Packaging in 2025: the big picture
Colombia's packaging market delivered a mixed performance in 2025, with headline volumes diverging by industry even as a single structural theme — the tightening of the country's sustainability rules — was a defining trend across every category. Economic recovery, rising disposable incomes and a partial return of at-home and social consumption supported demand in several industries, while constrained household budgets weighed on others. Alcoholic drinks packaging rose by 1% to 7.2 billion units, home care advanced by 4% to 2.1 billion units, and dog and cat food packaging grew by 11% to 385 million units, the strongest of the major industries. Beauty and personal care was broadly flat, edging up by less than 1% to 1.4 billion units, while soft drinks packaging contracted by 5% to 11,519 million units as weaker beverage consumption bore down on volumes.
2025 key trends
The defining trend of 2025 was regulatory: Colombia's single-use plastics law, issued by Colombia's National Environmental Licensing Authority (ANLA), continued to disrupt the flexible plastic formats on which much of the food and beverage market depends. Law 2232 of 2022 took effect on 7th July 2024 and accelerated the shift towards rigid plastic, fibre-based and recycled content packaging. Alongside it, the EPR framework's tightening recovery and recycled content obligations repriced the economics of hard-to-recover packaging in favour of clear, single-material and returnable formats. Recycled content thresholds in PET bottles must be verified through verified by mass-balance certificates to show full transparency and traceability.
Plastics ban and warning labels reshape a flexible-led food market
Flexible packaging remained the dominant format across Colombian food, but its position came under sustained regulatory pressure in 2025. Confectionery is the most flexible-intensive category of all, with wrappers, flow-wraps and multipack films accounting for 93% of its volumes, while dairy relies on sachets, films and bags for 63% of its units. This heavy dependence on flexible film placed categories such as confectionery, sauces and dips, and processed fruit and vegetables on the front line of the single-use plastics law, raising compliance costs and encouraging substitution towards more recoverable formats.
Rigid plastic leads as soft drinks packaging contracts and glass proves most resilient
PET bottles continued to anchor Colombian soft drinks packaging in 2025, but total volumes fell by 5% to 11,519 million units, down from 12,091 million units in 2024, as constrained household budgets weighed on beverage demand. Rigid plastic — overwhelmingly PET — remained the largest packaging type at 5,737 million units, close to half of all soft drinks packaging, reflecting the format's affordability, durability and portability across carbonates, bottled water and juice. Glass proved the most resilient format, with volumes easing by just 2% to 3,369 million units, supported by the country's deep-rooted returnable bottle systems in carbonates and the on-trade and by premiumisation in segments such as ready-to-drink coffee and adult soft drinks. By contrast, flexible packaging — principally plastic pouches used for still water — and liquid cartons recorded the steepest declines, while metal beverage can volumes decreased from a small base, retaining a foothold in energy drinks and sparkling water.
Metal beverage cans keep gaining ground on glass in alcoholic drinks
Glass bottles remained overwhelmingly dominant in alcoholic drinks packaging in 2025, while metal beverage cans continued to gain ground in beer and ready-to-drink products and rigid plastic was the fastest-growing, if very small, pack type group. Total alcoholic drinks packaging rose by 2% to 7,331 million units, supported by economic recovery, rising disposable incomes and more at-home drinking. Glass accounted for 5,973 million units, or 83% of the total, reflecting Colombia's beer and spirits heritage — including aguardiente and rum — and a strong cultural and regulatory preference for returnable bottles. Metal followed at 1,207 million units, or 17%, almost entirely aluminium cans in beer and fast-growing ready-to-drink products, while rigid plastic was the fastest-growing if very small group, up 45% to 12 million units of PET bottles. Investment has reinforced the can's importance within alcoholic drinks. In September 2025, CANPACK announced a second Colombian can plant near Barranquilla, an investment of around USD140 million backed by a long-term customer agreement, that will add about 1 billion can bodies of annual capacity from 2027 to serve brewers such as Bavaria (AB InBev).
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Packaging industry in Colombia with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to a comprehensive range of packaging types.
If you're in the Packaging industry in Colombia, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Packaging in Colombia report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Packaging in Colombia?
- Which are the major pack types and how are they performing in Colombia?
- Have there been any packaging legislative changes in the past 12 months?
- How are consumption trends impacting the packaging landscape?
- What are the key trends and latest product developments in packaging?
- How important are sustainability and recycling to consumers in Colombia?
