From Sustainability to Profitability: How Honeycomb Paperboard Packaging Is Reshaping Global Packaging Markets

The global Honeycomb Paperboard for Packaging industry has emerged as a pivotal segment within sustainable packaging solutions, driven by heightened environmental awareness, strong demand in e-commerce and industrial sectors, and increasing regulatory pressures to reduce single-use plastics. Globally, honeycomb paperboard continues to gain momentum as sustainability priorities climb corporate and governmental agendas, amplified by regulatory frameworks targeting plastic reduction and recycling mandates. Honeycomb paperboard is an engineered, lightweight, yet durable structured paper product featuring hexagonal cellular cores bonded between linerboard sheets, combining high strength-to-weight ratios with recyclability and environmental friendliness. Its primary appeal lies in its capacity to protect goods in transit while offering eco-friendly alternatives to plastics and traditional wood packaging, fostering adoption across multiple downstream industries. Growth is led by Asia Pacific the largest regional market followed by strong development in North America and Europe, reflecting diversified end-use applications across sectors. In 2024, Asia Pacific dominated demand share with rapid uptake in China, India, and Southeast Asian economies, supported by burgeoning manufacturing output, expanding e-commerce penetration, and strategic investments in packaging infrastructure. The industry has seen continuous enhancement of production technologies, including automated core forming, high-precision die-cutting and lamination, inline quality control systems, and digital printing capabilities, which collectively boost production efficiency and product versatility for complex packaging needs. Globally, manufacturers are focusing on integrating advanced materials and coatings to address moisture resistance and food-contact compliance challenges, thereby broadening application scopes across packaging segments. The convergence of sustainability imperatives, logistical efficiencies, and technological innovation frames the global honeycomb paperboard industry as a significant growth avenue for packaging stakeholders.
In 2024, the global market size amounted to approximately USD 1,430 million, with a growing compound annual growth rate of 6.1%, reaching market size USD 2,164 million by 2031. With an average selling price of USD 1,150 per ton, reflecting a total of 1,243K ton sold in 2024. The factory gross margin is 32%, implies to a factory gross profit of USD 368 per ton and cost of goods sold is USD 782 per ton. The COGS breakdown is raw material inputs (largely kraft paper and recycled fibre), energy and labor. A single line full machine capacity production is around 15K ton per liner per year. Downstream demand are heavy duty protective packaging for furniture and appliances, lightweight pallets and skids for logistics, interior protective inserts for automotive parts and point of purchase displays.
Latest Trends and Technological Developments
A key recent development in the honeycomb paperboard packaging industry includes the launch of advanced high-strength paperboard grades designed for e-commerce and protective applications, with announcements from major material suppliers in mid-2025 highlighting enhanced performance characteristics tailored for high-impact logistics environments. Developments in automated machine lines have accelerated throughput and precision, enabling manufacturers to balance customization and volume, while digital finishing technologies have opened new avenues for high-resolution brand messaging and variable print design integration into structural packaging. New hybrid manufacturing workflows, combining automated and semi-automated processes, have also enabled scalable production for both large enterprises and smaller converters seeking agility in meeting diverse customer demands. These technological advancements reflect ongoing industry prioritization of efficiency, sustainability, and market differentiation.

Global retailer IKEA procures eco-friendly honeycomb paperboard protective packaging from DS Smith for its flat-pack furniture lines, securing an annual supply contract valued at USD 320 per ton to cushion delicate items like glass tabletops and mirrors during transit. This lightweight yet robust material replaces plastic foam, aligning with IKEAs sustainability goals while reducing shipping costs.
The honeycomb paperboard is installed by Samsung Electronics in its South Korean logistics centers as void fill and protective layer packaging for high-end appliances like OLED TVs. The custom-cut honeycomb panels, purchased from Hexacomb Corporation at USD 45 per cubic meter, are used to line shipping cartonsabsorbing shock and preventing scratches during global distribution, significantly lowering damage rates and material waste.
Asia Pacific stands as the dominant market for honeycomb paperboard packaging, underpinned by rapid industrialization, large manufacturing bases, and escalating packaging demand across consumer goods, electronics, automotive, and logistics sectors. China remains the largest producer and consumer within the region, supported by abundant paper production infrastructure, cost-competitive manufacturing, and integrated supply chains that bolster market penetration. India has exhibited rising adoption driven by expanding e-commerce, increasing export packaging activities, and government emphasis on sustainable materials, fostering demand across domestic and regional trade corridors. Southeast Asian economies such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia are also emerging as growth hotspots due to expanding manufacturing exports, investments in packaging technologies, and rising domestic consumption of sustainable packaging alternatives. Across Asia, regulatory support for recycling, waste management, and sustainable materials further propels market uptake.
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Honeycomb Paperboard for Packaging by Type:
Continuous Paper Honeycomb

