Trends and insights for 2025
13 Jan 2025
Gareth Stell, Logson Group UK Sales Director looks at the trends and insights pertaining to the corrugated packaging industry expected in 2025.
2024 has been another challenging year for the corrugated industry, with paper prices moving upwards despite overall corrugated volumes being down.
Businesses now face further challenges to navigate the additional costs brought about by the October budget.
As the new Government continues to settle in, it is hoped UK manufacturing is placed high on business agendas and they afford this important business sector the same status as those who work in manufacturing do.
Sustainability goals
Sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance goals remain high on the agendas of many businesses. For the packaging industry this is translating into customers preferring corrugated and paper-based packaging over other materials, expecting smart, intuitive packaging designs and material efficient solutions.
Not only does this support their own ESG goals, but also those of their customers and the consumer buying demands who continue to expect businesses to choose sustainable and easily recyclable packaging solutions wherever possible.
EPR regulations
Perhaps the most significant impact on the industry in 2025 will be the mandate of the Extended Producer Responsibilities (EPR) legislation in October when qualifying businesses will first become liable for fees.
These fees are directly related to the amount of packaging they produce for the market with recyclability and the type of packaging and materials being considered too and will be attributed to ‘producers’ of packaging.
Aside from the cost element, users of packaging will be even more driven to choose sustainable packaging materials, reduce packaging weights where possible and ensure innovative, intuitive design opportunities are maximised to meet environmental and cost expectations.
Additionally, changes to the rates charge for Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) are to increase accelerating the switch to paper-based packaging.
To facilitate the smooth transition to paper and corrugated packaging, design will be crucial to packaging supply chains in 2025, more than ever before.
Smart packaging designs
Design teams add infinite value to packaging supply chains and our award-winning designers across the group bring decades of experience.
Used to challenging the status quo and pushing the boundaries of corrugated materials in packaging solutions they are adept at questioning and developing solutions which meet and often exceed briefs, support all facets of the supply chain and meet business needs.
With such an array of corrugated board grades, print options, and more available, bespoke packaging designs will become the ‘go-to’ choice in 2025 to ensure material and cost efficiencies are achieved.
Whilst the advancement of AI will continue during 2025, the impact on the corrugated packaging industry is expected to be minimal. That said, our designs and our products will support businesses embracing AI and this could range from automated packing lines to product information wrapped up in QR and bar codes (whilst they are still in use)
Local supply chains
For all the advancements in technology there is also an increasing appetite for businesses to source their packaging from a local, or regional supplier, thus reducing packaging miles and further supporting sustainability and environmental goals.
This includes achieving Scope 3 emissions which are indirect emissions that occur in the value chain of the reporting company.
With nineteen sites located across the UK, including three sheet feeders under our Board24 brand, an enviable range of print finishes and well invested machinery, our autonomy, locality and regional sites remain one of the key benefits of choosing a Logson Group company.
Now, with customers seeking the locality we are ideally placed to support customers across the entire corrugated supply chain.
As 2025 gets underway we expect demand for corrugated packaging solutions to grow steadily during the year.
Towards the end of 2024 there was a growing confidence across the industry as businesses sought out sustainable products to support their own agendas and those of their consumers or end users.
2024 was a strong year for Logson Group with the acquisition of Challenge Packaging early in the year to expand our portfolio into the Southeast of the country.
Now with a geographical reach covering the country our brands and businesses are incredibly well placed to deliver regional packaging keeping supply chains local and business communities buoyant.
We’re looking forward to another busy year and to forging new relationships as well as fostering those all-important ones already established.
2024 has been another challenging year for the corrugated industry, with paper prices moving upwards despite overall corrugated volumes being down.
Businesses now face further challenges to navigate the additional costs brought about by the October budget.
As the new Government continues to settle in, it is hoped UK manufacturing is placed high on business agendas and they afford this important business sector the same status as those who work in manufacturing do.
Sustainability goals
Sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance goals remain high on the agendas of many businesses. For the packaging industry this is translating into customers preferring corrugated and paper-based packaging over other materials, expecting smart, intuitive packaging designs and material efficient solutions.
Not only does this support their own ESG goals, but also those of their customers and the consumer buying demands who continue to expect businesses to choose sustainable and easily recyclable packaging solutions wherever possible.
EPR regulations
Perhaps the most significant impact on the industry in 2025 will be the mandate of the Extended Producer Responsibilities (EPR) legislation in October when qualifying businesses will first become liable for fees.
These fees are directly related to the amount of packaging they produce for the market with recyclability and the type of packaging and materials being considered too and will be attributed to ‘producers’ of packaging.
Aside from the cost element, users of packaging will be even more driven to choose sustainable packaging materials, reduce packaging weights where possible and ensure innovative, intuitive design opportunities are maximised to meet environmental and cost expectations.
Additionally, changes to the rates charge for Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) are to increase accelerating the switch to paper-based packaging.
To facilitate the smooth transition to paper and corrugated packaging, design will be crucial to packaging supply chains in 2025, more than ever before.
Smart packaging designs
Design teams add infinite value to packaging supply chains and our award-winning designers across the group bring decades of experience.
Used to challenging the status quo and pushing the boundaries of corrugated materials in packaging solutions they are adept at questioning and developing solutions which meet and often exceed briefs, support all facets of the supply chain and meet business needs.
With such an array of corrugated board grades, print options, and more available, bespoke packaging designs will become the ‘go-to’ choice in 2025 to ensure material and cost efficiencies are achieved.
Whilst the advancement of AI will continue during 2025, the impact on the corrugated packaging industry is expected to be minimal. That said, our designs and our products will support businesses embracing AI and this could range from automated packing lines to product information wrapped up in QR and bar codes (whilst they are still in use)
Local supply chains
For all the advancements in technology there is also an increasing appetite for businesses to source their packaging from a local, or regional supplier, thus reducing packaging miles and further supporting sustainability and environmental goals.
This includes achieving Scope 3 emissions which are indirect emissions that occur in the value chain of the reporting company.
With nineteen sites located across the UK, including three sheet feeders under our Board24 brand, an enviable range of print finishes and well invested machinery, our autonomy, locality and regional sites remain one of the key benefits of choosing a Logson Group company.
Now, with customers seeking the locality we are ideally placed to support customers across the entire corrugated supply chain.
As 2025 gets underway we expect demand for corrugated packaging solutions to grow steadily during the year.
Towards the end of 2024 there was a growing confidence across the industry as businesses sought out sustainable products to support their own agendas and those of their consumers or end users.
2024 was a strong year for Logson Group with the acquisition of Challenge Packaging early in the year to expand our portfolio into the Southeast of the country.
Now with a geographical reach covering the country our brands and businesses are incredibly well placed to deliver regional packaging keeping supply chains local and business communities buoyant.
We’re looking forward to another busy year and to forging new relationships as well as fostering those all-important ones already established.
