A strategic sector at the heart of agri-food
Packaging is a cornerstone of the agri-food industry. In France, it generates more than €18 billion in revenue and nearly 80,000 jobs. Normandy stands out in particular: the sector accounts for nearly 8% of the region’s industrial jobs, a share higher than the national average.
Food packaging goes far beyond protecting products: it ensures preservation, food safety, traceability, and convenience. Today, the sector faces multiple challenges: ecological transition, material innovation, the rise of reusable solutions, as well as the need to adapt to an increasingly stringent regulatory framework.
A diverse Norman ecosystem
A study carried out by AD Normandie highlights a solid and varied industrial fabric:
• 93 identified companies, including 65 packaging manufacturers, 11 equipment suppliers, and 11 specialised in reusable packaging.
• Research and training facilities, including a BUT in ‘Packaging’ (a rare diploma in France), driving innovation.
• A majority of SMEs (63%), complemented by mid-sized companies and large groups, ensuring a diversity of approaches.
Materials and innovation
Normandy covers the full spectrum of packaging materials: rigid and flexible plastics (31% of stakeholders), cardboard (24%), wood, metal, glass, and paper.
• Plastics, still dominant, are mainly used for primary packaging.
• Cardboard, strongly represented, is used for both primary and secondary packaging.
• Glass and metal, highly suited to reusable packaging, are regaining interest in a circular economy approach.
• Bio-based (e.g. NaturePlast) or reusable solutions (Hipli, FlexiKeg, ID Verre) are emerging as alternatives.
A demanding regulatory framework
The industry must adapt to the new European regulation on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR), which sets ambitious targets:
• A 15% reduction in packaging waste by 2040.
• Up to 65% recycled content in certain plastics.
• Large-scale development of reusables.
At the same time, France’s AGEC Law already requires the end of single-use plastics and the expansion of reusable packaging. These regulations are transforming constraints into opportunities, driving innovation and collaboration.
A collective dynamic: Agro Emballage Day
On 30 September in Caen, Agro Emballage Day brought together the Norman packaging sector around shared goals. Workshops, testimonials, and B2B meetings will enable agri-food and packaging companies to build partnerships.
Among the participants:
• NaturePlast, pioneer of bioplastics in Europe.
• ID Verre, specialist in glass reuse.
• Hipli, promoter of reusable parcels and tracking software.
• FlexiKeg, innovator in lightweight, reusable kegs.
• Agrial, a cooperative committed to reducing its carbon footprint from packaging by 50% by 2035.
This event demonstrated Normandy’s ambition to position itself as a leading territory for sustainable packaging.
Looking forward: towards a model region
Normandy boasts strong assets: a dense ecosystem, diversified expertise, and a growing momentum around reuse and sustainable innovation. Major challenges remain (modernising equipment, scaling up reuse, diversifying materials), but they are matched by significant opportunities to strengthen both the competitiveness and sustainability of the sector.
By combining proximity, performance, and environmental responsibility, Normandy can emerge as a national – and even European – model for the future of food packaging.
