Greenhouse Film Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Rising demand for food and global population growth: The worldwide population continues to grow rapidly, increasing the demand for food production and food security. Greenhouse films support year-round cultivation and higher yields, making them highly essential for meeting this demand. In December 2025, the Governments of Canada and Alberta announced that they had launched the growing greenhouses program, which is a three-year, USD 10-million initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, to expand Alberta’s greenhouse and vertical farm sector. Besides, the program aims to increase local production of fresh fruits and vegetables, reduce reliance on seasonal imports, and support Alberta’s Buy Local initiative by providing consumers with locally grown produce year-round. It will fund new construction, expansions, and the adoption of advanced technologies such as energy-efficient systems, automation, and lighting improvements to enhance production and sustainability, benefiting the greenhouse film market.
• Expansion of controlled environment agriculture: Farmers across most nations are adopting controlled environment agriculture, which includes greenhouse cultivation, to produce stable and predictable yields irrespective of season or weather. This increases greenhouse film usage as a key CEA component, driving business in the market.  As per the article published by USDA in February 2024, in a span of ten years, controlled environment agriculture in the U.S., including greenhouses, vertical farms, hydroponics, and aquaponics, more than doubled in operations, rising from 1,476 to 2,994, whereas the production volumes increased 56% to 7.86 million hundredweight. It also mentioned that CEA systems allow growers to control temperature, light, wind, and precipitation, addressing adverse weather and pests, which boosts both yield and crop quality, benefiting the greenhouse film industry.
• Climate change and weather volatility: Increasing variabilities in climatic conditions, such as extreme heat, droughts, and heavy rains, encourage farmers to utilize greenhouse films to protect crops from environmental stresses.  In this context, RKW Group in January 2025 reported that it showcased its wide range of films, nonwovens, and packaging solutions at Fruit Logistica 2025 by covering the entire supply chain from plant cultivation to transport. Their offerings include greenhouse and early harvesting films, durable crop cover nonwovens, and innovative packaging solutions such as FruitPads, MDO-PE lamination films, and stretch hoods, all of which are especially designed for sustainability, efficiency, and crop protection. RKW also mentioned that its products aim to enhance plant growth, extend shelf life, and reduce material use, supporting both agricultural productivity and eco-friendly practices, driving consistent growth in the market.

Challenges

• High production and raw material costs: The greenhouse film market relies on polyethylene and other polymers for which prices are volatile owing to fluctuations in terms of crude oil and petrochemical sectors. These rising raw material costs affect the factor of affordability of films for growers, especially in emerging nations. In addition, manufacturing films with UV stabilization, anti-drip, anti-fog, and light-diffusing properties also necessitates specialized machinery, energy, and skilled labor, thereby increasing production costs. In this context, smaller manufacturers in this field mostly find it challenging to achieve economies of scale. Furthermore, these cost pressures can limit adoption, particularly for resource-constrained farmers, in turn compelling companies to balance affordability with technological performance, durability, and environmental considerations.
• Environmental and sustainability concerns: This is yet another factor hindering growth in the greenhouse film market. Greenhouse films are primarily made from plastics, which create environmental challenges at the end of their lifecycle. Also, disposal, recycling, and biodegradability are considerable concerns as governments and consumers are opting for sustainable agricultural practices. The aspect of any improper disposal can lead to soil and water contamination, whereas the recycling options are limited due to contamination with pesticides, soil, and organic residues. Manufacturers are under severe pressure to develop eco-friendly, recyclable, or biodegradable films. In addition to compliance with environmental regulations and certifications, maintaining performance and competitive pricing is a critical challenge for pioneers.