Paper Cutlery Market

Paper Cutlery Market Outlook (2023-2033)

The global paper cutlery market size is set to reach US$ 361.5 million in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% to reach US$ 766.1 million by the end of 2033.

Inflating preference for fine dining and the increasing popularity of casual dining is expected to increase in the future, spurring the growth of the cutlery market.

Professional cooking at home is also gaining popularity, and special cutlery is required. This is expected to be one of the key factors driving the growth of the global paper cutlery industry during the forecast period.

Report Attributes	Details
Market Size (2022A)	US$ 335.3 Million
Estimated Market Value (2023E)	US$ 361.5 Million
Forecasted Market Value (2033F)	US$ 766.1 Million
Global Market Growth Rate (2023-2033)	7.8% CAGR
North America Market Share (2022)	32.0%
East Asia Market Growth Rate (2023-2033)	~10.1% CAGR
Key Companies Profiled	Hoffmaster Transcend Packaging H.B. Fuller Genpak LLC Dixie Consumer Products

Historic Impact (2018-22) Vs Future Trends (2023-33)

The paper cutlery market is expected to continue growing, with strong demand for disposable cutlery used in various social occasions. Non-profit organizations, sports clubs, community clubs, and other organizations are growing rapidly around the world. These social groups regularly hold gatherings and conferences with many members. Thus, require disposable cutlery, with the growing environmental concern and ban on single-use plastic reframe the growth outlook of paper cutlery.

• Short Term Viewpoint (2023 to 2026): Huge demand emerging in the food sector will drive the market growth for paper cutlery during the short term.
• Medium Term Aspect (2026-2029): The burgeoning camping trend, which is specifically followed by millennials, is creating lucrative growth opportunities in the paper cutlery market.
• Long-Term Panorama (2029-2033): Many companies are inducing innovation in their environment-friendly disposable paper cutlery manufacturing processes that will provide a different outlook to the market by the end of FY2033.

Over the historical period of 2018-22, the global paper cutlery market registered a CAGR of 4.2%, and according to the Fact.MR, a market research and competitive intelligence provider, the market is projected to exhibit growth at 7.8% CAGR between 2023 and 2033.

Market share analysis of paper cutlery based on buyer type and region is provided in a nutshell in the above image. Under the buyer type segment, institutional is dominating with a 51.9% market share in 2022.

“Suitable Alternative to Plastic Cutlery: Drives the market growth”

Paper cutlery is gaining traction regarding the use of paper cutlery, it is witnessing high growth opportunities over plastic cutlery. The use of plastic utensils produces toxic by-products that contaminate food, especially hot food.

The toxic by-products, oligomers, are produced during plastic production and may be poisonous to humans. Owing to this the adoption of paper cutlery is rising. Paper cutlery is disposable in nature hence the need for the workforce to clean it is eliminated especially across food outlets such as KFC, Dominos, and others.

• Further, plastic cutlery is the cause of death to various birds and animals. For instance, every year, the average person uses 18 disposable plastic plates, 37 forks, single-use knives, and spoons, and because plastic litter is so durable, it kills more than 100,000 sea mammals, turtles, and a million birds worldwide.

Hence, the use of paper cutlery reduces the plastic entry to landfills and as the paper is made of recyclable material, the market is estimated to witness high growth opportunities over the assessment period.

“Pitfalls of using paper cutlery items”

Although paper cutlery is widely used, the unfavorable trait is that they are relatively weak and the cutlery is folded in two after a few mouthfuls or use. Furthermore, it can only be used once, and then it needs to be disposed of.

In addition, multiple options are available in the market for the product with a low price such as metal cutlery, wood cutlery, plastic cutlery, and others.

Additionally, DIY also restrains the market’s growth as people create paper cutlery themselves and affecting the demand pattern for the market.

Country-wise Insights

Why the U.S. is Showing a Significant Demand for Paper Cutlery?

The growing consumption of coffee across the US creates lucrative opportunities for paper cutlery especially the paper straw market to witness high growth opportunities.

