Global supply chains in packaging are under pressure — and 2025 was the breaking point.
Tariffs, once considered a tactical issue, have emerged as a dominant strategic force. Over 90% of CEOs in the packaging sector now name tariffs as their top external risk — above inflation, regulation, or recession.
But the real shift lies deeper:
Tariffs no longer just increase costs. They reshape how companies plan, produce, and sell.
In our new whitepaper, “Zölle als Stresstest”, we analyze how industry leaders are responding — and how your organization can turn trade volatility into a competitive advantage.
What’s driving the shift — and how leading firms are responding
The packaging industry’s response to tariffs in 2025 wasn’t reactive — it was transformative. As trade policy turned unpredictable, leading firms redefined how they operate. Instead of focusing on cost optimization alone, they invested in structural resilience: building regional supply chains, shifting CapEx priorities toward geopolitical stability, and embedding faster, more adaptive decision-making into their operating models.
Companies like Avery Dennison, Mativ, and Graphic Packaging have shown that local-for-local strategies go beyond protection. They enable faster pricing, shorter lead times, and more stable demand — even in volatile retail markets. At the same time, redundant sourcing models and scenario-driven planning are helping firms anticipate uncertainty rather than react to it.
The result: a new definition of operational excellence — one where agility, proximity, and resilience drive performance.
Why This Matters Now
If you work in strategy, operations, or transformation in packaging or manufacturing, the message is clear:
Resilience can no longer be improvised. It must be built.
Get real-world strategies, industry benchmarks, and operational playbooks from leading players.
