In November 2025, less than a year before its next edition, the AllForPack Emballage Paris trade show (no longer All4Pack) published the results of two surveys conducted among French consumers and companies in the packaging sector. These studies reveal a sector under tension, caught between ecological demands, economic imperatives and a shifting regulatory framework.
Attentive but disoriented consumers
Among consumers, 71% say they pay attention to packaging when shopping, and 49% say they avoid over-packaged products.
But while our intentions are clear, they come up against a number of obstacles.
Cost remains the primary barrier to the adoption of more sustainable packaging, cited by 46% of respondents.
Confusion surrounding environmental claims and sustainability criteria also complicates choices: 86% of French people find it difficult to identify packaging that is genuinely environmentally friendly, and 83% doubt the credibility of claims made on products.
These reservations do not necessarily translate into passivity: 51% say they have already bought a product specifically because of its more environmentally-friendly packaging. Among the under-35s, the willingness to pay more for such packaging even exceeds 50%.
High expectations but unclear responsibilities
As far as responsibilities are concerned, large companies (48%) and distributors (39%) are mainly identified as those who should lead the transition. Public authorities (24%) and consumers themselves (21%) come in second, except among 18-24 year-olds, 29% of whom believe that change must come first from citizens.
The desired trends are clear: more reuse, less plastic and a reduction in packaging volume. For 41% of French people, the ideal packaging is one that can be reused, far ahead of aesthetic or comprehension criteria.
Professionals: between regulatory constraints and market inertia
AllForPack also surveyed 200 âeuros manufacturers, users and distributors to gain a better understanding of the industryâ??s internal dynamics. Between 2024 and 2025, there has been little change in the way packaging is viewed by professionals: 92% continue to consider it essential to marketing, but only 64% consider it "very important", down 7 points.
Expectations in terms of recyclability are on the rise: in 2025, 75% cited packaging that is easy to recycle, compared to 68% a year earlier. The lightening of materials and the integration of recycled materials are also confirmed as priorities.
On the other hand, expectations for alternatives to plastic and innovative solutions are dropping slightly, a sign of skepticism about the sector's ability to renew itself.
Top of the list of expected trends is the transition to recycled or bio-sourced plastics (60%), followed by reusable packaging solutions (38%). But structural constraints are holding back this shift.
The law as the main driver of change
AllForPack also notes another noteworthy fact: for the first time, regulatory constraints overtake consumer expectations as the main driver of transformation. They are cited by 55% of respondents, compared with 45% for customer expectations. Legislative pressure is perceived as increasing, but not always well understood: only 34% consider current rules "adequate but perfectible", while 26% consider them unsuitable and 11% describe them as totally unrealistic.
The question of cost remains central: 65% of professional respondents cited the price of materials as the main obstacle to the ecological transition, far ahead of quality (32%) or the investment required (26%).
A greater need for clarity
Finally, consumer expectations as seen by professionals have evolved: the demand for transparency is now the most cited (37%), ahead of reuse (35%) and plastic reduction (31%). This change reflects a growing expectation for concrete information, rather than mere environmental promises.
As a reminder, the AllForPack Emballage Paris 2026 trade show is scheduled for November 24-26 in Paris.
