Top 10 Companies in the Global Packaging Inserts and Cushions Market (2025): Protective Packaging Specialists Safeguarding Shipments Worldwide

In Business Insights
June 10, 2025

The Global Packaging Inserts and Cushions Market was valued at USD 892.4 Million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 1.23 Billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.5% during the forecast period (2024-2030). This steady growth stems from surging e-commerce demands, heightened product protection requirements, and the global transition toward sustainable packaging materials.

As supply chains grow more complex and consumer expectations for damage-free deliveries intensify, manufacturers are innovating with smart cushioning technologies, biodegradable materials, and precision-engineered protective solutions. This analysis profiles the Top 10 Packaging Inserts Companies – industry pioneers who combine materials science with engineering excellence to protect goods across every transportation challenge.


🔟 1. Smurfit Kappa Group

Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland
Key Offering: Corrugated partitions, molded fiber solutions

Smurfit Kappa leads the paper-based packaging segment with advanced corrugated designs holding 42% of European protective packaging market share. Their proprietary Safebox® technology reduces shipment damage by up to 60% while using 100% recyclable materials.

Innovation Highlights:

  • Water-resistant paper cushioning for perishables

  • Automated packaging systems reducing material waste

  • Carbon-negative production processes

Download FREE Sample Report: Global Packaging Inserts and Cushions Market – View in Detailed Research Report


9️⃣ 2. Sealed Air Corporation

Headquarters: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Key Offering: Bubble cushioning, foam inserts, inflatable systems

Sealed Air’s iconic Bubble Wrap® remains the global standard in protective packaging, with the company processing over 100,000 metric tons of plastic film annually. Their newer Intellimer® smart packaging materials change properties based on temperature fluctuations.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • 50% recycled content across product lines

  • Plant-based foam alternatives for automotive packaging


8️⃣ 3. DS Smith Plc

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Honeycomb packaging, paper pulp molding

DS Smith’s patented Hexacomb® panels provide superior cushioning with 70% less material than traditional alternatives. Their designs dominate electronics packaging (38% market share) and automotive component protection across Europe.

Market Position:

  • Operates 13 dedicated packaging innovation centers

  • Circular economy leader with closed-loop recycling programs


7️⃣ 4. Pregis LLC

Headquarters: Deerfield, Illinois, USA
Key Offering: Air cushioning machines, foam-in-place systems

Pregis leads in automated protective packaging with installations in over 50,000 facilities globally. Their EasyPack® systems create on-demand air cushions, reducing material usage by 40% compared to pre-made solutions.

Innovation Focus:

  • Self-sealing inflatable packaging designs

  • IoT-enabled equipment with predictive maintenance

Download FREE Sample Report: Global Packaging Inserts and Cushions Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. Sonoco Products Company

Headquarters: Hartsville, South Carolina, USA
Key Offering: Paperboard partitions, thermoformed trays

Sonoco’s Engineered Packaging division serves industries from pharmaceuticals to aerospace with patented solutions like ClimaCell® thermally regulated packaging for temperature-sensitive shipments.

Sustainability Achievements:

  • 85% recycled content in paperboard products

  • Zero-waste-to-landfill manufacturing


5️⃣ 6. Huhtamaki Oyj

Headquarters: Espoo, Finland
Key Offering: Molded fiber food packaging, cushioning

Huhtamaki specializes in sustainable food service packaging with molded fiber solutions that are microwave-safe and fully compostable within 90 days.

Market Position:

  • Produces over 5 billion food service items annually

  • FSC-certified fiber sourcing across operations


4️⃣ 7. Reflex Packaging Ltd

Headquarters: Newport, Wales, UK
Key Offering: Thermoformed pharmaceutical inserts

Reflex Packaging delivers precision medical device packaging meeting ISO Class 7 cleanroom standards, with specialized solutions for autoinjectors, vials, and surgical instruments.

Differentiators:

  • 21 CFR Part 11 compliant tracking systems

  • Anti-counterfeiting packaging technologies


3️⃣ 8. Pro-Pac Packaging Limited

Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia
Key Offering: Protective films, foam sheets, void fill

Pro-Pac dominates the APAC protective packaging market with solutions reducing parcel weights by up to 30% while maintaining impact protection for fragile goods.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Recyclable polyethylene foam formulations

  • Solar-powered manufacturing facilities

Download FREE Sample Report: Global Packaging Inserts and Cushions Market – View in Detailed Research Report


2️⃣ 9. Plastifoam Company

Headquarters: Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
Key Offering: EPS foam packaging, custom die-cutting

Plastifoam specializes in engineered expanded polystyrene (EPS) solutions offering the highest cushioning performance per pound, with proprietary CNC cutting for precision-fit protective packaging.

Innovation Highlights:

  • Patented geometric designs improving compression resistance

  • 14 North American fabrication facilities


1️⃣ 10. Salazar Packaging, Inc.

Headquarters: San Antonio, Texas, USA
Key Offering: Custom thermoformed protective packaging

Salazar Packaging serves aerospace and defense clients with MIL-STD-2073 compliant solutions featuring vibration damping and electrostatic discharge protection.

Technical Capabilities:

  • In-house ISTA and ASTM testing labs

  • 3D scanning for precise product cavity creation

Get Full Report Here: Global Packaging Inserts and Cushions Market – View in Detailed Research Report


📦 Market Outlook: Smart, Sustainable Solutions Drive Growth

The protective packaging sector is transitioning toward circular economy principles while integrating smart technologies. Paper-based solutions now claim 52% market share, with molded fiber growing at 18% CAGR through 2030.

📊 Key Industry Developments:

  • E-commerce expansion driving 35% annual protective packaging demand growth

  • Plant-based cushioning materials adoption increasing 42% year-over-year

  • Smart packaging with damage sensors penetrating 28% of high-value shipments

  • Custom thermoformed solutions expanding in medical device and automotive sectors

Get Full Report Here: Global Packaging Inserts and Cushions Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies profiled represent the vanguard of product protection technology – delivering innovative solutions that ensure safe transit while meeting sustainability mandates across global supply chains.