- Where is future growth expected to be most significant?
Packaging Industry in Colombia
Packaging in 2025: the big picture
2025 key trends
Plastics ban and warning labels reshape a flexible-led food market
Rigid plastic leads as soft drinks packaging contracts and glass proves most resilient
Metal beverage cans keep gaining ground on glass in alcoholic drinks
Front-of-pack warning labels reshape higher-sugar and higher-sodium categories
The single-use plastics ban steers the market towards sustainable formats
Extended producer responsibility and recycled-content targets tighten
Recycled content and recovery infrastructure scale across packaging
Sustainability trends reshape pet food packaging
Producer responsibility and recycled content drive beauty and personal care
Country Reports Disclaimer
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Packaging
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- Baby and Child-specific Products Packaging
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- Bar Soap
- Bath Additives
- Body Powder
- Body Wash/Shower Gel
- Hand Sanitisers
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- Intimate Washes
- Intimate Wipes
- Liquid Soap
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- Eye Liner/Pencil
- Eye Shadow
- Mascara
- Other Lash and Brow Make-Up
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- BB/CC Creams
- Blusher/Bronzer/Highlighter
- Foundation/Concealer
- Powder
- Other Facial Make-Up
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- Lip Gloss
- Lip Liner/Pencil
- Lipstick
- Other Lip Products
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- Nail Polish
- Nail Treatments/Strengthener
- Polish Remover
- Other Nail Products
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- Deodorant Creams
- Deodorant Pumps
- Deodorant Roll-Ons
- Deodorant Sprays
- Deodorant Sticks
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- Hair Removers/Bleaches
- Women's Pre-Shave
- Women's Razors and Blades
- Fragrances Packaging
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- 2-in-1 Products
- Colourants
- Conditioners and Treatments
- Perms and Relaxants
- Salon Professional Hair Care
- Standard Shampoos
- Styling Agents
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- Men's Post-Shave
- Men's Pre-Shave
- Men's Razors and Blades
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- Men's Bath and Shower
- Men's Deodorants
- Men's Hair Care
- Men's Skin Care
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- Dental Floss
- Denture Care
- Mouth Fresheners
- Mouthwashes/Dental Rinses
- Tooth Whiteners
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
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- Body Care
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- Face Masks
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- Liquid/Cream/Gel/Bar Cleansers
- Facial Cleansing Wipes
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- Basic Moisturisers
- Anti-Agers
- Lip Care
- Toners
- Hand Care
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- Adult Sun Care
- Baby and Child-specific Sun Care
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- Dark Beer
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- Flavoured/Mixed Lager
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- Domestic Lager
- Imported Lager
- Non/Low Alcohol Beer
- Stout
- Cider/Perry
- RTDs
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- Brandy and Cognac
- Liqueurs
- Rum
- Tequila (and Mezcal)
- Whiskies
- White Spirits
- Other Spirits
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- Fortified Wine and Vermouth
- Non-Grape Wine
- Sparkling Wine
- Still Light Grape Wine
- Non Alcoholic Wine
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- Fresh Coffee Beans
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- Fresh Ground Coffee Pods
- Standard Fresh Ground Coffee
- Instant Coffee
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- Black Tea
- Green Tea
- Fruit/Herbal Tea
- Instant Tea
- Other Tea
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- Flavoured Powder Drinks
- Other Plant-based Hot Drinks
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- Asian Speciality Drinks
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- Carbonated Bottled Water
- Flavoured Bottled Water
- Functional Bottled Water
- Still Bottled Water
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- Cola Carbonates
- Non-Cola Carbonates
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- Liquid Concentrates
- Powder Concentrates
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- 100% Juice
- Juice Drinks (up to 24% Juice)
- Nectars
- Coconut and Other Plant Waters
- Energy Drinks
- Sports Drinks
- RTD Coffee
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- Carbonated RTD Tea and Kombucha
- Still RTD Tea
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- Cat Treats and Mixers
- Dry Cat Food
- Wet Cat Food
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- Dog Treats and Mixers
- Dry Dog Food
- Wet Dog Food
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- Dried Baby Food
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- Liquid Milk Formula
- Powder Milk Formula
- Prepared Baby Food
- Other Baby Food
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- Dessert Mixes
- Frozen Baked Goods
- Packaged Bread
- Packaged Cakes
