Europe's third largest packaging producer
France is the third largest producer of packaging in Europe, according to an INSEE study published on 28 January. In the European Union, packaging production amounts to 138.1 billion euros. France contributes 13% of this production, placing the country behind Italy (15%) and Germany (20%).
As far as materials are concerned, plastic packaging is in first place in France, whereas on a European scale, paper and cardboard dominates. In 2019, plastic will account for 38% of the packaging produced in France, compared to 33% in the European Union.
4.7% of non-food industrial employment in France
The INSEE study reports that in 2019, French production of packaging products will amount to 18.3 billion euros and represent 4.7% of non-food industrial employment. While the share of jobs is particularly high in the Normandy (7.9%) and Burgundy-Franche-Comté (7.6%) regions, it is in the most industrial regions that paper and cardboard packaging plants are mainly located: New-Aquitaine, Hauts-de-France and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
6.9 billion, or 38% of billings), followed by paper and cardboard packaging ('5.3 billion, or 29% of sales), then metal, glass and wood packaging ('2.0 billion each, or 11% of sales).
In 2019, the trade balance is in deficit by 1.7 billion euros, excluding wood packaging. French imports amount to 7.3 billion euros, 82% of which comes from European Union countries.
