What ILIP does

ILIP S.r.l. is an Italian manufacturer of thermoformed plastic and bioplastic food packaging, founded in 1962 and headquartered in Valsamoggia (Bazzano), Bologna, within the ILPA Group corporate family. The company operates across three primary product lines: Fresh Produce Packaging (punnets, clamshells, and trays in R-PET, bioplastic, and PET/PE for fruits, vegetables, and berries), Fresh Food Packaging (heat-sealable trays for meat and cold cuts compatible with modified atmosphere packaging, including compostable Mater-bi formulations), and Food Service Packaging (disposable plates, cups, cutlery, and take-away containers in plastic, bioplastic, and natural fibers). A dedicated HortiPack sub-brand serves the horticultural sector with R-PET plug trays and growing pots.

The company's underlying technology is anchored by a vertically integrated R-PET (recycled PET) circular economy: through parent group ILPA's AMP Recycling division (~60,000 tonnes/year capacity), ILIP operates a closed-loop Tray-to-Tray (T2T) system that is described as unique in Europe for the food packaging sector. Differentiated technologies include Life+ active packaging (extends shelf-life by 3–10 days), ezy:split (hybrid r-PET and cardboard reducing plastic weight by 40–45%), AirWave (domed R-PET punnets for delicate berries), and Smart Ripe Trolley (RFID + neural network system for non-destructive avocado ripeness monitoring). The SPRINT (S.Pr.In.T.) department provides custom packaging development with approximately 6-week time-to-market.

ILIP's business model is B2B direct sales with negotiated per-order pricing (no public price list), operating through dedicated domestic teams (separate Food Service and Fresh Produce channels) and an export team covering Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania. Spain is identified as the largest foreign market by volume. Revenue is generated primarily from one-time product sales of packaging, supplemented by professional services revenue from bespoke custom development. Customers are concentrated in fresh-produce cooperatives, food retailers, and meat/poultry processors (named accounts include Sant'Orsola, O.P. Pignataro, Agribologna, and Fileni). The company is privately held under ILPA Group, with stated social capital of €5,000,000, and does not disclose revenue.

Name

ILIP

Legal name

ILIP S.r.l.

Website

https://ilip.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

ILIP S.r.l. is an Italian thermoformed plastic and bioplastic food packaging manufacturer (founded 1962) serving fresh produce, fresh food, food service, and horticultural customers globally through vertically integrated R-PET recycling and custom packaging development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Packaging Manufacturing

NAICS

Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112)

SIC

Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos (No Glass) (2820)

akta.pro primary industry

Biodegradable Packaging Materials (films, trays, foams) (IMAEAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foodservice Disposables (cups, plates, bowls, trays, clamshells) (IMAMAHAI), Active & Intelligent Food Packaging (Oxygen Scavengers, Indicators) (IMALAHAO), Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films) (IMALAMAB), Disposable Tableware (Plates, Cups, Cutlery) (CRAJAGAG)

Keywords

• Thermoformed food packaging
• R-PET recycled packaging
• Fresh produce punnets
• Modified atmosphere trays
• Food service disposables

Headquarters

HQ city

Bazzano

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Food Packaging Products: ILIP manufactures and sells a comprehensive range of thermoformed plastic and bioplastic packaging solutions for food products. These include trays for fresh meat (SliceMaster, HeatSealing Master, StretchMaster), fresh produce punnets/clamshells, food service disposables (IlipBio, Fibraware, Mirò line), and horticultural packaging (HortiPack). Revenue is generated through direct sales to retailers, food operators, and distributors across domestic and international markets.
2. Custom/Bespoke Packaging Development: The Sprint department provides custom packaging design and development services, creating tailored solutions for specific customer requirements with rapid turnaround. This represents a professional services component supplementing standard product sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ILIP manufactures and sells thermoformed plastic and bioplastic food packaging solutions, including disposable tableware and take-away containers (Food Service), baskets, punnets, clamshells, and trays for fresh fruits and vegetables (Fresh Produce), and heat-sealable MAP trays for fresh meat and cold cuts (Fresh Food). The company also provides a dedicated horticultural packaging sub-brand (HortiPack) and offers custom packaging development through its Sprint department. Products are made from R-PET (recycled PET), virgin PET/PE, compostable bioplastics (Mater-bi, PLA), and natural fibers, supported by proprietary T2T closed-loop recycling and Life+ shelf-life extension technologies.

