozen egg patties
- egg mixes – powdered, liquid, or frozen – composed primarily of egg
Specific packaging products used for eggs include:
- bag-in-box packaging
- corrugated boxes
- egg cartons
- egg trays/flats
- gable top cartons
- pails
- pouches and bags
- other packaging such as bottles and overwrap
Historical data (2010, 2015, and 2020) and forecasts for 2025 are presented for egg packaging demand in current US dollars (including inflation).