The global packaging testing services market is projected to grow from USD 20.2 billion in 2025 to USD 33.5 billion by 2035, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2%. This growth is driven by increasing consumer safety concerns, the expansion of e-commerce, and stringent regulatory standards across various industries.
Packaging testing services ensure that products meet safety, durability, and compliance requirements, thereby protecting both consumers and brands. As global trade and consumer expectations evolve, the demand for reliable and efficient packaging testing solutions is expected to rise, contributing to market expansion.
Packaging Testing Services Industry Forecast
| Attributes | Key Insights |
|---|---|
| Estimated Size, 2025 | USD 20.2 billion |
| Projected Size, 2035 | USD 33.5 billion |
| Value-based CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 5.2% |
Advancements in testing technologies are also playing a significant role in the market's growth. The integration of automation, artificial intelligence, and real-time monitoring systems into packaging testing processes is enhancing efficiency and accuracy.
These technological innovations enable companies to conduct more comprehensive assessments of packaging materials and structures, ensuring that they can withstand the rigors of transportation and storage. As industries strive for operational excellence and cost-effectiveness, the adoption of advanced testing technologies is becoming increasingly prevalent, further driving the demand for packaging testing services.
In 2025, the sector is seeing strong M&A momentum, with over 79 transactions year‑to‑date as companies consolidate to enhance services and scale. R&D investments are rising-firms are integrating AI-driven defect detection and sustainable smart-packaging solutions, boosting testing capabilities.
Notably, major players like SGS and Bureau Veritas have flirted with a mega-merger, while WestRock’s acquisition of Smurfit Kappa signals broader market reshuffling. The testing services market is robust, projected to grow 5-10% annually, even as supply-chain pressures and regulatory shifts add complexity.
The table below presents the expected CAGR for the global packaging testing services market over several semi-annual periods spanning from 2025 to 2035.
| Particular | Value CAGR |
|---|---|
| H1 (2024 to 2034) | 5.1% |
| H2 (2024 to 2034) | 5.3% |
| H1 (2025 to 2035) | 5.0% |
| H2 (2025 to 2035) | 5.4% |
In the first half (H1) of the decade from 2024 to 2034, the business is expected to surge at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%, followed by a slightly higher growth rate of 5.3% in the second half (H2) of the same decade.
Moving into the subsequent period, from H1 2025 to H2 2035, the CAGR is projected to decrease slightly to 5.0% in the first half and remain relatively moderate at 5.4% in the second half. In the first half (H1) the market witnessed a decrease of 10 BPS while in the second half (H2), the market saw an increase of 10 BPS.
The packaging testing services market is segmented by testing type and material, with physical testing leading at 42.5% market share, and plastics dominating the material segment with a 38% share in 2025.
Physical testing is expected to capture the largest share of the packaging testing services market, with a 42.5% share in 2025. Physical testing evaluates the durability, strength, and overall functionality of packaging materials under various environmental conditions. This type of testing is essential for ensuring that packaging can withstand transportation, storage, and handling processes without compromising product safety.
Companies like SGS, Bureau Veritas, and Intertek provide comprehensive physical testing services that assess attributes such as tensile strength, compressive strength, and impact resistance, ensuring that packaging meets industry standards and regulations.
Plastics are expected to hold a 38% share of the packaging testing services market by 2025. The widespread use of plastics in packaging, particularly in food, beverage, and consumer goods, makes it crucial to ensure these materials meet regulatory requirements and performance standards.
Plastic packaging must undergo various testing, including physical, chemical, and microbiological tests, to ensure it is safe, durable, and effective. Major players in the market, such as BASF, Dow Chemical Company, and SABIC, provide testing services for plastic packaging to ensure it meets industry standards, such as those set by the FDA and other global regulatory bodies.
Elevating Consumer Safety through Advanced Food Packaging Testing
The rapid rise in consumer concern for food safety has significantly increased the demand for expanded food packaging testing services. According to the United Nations, it has been reported that 600 million foodborne illnesses occur annually, resulting in a heightened need to determine the authenticity and quality of food packaging.
Contamination can occur anywhere along the supply chain, and ruptured packaging poses significant health risks, making testing in high demand.
Regulatory agencies are compelling such providers to adhere to rigorous testing protocols by considering or mandating stringent testing protocols that will prevent such risks. This heightened need is not only to avoid contamination but also to ensure that packaging materials do not react adversely with the food products, thereby maintaining the quality and shelf life of the products.
As consumers become increasingly aware of safety issues related to food, companies are compelled to conduct packaging testing to ensure no harm is caused to their brand reputation and subsequent legal exposure. Considering these factors, the market for packaging testing services is expected to undergo substantial growth, driven by the need to enhance safety measures, comply with regulations, and prioritize public health.
