Sabert Corporation Releases 2026 Foodservice Packaging Trends Report
Global Insights Signal a New Era of Innovation, Sustainability, and Value
SAYREVILLE, NJ, October 28, 2025– Sabert Corporation, a leading global manufacturer of innovative and sustainable food packaging solutions, released its 2026 Foodservice Packaging Trends Report, offering exclusive insights into the innovations, challenges, and opportunities reshaping the industry worldwide.
This year’s trends reveal a dynamic industry, where sustainability, value, and innovation are rewriting the rules for everyone from quick-service restaurant chains to supermarkets.
“Our industry faced a wave of market dynamics this year and started to see the first real economic impacts of sustainability legislation," said Paul McCann, CEO of Sabert Corporation. “These changes are challenging foodservice operators to rethink everything from material choices to supply chain strategy. By working closely with our customers and partners across the globe, we’re able to anticipate what's next to deliver sustainable and innovative food packaging solutions that are ready to meet the needs of today and the opportunities of tomorrow's market.”
Key Trends for 2026:
- The Sustainability Scramble: Operators seek packaging that is sustainable, effective, and economical under growing pressure.
- The Value Wars: Operators are doubling down on limited-time offers (LTOs) and cost-effective menu strategies, with packaging playing a pivotal role in perception and profitability.
- Is Paper Now King?: With EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) fees on the rise and consumers increasingly trusting paper’s recyclability, paper packaging is becoming a dominant force in the marketplace.
- Protein Popularity & Health Habits: Protein-centric, health-forward menu innovation is accelerating, and packaging needs to evolve to accommodate both changing tastes and nutritional priorities.
- Market Share Madness: Market segments are competing for market share, sharpening their value propositions.
- Ice Age: The explosive growth of prepared meals and consumer demand for convenience without compromise is driving freezer-to-table packaging innovation.
- Packaging Meets Digital: The interaction between packaging and digital platforms is influencing consumer engagement with brands.
- Domestic Supply Chain: Operators are prioritizing resilient local supply chains to ensure flexibility and efficiency
- Technical Talent: Attracting and retaining technical experts is critical as the industry pushes the boundaries of design, materials, and manufacturing.
Sabert teams in Europe and Asia-Pacific also shared on-the-ground insights — from regulatory shifts to consumer expectations — that are shaping innovation and day-to-day operations in their markets.
“As a one-stop shop food packaging provider, we leverage our comprehensive capabilities in molded fiber pulp, resin, and paper to deliver packaging that meets the diverse needs of our customers in the Asia-Pacific market,” commented Eric Shu, Sabert Asia’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director. “Our ‘smart from the start' approach integrates environmental considerations throughout the packaging value chain, while our optimized local supply chain helps us offer clients more flexible and efficient options for ready-to-eat, delivery, and prepared food.”
“In Europe, automation, regulatory demands, and consumer behavior are pushing operators to look for food packaging partners that can offer both innovation and reliability at scale," noted Alex Noake, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Sabert Europe. "Whether it's food-to-go in the UK, the rising popularity of quick service dining in Spain, or industrial catering in Benelux, operators need an agile, trusted packaging supplier that can deliver solutions that help them win in a fast-changing market."
Explore the full report and discover Sabert’s sustainable and innovative food packaging by visiting: sabert.com.
About Sabert
Sabert is a leading global manufacturer of innovative food packaging products and solutions. The company was founded in 1983, grounded in the purpose of reinventing food packaging to nourish and protect our world. Headquartered in Sayreville, New Jersey, Sabert operates North American facilities in California, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New Jersey, Texas, and Virginia, as well as manufacturing facilities in Nivelles, Belgium; Kimbolton, England; Lodz, Poland; and Zhongshan, China. Using its proprietary Packaging Value Model™, Sabert combines deep insights about food lifecycles and consumer lifestyles with fast and flexible production capabilities. Its industry-leading product designs encompass all five areas of innovative packaging: Performance, Presentation, Safety, Sustainability and Economics. For more information, visit sabert.com.
Media Contact:
Marie VanAssendelft