Baby Care Packaging Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• High focus on sustainable packaging post-COVID-19 pandemic: The demand for baby care products made from sustainable materials has drastically increased post-COVID-19 outbreak due to rising concerns for baby health and safety. Manufacturers are focusing on packaging made of eco-friendly materials. Brands have tried to incorporate plant-based products in their packaging. 80% of brands are using flexible packaging as per Research Nester on brand trends on packaging. The baby care packaging market trends show that the transparency in baby food products is a popular trend and using thin materials with microwaveable characteristics is expected to be a driving factor in packaging demands.
• Increased digitization in sales:  The emergence of e-commerce platforms and easy accessibility to a wide range of baby care products is a significant factor boosting global baby care packaging market growth. The online purchase of baby care products increased exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued to remain steady in 2024. Kimberly-Clark reported a global sale of 7.1 billion in 2023 of its baby care products ascribed to its digital campaigns. Companies have better brand penetration due to online platforms and it has contributed significantly to the growth of the baby care industry.

• Change in purchasing behavior of parents: Parents are investing more in baby care products due to better accessibility to information and education. The purchasing behavior of parents has evolved as there is a greater focus on sustainable and premium products.  The new generation of parents demand baby care products that are gentle for their infants, resulting in the growing demand for vegan baby care products by cruelty-free certified companies such as OrganicaLibra, Abby & Finn, and Acure.

Challenges

• Uncertainty of raw materials: The availability of raw materials such as sustainable bio-degradable plastics, plant-based fibers, and paperboard can fluctuate and affect the baby care packaging industry. Plastic remains the dominant material in packaging but many governments are adopting tough stances on single-use plastic, thereby forcing brands to integrate green alternatives. This transition positions operational challenges in production due to the lack of availability of raw materials to produce cost-effective sustainable packaging.
• Strict regulatory hurdles: The regulations are stringent and it may increase the time and cost of product development. For example, CDSCO regulates the manufacture of baby diapers and does not allow the use of chemicals such as sodium polyacrylate, dioxins, etc. Most countries are also strict about the labelling in the baby care products. Emerging markets in Asia-Pacific are rife with opportunities but also can be unstable due to fluctuating currency values and inflation. The fluctuations may disrupt the manufacturer in maintaining stable prices for the products and can hinder baby care packaging market growth.