Improving E-Commerce Logistics with Packaging Testing Services
The global growth of e-commerce is positively impacting the packaging testing services market. As one of the high-growth opportunities in sales, e-commerce sales are expected to surge by 8.9% and reach USD 7.5 trillion by 2025, in accordance with the study from Ecommerce Tips. Companies are focusing on successful delivery of products to enhance customer satisfaction.
This has further increased the need for more robust testing of packages to ensure their quality and durability. In this competitive landscape, businesses are prioritizing new, innovative, sustainable, and effective packaging designs that meet regulatory standards while minimizing environmental impact.
To test the new packaging materials, packaging testing has emerged as an essential service aimed at validating the materials' suitability, ensuring protection during transit, and optimizing supply chain efficiency. As online shopping continues to drive high growth within this niche market, robust packaging testing will become an essential part of the e-commerce supply chain, ensuring product integrity and, in turn, fostering customer confidence, which will further fuel this market’s growth.
High Operational Costs Pose Barriers to Packaging Testing Services for Small Businesses
The high operational costs associated with packaging testing services may pose challenges for smaller companies considering investments in packaging testing services. Establishing testing facilities requires substantial investments in specialized equipment, laboratory space, and compliance with industry regulations. Additionally, the maintenance, calibration and training for employees also adds to some amount of finances.
Smaller firms generally operate on a limited financial budget, making it challenging to afford such expensive testing programs. They may also opt for third-party testing, which might prove inconvenient and costly in the long term.
This would limit their ability to ensure compliance and quality and from an innovation viewpoint would affect their competitiveness in the marketplace. High operational costs can therefore hinder the growth of packaging testing services, and this is particularly true for small business enterprises.
Tier 1 companies comprise market leaders with a market revenue of above USD 350 million, capturing a significant market share of 15% to 20% in the global market. These market leaders are characterized by high production capacity and a wide product portfolio. These market leaders are distinguished by their extensive expertise in manufacturing across multiple packaging formats and a broad geographical reach, underpinned by a robust consumer base.
They provide a wide range of services, including recycling and manufacturing, utilizing the latest technology and meeting the regulatory standards, and providing the highest quality. Prominent companies within Tier 1 include SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA, Eurofins Scientific SE, Intertek Group plc, Bureau Veritas, and TÜV Rheinland.
Tier 2 companies comprise mid-sized players with revenues of USD 30 to 350 million, having a presence in specific regions and a significant influence on the local market. These are characterized by a strong presence overseas and strong market knowledge.
These market players possess good technology and ensure regulatory compliance, but may lack advanced technology and a broad global reach. Prominent companies in tier 2 include Microbac Laboratories, Inc., EMSL Analytical, Inc., Nelson Laboratories, LLC, ALS Limited, and Smithers.
Tier 3 includes the majority of small-scale companies operating at the local level and serving niche markets, having revenue below USD 30 million. These companies are notably oriented towards fulfilling local market demands and are consequently classified within the tier 3 share segment.
They are small-scale players and have limited geographical reach. Tier 3, within this context, is recognized as an unorganized market, denoting a sector characterized by a lack of extensive structure and formalization when compared to organized competitors.
The packaging testing services market study identifies critical growth trajectories across more than 30 nations. Service providers operating in the most opportunity-rich countries can leverage strategic insights based on the evaluation of regulatory compliance, material integrity, consumer safety, and sustainability trends. India leads as the fastest-growing market, closely followed by China. The table below highlights the growth projections of the top five packaging testing services markets throughout the forecast period.
Projected CAGR Table for Packaging Testing Services Market (2025 to 2035)
| Country | Projected CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| United States | 5.8% |
| United Kingdom | 4.9% |
| China | 6.1% |
| India | 6.4% |
| Germany | 4.7% |
Fastest Growing Country
India
Highest Market Share Country
United States
The United States packaging testing services market, expected to grow at 5.8% CAGR, benefits from a deeply entrenched regulatory infrastructure and advanced R&D capabilities. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), supports a stringent compliance framework that emphasizes consumer safety. Testing solutions for permeability, compression, shelf life, and microbial contamination are in high demand, especially across the pharmaceutical, food, and e-commerce sectors.
Key players such as SGS North America, Intertek, and Eurofins drive competitive edge through rapid adoption of digital inspection tools and automated testing protocols. Sustainability initiatives and brand accountability on recyclability and biodegradability further reinforce the growth potential.
The UK packaging testing services market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 4.9%, propelled by evolving environmental norms and increasing adoption of sustainable packaging standards. The UK Plastic Packaging Tax and WRAP's guidelines shape the demand for recyclable and compostable packaging assessments.