• For instance, about 3.1 cups of coffee are consumed daily by an average American. The US ranks 25th when it comes to countries that drink the most coffee per capita.

Hence, the growing consumption of coffee also augments the growth of cafes and coffee outlets, where paper cutleries are used to maintain hygiene and remain a sustainable brand. Further, with the customers shifting demand for sustainable straws the coffee brands such as Starbucks and others have replaced plastic coffee straws with lid-less coffee cups or paper straws, thus, propelling the sales of the paper straws and augmenting the paper cutlery market's growth.

What is the Current Scenario in China?

China is the leading manufacturer of paper cutlery and is anticipated to increase rapidly over the forecast period.

In China, the use of paper cutlery is also expanding. Local customers raise their demand as a result of it decomposing more quickly and leaving a smaller carbon footprint. Further, with the growing population and the rising number of food service sectors, China's consumption of paper cutlery is anticipated to increase.

Additionally, the government's strict rules and regulations, such as those banning the use of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials, which in turn, create the demand for recyclable or eco-friendly disposals of lower retail prices and lower production costs, favor the market's expansion over the course of the forecast period.

Category-wise Insights

Why Paper Straws are gaining traction?

It is anticipated that the beverage industry, which is expanding and becoming more dynamic on a global scale, will significantly influence the market for paper cutlery, particularly for paper straws.

Various renowned market players are delivering a variety of paper straws to satisfy the growing demand for the on-the-go beverages market at the global level. Additionally, the opportunity of ordering beverages for home delivery or takeaway has increased in popularity. Similarly, paper straws that are both long-lasting and attractive are in high demand to attract more customers and enhance the brand image as an eco-friendly outlet.

The growing popularity of healthy beverages and the on-the-go lifestyle has a big impact on people's attitudes toward their beverage consumption. Quick-service restaurants are also using paper straws for consumers nowadays. The aforementioned factors drive the paper straw segment growth.

How Commercial Segment Contributes to the Paper Cutlery Market’s Growth?

Increasing numbers of quick-service restaurants and coffee chains are driving up demand for disposable cutlery. Various quick-service restaurants are adopting paper-based products, like paper cutlery, cups, and others for providing to customers for dine-in or packaging as more customers choose takeout or home delivery services.

The demand for paper cutlery is expected to increase over the forecast period due to the fact that disposable paper cutlery is considered extremely hygienic when it comes to the packaging of food and beverages. This, in turn, creates immense growth opportunities for the paper cutlery market.

Manufacturers Approach and Prospectus

Key players in this global market include Hoffmaster, Transcend Packaging, H.B. Fuller, Genpak LLC, Dixie Consumer Products, Dart Container Corporation, Biopac UK Ltd, Fast Plast A/S, Novolex Holdings, Genpak, and Hosti International.

Market titans operating in the paper cutlery Industry are characterized by a wide range of product portfolios along, with an extended distribution network.

Further, manufacturers are focused on investing in R&D to develop a product with long durability. Also, market players are inclined towards using eco-friendly solutions for the production of paper cutlery, additionally, the use of recycled paper for manufacturing cutleries to spur the growth outlook of the market.

Fact.MR has provided detailed information about the price points of key manufacturers of paper cutlery positioned across regions, sales growth, production capacity, and speculative technological expansion, in the recently published report.

Segmentation of Paper Cutlery Market

• By Product Type

  • Spoons
  • Forks
  • Chopsticks
  • Stirrers
  • Straws
  • Hybrids
  • Others

• By Buyer Type

  • Individual
  • Commercial
    • Full-service Restaurants
    • Fast Food Outlets
    • Caterers
    • Cafeteria
    • Roadside Food Stations
    • Others
  • Institutional

• By Sales Chanel

  • Online
    • Brand Websites
    • E-commerce Websites
  • Offline
    • Modern Trade
    • Specialty Stores
    • Kitchenware Stores

• By Region

  • North America
  • Latin America
  • Europe
  • East Asia
  • South Asia & Oceania
  • MEA