Packaging Market Update: What NCASS Members Need to Know

At Purple Planet Packaging, we work closely with food businesses across the UK every day, and as a proud NCASS partner, we believe in keeping our members informed and supported.

Over the past month, we’ve started to see early signs of change across the global packaging supply chain. While these shifts are still developing, the direction of travel is clear, and we expect them to lead to cost increases across the industry in the coming months.

What’s driving these changes?

A number of external factors are beginning to influence the market:

• Raw materials – Costs for key materials such as paperboard, plastics, and compostable alternatives are beginning to rise due to supply pressures and increased energy costs
• Labour – Continued increases in labour costs across manufacturing and logistics are feeding into production pricing
• Freight & logistics – Disruptions to global shipping routes and higher transport costs are adding pressure to landed product costs in the UK

Individually, these changes are manageable. Combined, they are starting to influence pricing across the sector.

What this means moving forward

While the market remains relatively stable today, the expectation across the industry is that pricing will begin to increase as these pressures develop further.

In practical terms, this means that over the coming months, some product categories are likely to see adjustments.

Our approach at Purple Planet Packaging

We want to give NCASS members as much visibility as possible so you can plan ahead with confidence.

Our focus is to minimise any impact wherever we can. We are:

• Absorbing increases where possible
• Working closely with manufacturers to secure the most competitive pricing
• Offering alternative product options where it makes commercial sense
• Being open and transparent so there are no surprises

Where appropriate, we’re also helping customers review upcoming requirements now, so they can make informed decisions ahead of any wider pricing movement.

Supporting NCASS members

We understand that rising costs are being felt across the hospitality sector, so our partnership with NCASS is built around delivering real, practical value:

• 10% off all products for NCASS members
• Free artwork and set-up on custom printed products
• Free delivery on orders over £100
• Flexible ordering with no minimum spend

Our aim is to make packaging one less thing to worry about.

Looking ahead

The key message is simple: while the market is stable today, changes are likely on the horizon.

For businesses looking to stay ahead, now is a good time to review packaging requirements, explore alternatives, and where it makes sense, secure current pricing ahead of any future increases.

If you’d like to sense-check your current products, discuss options, or look at cost-saving alternatives, our team is always happy to help.

Get started

To get ahead of any potential price changes, you can open a trade account and access your exclusive NCASS member benefits, including 10% off all products.

Alternatively, if you’d prefer a quick conversation or want to review your current packaging, you can contact our National Sales & Account Manager, David, at:
[email protected]