Blocks Paper Honeycomb

Expanded Paper Honeycomb

Honeycomb Paperboard for Packaging by Product Category:
Standard Honeycomb Core Board

Reinforced Honeycomb Paperboard

Honeycomb Paperboard for Packaging by Market Segment:
Kraft Paper Faced Honeycomb Board

Corrugated Paper Faced Honeycomb Board

Honeycomb Paperboard for Packaging by Material:
Recycled Paper Hoenycomb

Water Resistant Coated Paper

Fire Retardant Treated Paperboard

Honeycomb Paperboard for Packaging by Feature:
Lighweight Cushioning

High Compressive Strength

Eco Friendly and Recyclable

Moisture Resistant Treatment

Others

Honeycomb Paperboard for Packaging by Application:
Furniture

Automotive

Packaging Production

Construction

Global Top 20 Key Companies in the Honeycomb Paperboard for Packaging Market
CORINT (France)

Grigeo (Lithuania)

Axxor (Netherlands)

Honicel (Spain)

Cartoflex (Spain)

Forlit (Italy)

BEWI (Norway)

Bestem (Germany)

Dufaylite (UK)

L'Hexagone (France)

Tivuplast (Italy)

QK Honeycomb Products (Chona)

HXPP (China)

American Containers (US)

Cascades (Canada)

DS Smith (UK)

IPC (Italy)

Shenzhen Prince New Materials (China)

Zhengye (China)

Smurfti Kappa (Ireland)

Regional Insights
Within the ASEAN region, demand for honeycomb paperboard is increasing amidst strengthening e-commerce activity, heightened consumer expectations for sustainable packaging, and rising logistics volumes. Indonesia, in particular, is experiencing growing interest in eco-friendly packaging driven by both regulatory initiatives targeting plastic waste reduction and corporate sustainability strategies. ASEAN markets are gradually expanding production capacities, with local converters adopting semi-automated and automated production lines to serve burgeoning domestic demand while also participating in regional supply networks. The combined effect of rising industrial output, expanding retail and e-commerce sectors, and increased environmental consciousness positions ASEAN as a strategic sub-region within Asias honeycomb paperboard ecosystem.

Despite robust growth trajectories, the industry faces several challenges. Volatile raw material prices, especially for kraft and recycled paper, exert pressure on production costs and pricing strategies. Technical limitations related to moisture resistance and regulatory compliance for food-contact applications necessitate additional coatings or processing steps that increase costs and complexity. Furthermore, competition from alternative packaging materials such as traditional corrugated board, foam plastics, and flexible packaging solutions continues to influence adoption rates in price-sensitive segments. In certain markets, awareness and infrastructure barriers still limit penetration, particularly among smaller packaging converters and end users.

Strategic priorities for industry participants include investment in advanced production technologies to enhance throughput and quality, diversification of material formulations to meet specific performance requirements (e.g., moisture barriers or food-contact safety), and expansion into emerging regional markets with tailored logistical support. Collaboration across the value chain from raw material suppliers to converters and brand owners remains crucial for optimizing cost structures and developing innovative sustainable packaging systems that align with evolving consumer and regulatory expectations. Companies focusing on branding integration, digital printing solutions, and customizable packaging formats are poised to differentiate offerings and capture higher-value market segments.
Product Models
Honeycomb paperboard is a high-strength, lightweight, and sustainable packaging material made by forming recycled paper into a hexagonal honeycomb core bonded between paper facings.
Continuous Paper Honeycomb A continuous roll or sheet of honeycomb core that can be expanded and cut to custom lengths. Best for automated packaging lines, pallets, and wrapping large products. Notable products include:
CORINT Continuous Core CORINT Group (High Segment): Premium continuous honeycomb core for heavy industrial packaging; highly consistent cell structure; $3$5/m2, used by electronics manufacturers.
Grigeo Longroll Grigeo (High Segment): Long-length expandable core suited for custom pallets; $3$4.50/m2, used by furniture exporters.
Cartoflex ExpandRoll Cartoflex (Middle Segment): Cost-effective flexible core roll; $2$2.80/m2, used in consumer goods shipping.
Forlit Continuous Sheet Forlit (Middle Segment): Standard continuous honeycomb sheet; $2.20$3/m2, used by industrial packaging houses.
BEWI Continuous Panel BEWI (Low/Mid Segment): Moderate strength core roll for light duty packaging; $1.80$2.50/m2, used by small-business shippers.
Blocks Paper Honeycomb Pre-formed blocks or pieces of honeycomb core with fixed thickness. Used for inserts, cushioning and structural support in boxes or pallets. Notable products include:
Honicel BlockPack Honicel (Middle Segment): Standard block system; $30$45/block, used in appliance packaging.
Cartoflex Protective Block Cartoflex (Low/Mid Segment): General packaging blocks; $20$35/block, used in e-commerce packaging.
Forlit Block Core Forlit (Low Segment): Basic protective block product; $15$25/block, used for general cushioning.
Bestem Block Form Bestem (Low Segment): Entry-level honeycomb blocks; $15$30/block, used for light equipment protection.
IPC BlockCore IPC (Middle Segment): Reliable blocks for medium load products; $28$45/block, used by industrial packers.
Expanded Paper Honeycomb Honeycomb material that has already been physically expanded into a 3D grid pattern; often used as wraps, flexible cushioning, or surface protection. Notable products include:
Honicel ExpandSheet Honicel (Middle Segment): Standard expanded sheet; $3$5/m2, used for fragile consumer goods.
Cartoflex ExpandWrap Cartoflex (Low/Mid Segment): Affordable expanded honeycomb sheet; $2.50$4/m2, used by small logistics firms.
Forlit ExpandPad Forlit (Low Segment): Basic cushioning expanded pad; $2.20$3.80/m2, used for general packing.
BEWI Expand Mesh BEWI (Middle Segment): Flexible expanded mesh for irregular loads; $3.20$5.50/m2, used in automotive parts.
Bestem Expand Guard Bestem (Low Segment): Entry wrap product; $2$3.50/m2, used by retail packers.