- Packaged Pastries
- Dessert Pies and Tarts
- Breakfast Cereals Packaging
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- Chocolate Pouches and Bags
- Boxed Assortments
- Chocolate with Toys
- Countlines
- Seasonal Chocolate
- Tablets
- Other Chocolate Confectionery
- Gum
- Sugar Confectionery
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- Butter and Spreads
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- Processed Cheese
- Packaged Hard Cheese
- Soft Cheese
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- Flavoured Milk Drinks
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- Fresh Milk
- Shelf Stable Milk
- Goat Milk
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- Powder Milk
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- Sour Milk Products
- Yoghurt
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- Chilled and Shelf Stable Desserts
- Chilled Snacks
- Coffee Whiteners
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- Condensed Milk
- Cream
- Fromage Frais and Quark
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- Plant-based Milk
- Plant-based Yoghurt
- Plant-based Cheese
- Edible Oils Packaging
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- Frozen Yoghurt
- Impulse Ice Cream
- Plant-based Ice Cream
- Take-Home Ice Cream
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- Frozen Fruit
- Frozen Processed Potatoes
- Frozen Processed Vegetables
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- Shelf Stable Beans
- Shelf Stable Fruit
- Shelf Stable Tomatoes
- Shelf Stable Vegetables
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- Chilled Processed Meat
- Frozen Processed Meat
- Shelf Stable Meat
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- Chilled Processed Seafood
- Frozen Processed Seafood
- Shelf Stable Seafood
- Meat and Seafood Substitutes inc Tofu
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- Dried Ready Meals
- Shelf Stable Ready Meals
- Chilled Ready Meals
- Frozen Ready Meals
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- Chilled Pizza
- Frozen Pizza
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- Meal Kits
- Quick Recipe Kits
- Chilled Lunch Kits
- Prepared Salads
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- Dry Soup
- Shelf Stable Soup
- Chilled Soup
- Frozen Soup
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- Noodles
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- Chilled Pasta
- Dried Pasta
- Rice
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- Bouillon
- Gravy Cubes, Powders and Pots
- Herbs and Spices
- Monosodium Glutamate
- Tomato Pastes and Purées
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- Liquid Recipe Sauces (excl pasta sauces)
- Dry Recipe Sauces
- Pasta Sauces
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- Barbecue Sauces
- Chili Sauces
- Fish Sauces
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise
- Mustard
- Oyster Sauces
- Salad Dressings
- Soy Sauces
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- Dips
- Pickled Products
- Other Sauces and Condiments
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- Nuts, Seeds and Trail Mixes
- Popcorn
- Pretzels
- Salty Snacks
- Savoury Biscuits
- Meat Snacks
- Seafood Snacks
- Other Savoury Snacks
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- Chocolate Spreads
- Honey
- Jams and Preserves
- Nut and Seed Based Spreads
- Yeast-based Spreads
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- Fruit Snacks
- Snack Bars
- Sweet Biscuits
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- Candle Air Fresheners
- Car Air Fresheners
- Electric Air Fresheners
- Gel Air Fresheners
- Liquid Air Fresheners
- Spray/Aerosol Air Fresheners
- Other Air Care
- Bleach
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- Automatic Dishwashing Liquids
- Automatic Dishwashing Powders
- Automatic Dishwashing Tablets
- Dishwashing Additives
- Hand Dishwashing
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- Electric Insecticides
- Insecticide Baits
- Insecticide Coils
- Spray/Aerosol Insecticides
- Other Home Insecticides
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- Carpet Cleaners
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- Dryer Sheets
- Liquid Fabric Softeners
- Laundry Aids
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- Powder Detergents
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- Compact Powder Tablet Detergents
- Liquid Tablet Detergents
- Liquid Detergents
- Other Detergents
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- Floor Polish
- Furniture Polish
- Metal Polish
- Shoe Polish
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- Cleaning Solution
- Starter Kits/Sweepers/Sticks (Excluding Wipes)
- Wipes (Excluding Starter Kits/Sweepers/Sticks)
- Bathroom Cleaners
- Descalers
- Drain Openers
- Floor Cleaners
- Home Care Disinfectants
- Kitchen Cleaners
- Multi-Purpose Cleaners
- Oven Cleaners
- Scouring Agents
- Window/Glass Cleaners
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- In-Cistern Devices
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- Rim Blocks
- Rim Liquids
- Toilet Care Tablets/Powders
- Toilet Cleaning Systems
- Toilet Liquids/Foam
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This report originates from Passport, our Packaging research and analysis database.
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