Growth is underpinned by the beverage and retail sectors' demand for barrier performance, drop resistance, and transit packaging tests. Organizations such as Smithers and Bureau Veritas lead the innovation pipeline through advanced simulation technologies and predictive analytics. The UK’s commitment to net-zero emissions and circular economy reinforces the reliance on standardized, third-party packaging verification.
Germany’s packaging testing market registers a steady CAGR of 4.7%, supported by its industrial rigor and preference for high-precision mechanical testing. The nation benefits from EU harmonization standards and DIN regulations that require exhaustive performance testing for every packaging format. Industries such as automotive parts packaging, chemicals, and premium consumer goods invest in vibration, environmental stress, and chemical migration testing.
German firms like TÜV Rheinland and Intertek GmbH are pioneering modular testing platforms that serve both SMEs and global manufacturers. Sustainable packaging innovation also sees strong support from policy frameworks aligned with Germany’s ecological mandates.
China is positioned to grow at a strong CAGR of 6.1%, driven by rapid industrialization and expanding export-oriented production across multiple sectors. The packaging testing market thrives on the country's large-scale manufacturing ecosystem, especially in electronics, pharmaceuticals, and packaged foods.
National standards such as GB and mandatory quality checks promote transparency, especially in plastic, flexible, and glass packaging formats. Companies like Pony Testing and CTT are at the forefront, delivering expansive testing capabilities that cover shelf life, tensile strength, and toxicology. Governmental policies under "Made in China 2025" boost local service providers with incentives for certification and international compliance upgrades.
India's packaging testing services market records the highest CAGR of 6.4%, driven by strong regulatory enhancements and surging demand in food safety, e-commerce packaging, and pharma logistics. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) have enhanced mandatory protocols covering heavy metal testing, migration limits, and barrier properties. MSMEs and startups are adopting testing as a competitive differentiator, supported by government schemes under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Entities such as TUV India and NABL-accredited labs now offer integrated digital portals for testing access, further democratizing service adoption across tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Rising consumer scrutiny and expanding exports necessitate robust validation of packaging reliability, sustainability, and regulatory conformance.
Key players in the packaging testing services industry are developing and launching new products in the market. They are integrating with different firms and extending their geographical presence. A few of them are also collaborating and partnering with local brands and start-up companies to develop new products.
Key Developments in the Packaging Testing Services Market
| Report Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2025) | USD 20.2 billion |
| Projected Market Size (2035) | USD 33.5 billion |
| CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 5.2% |
| Base Year for Estimation | 2024 |
| Historical Period | 2020 to 2024 |
| Projections Period | 2025 to 2035 |
| Quantitative Units | USD billion for value |
| Testing Types Analyzed | Physical, Chemical, Microbiological |
| Materials Analyzed | Plastics, Paper & Paperboard, Glass, Wooden, Others |
| End-Use Industries Analyzed | Food & Beverages, Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Cosmetics & Personal Care, Medical Devices, Chemicals & Fertilizers, Electric & Electronics, Automotive, Industrial, Others |
| Regions Covered | North America, Latin America, East Asia, South Asia & Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Russia & Belarus, Balkan & Baltic Countries, Middle East & Africa |
| Countries Covered | United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, France, United Kingdom, China, India, Japan, Australia, UAE, South Africa |
| Key Players Influencing the Market | SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA, Bureau Veritas, Eurofins Scientific SE, Intertek Group plc, TÜV Rheinland, Microbac Laboratories, Inc., EMSL Analytical, Inc., Nelson Laboratories, LLC, ALS Limited, Smithers, Nefab Group, Campden BRI, Amcor plc, Berry Global Inc, The International Paper Company, Sealed Air Corporation, Smurfit Kappa, UL Solutions, TEKTRONIX, INC, Measur Oy |
| Additional Attributes | Dollar sales growth by testing type (physical, chemical, microbiological), regional demand trends, competitive landscape, pricing strategies, supply chain analysis, material preference shifts, innovation in testing technology |
In terms of testing type, the packaging testing services market is divided into physical, chemical and microbiological.
The materials segment in packaging testing services market includes plastics, paper & paperboard, glass, wooden and others.
End users in packaging testing services market include food & beverages, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, cosmetics and personal care, medical devices, chemicals & fertilizers, electric & electronics, automotive, industrial and others.
Key countries of North America, Latin America, East Asia, South Asia and Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Russia & Belarus, Balkan & Baltic Countries, Middle East and Africa are covered.
The packaging testing services industry is projected to witness CAGR of 5.2% between 2025 and 2035.
The global packaging testing services industry stood at USD 19.2 billion in 2024.
Global packaging testing services industry is anticipated to reach USD 33.5 billion by 2035 end.
South Asia & Pacific is set to record a CAGR of 6.3% in assessment period.
Key players in packaging testing services market include SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA., Eurofins Scientific SE, Intertek Group plc, Bureau Veritas and TÜV Rheinland.
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Packaging Testing Services Market
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