The global honeycomb paperboard for packaging market is poised for continued expansion, supported by sustainability drivers, technological advancements, and expanding end-use applications across industries and regions. With Asia Pacific and ASEAN nations including Indonesia leading adoption, the industry reflects both environmental priorities and commercial imperatives shaping modern packaging. Ongoing investments in production technologies, regulatory alignment, and strategic collaborations across the value chain will be critical in harnessing growth potential and addressing market challenges.

Investor Analysis
For investors, this research report highlights key market dynamics, long-term growth projections, pricing data, cost structures, and regional demand insights that collectively inform investment decisions. Understanding price floors and manufacturing costs enables assessment of margin sustainability, while demand breakdowns and downstream consumption trends identify high-growth segments and geographies. The Asia and Southeast Asia focus underscores regions with accelerating packaging demand and favorable policy environments, presenting avenues for strategic capital deployment. Technological developments and competitive landscapes further illustrate opportunities for investment in innovation, capacity expansion, and value chain integrations that could yield differentiated returns. Ultimately, the report equips investors with comprehensive market intelligence to anticipate structural shifts, allocate resources effectively, and capitalize on sustainability-driven megatrends.

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5 Reasons to Buy This Report
Comprehensive analysis of global and regional market size, growth projections, and price dynamics.
Detailed insight into cost structures, production capacities, and profit margins across the value chain.
Strategic evaluation of technological developments and latest market trends.
In-depth regional coverage with focus on Asia and ASEAN markets.
Competitive landscape profiling of top global industry players.
5 Key Questions Answered
What is the current global market size and forecasted growth through 2031?
How do pricing, cost of goods sold, and profit margins shape industry economics?
What are the latest technological advancements and industry trends?
How does the market vary across regions, particularly in Asia and ASEAN?
Who are the leading players and what competitive strategies are they employing?
Chapter Outline
Chapter 1: Introduces the report scope of the report, executive summary of different market segments (by region, product type, application, etc), including the market size of each market segment, future development potential, and so on. It offers a high-level view of the current state of the market and its likely evolution in the short to mid-term, and long term.
Chapter 2: key insights, key emerging trends, etc.
Chapter 3: Manufacturers competitive analysis, detailed analysis of the product manufacturers competitive landscape, price, sales and revenue market share, latest development plan, merger, and acquisition information, etc.
Chapter 4: Provides profiles of key players, introducing the basic situation of the main companies in the market in detail, including product sales, revenue, price, gross margin, product introduction, recent development, etc.
Chapter 5 & 6: Sales, revenue of the product in regional level and country level. It provides a quantitative analysis of the market size and development potential of each region and its main countries and introduces the market development, future development prospects, market space, and market size of each country in the world.
Chapter 7: Provides the analysis of various market segments by Type, covering the market size and development potential of each market segment, to help readers find the blue ocean market in different market segments.
Chapter 8: Provides the analysis of various market segments by Application, covering the market size and development potential of each market segment, to help readers find the blue ocean market in different downstream markets.
Chapter 9: Analysis of industrial chain, including the upstream and downstream of the industry.
Chapter 10: The main points and conclusions of the report.

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