Product overview

ILIP is a manufacturer of thermoformed plastic and bioplastic food packaging solutions operating for over 60 years. The product portfolio comprises three core product lines: Food Service Packaging (disposable plates, cups, cutlery, and take-away containers), Fresh Produce Packaging (baskets, trays, and inserts for fruits and vegetables), and Fresh Food Packaging (trays for meat with modified atmosphere capabilities). Key sub-brands include HortiPack for horticultural applications, and product lines such as SliceMaster, HeatSealing Master, and StretchMaster for specific fresh food packaging needs. Specialty products include the ezy:split hybrid basket combining r-PET and cardboard, AirWave heat-sealable baskets, Life+ active packaging technology, Smart Ripe intelligent ripeness measurement systems, and Fibraware natural fiber products. The company operates the T2T R-PET closed-loop recycling system and offers custom packaging development through its SPRINT department.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HortiPack: Dedicated sub-brand for horticultural sector packaging solutions including eco-hobby trays, growing pots, and plant containers in R-PET.

Products and services

• Food Service Packaging
• Fresh Produce Packaging
• Fresh Food Packaging
• HortiPack
• AirWave R-PET Heat-Sealable Punnets
• ezy:split Hybrid Basket
• Smart Ripe Trolley
• SPRINT Custom Packaging Development Service
• Fibraware Natural Fiber Tableware

Quantifiable outcome

• Packaging developed with ENEA and University of Tuscia extended strawberry shelf-life by up to 12 days.
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department of Fruit Trees and Woody Plant Sciences, University of BolognacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerILIP partners with the Department of Fruit Trees and Woody Plant Sciences at the University of Bologna on research into the role of packaging in fresh produce preservation. The collaboration includes comparative studies between different packaging types and has produced empirical data on ventilation, cooling rates, and shelf-life maintenance — most notably on r-PET punnets for table grapes.
• ENEA (Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerILIP collaborated with ENEA and the University of Tuscia on research that produced packaging extending strawberry shelf-life by up to 12 days, contributing to food waste reduction.
• Save Food Initiative (Messe Düsseldorf / FAO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerILIP is a member of the Save Food initiative, a joint project by Messe Düsseldorf and FAO aimed at reducing food waste along the supply chain from producer to consumer. ILIP joined in 2012 and participates in awareness and advocacy activities.
• ILPA GroupcoreOthersILIP is the primary operating division of ILPA Group, a leading European plastics transformation company. ILPA Group provides ILIP with vertically integrated PET recycling capabilities (AMP Recycling, approximately 60,000 tonnes annual capacity) and corporate governance. The group includes ILIP, MP3, and AMP Recycling.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Novolex: North America's largest foodservice and specialty packaging company with broad disposable and rigid food packaging offerings. Comparable product portfolio (foodservice, fresh food trays) but with much wider scope and US-anchored footprint.
• Berry Global Inc. (now Amcor): Global packaging conglomerate with extensive rigid and flexible food packaging including fresh produce and food service. Operates broadly across multiple packaging categories beyond ILIP's narrower food-packaging focus.
• Pactiv Evergreen Inc. North American foodservice and food packaging company with strong food-service disposables positioning. Overlaps with ILIP's Food Service and fresh food tray segments but on a larger, more diversified scale.
• Sealed Air Corporation: US-listed global food packaging specialist with protein/fresh food trays and food-service protective packaging. Larger portfolio with broader geographic and product diversification than ILIP.

Direct peers

• Paccor GmbH: German-headquartered plastic packaging producer serving food, dairy, and fresh produce. Similar mid-size European industrial profile and product overlap in thermoformed trays and containers.
• Faerch Group: Denmark-headquartered manufacturer of R-PET and food-grade trays and containers, including the former Sirap Group (a historical Italian direct competitor to ILIP) that Faerch acquired. Closest direct peer because of vertically integrated R-PET focus and overlapping food packaging portfolio.
• Huhtamaki Oyj: Finnish-listed global food packaging company with comparable fresh produce clamshells, food service disposables, and egg/fruit packaging. Direct peer across all three of ILIP's vertical segments (Fresh Produce, Fresh Food, Food Service) and a key competitor in European retail-ready packaging.
• Coveris Holdings: European packaging manufacturer producing rigid and flexible food packaging, including fresh produce and protein trays. Comparable in customer base (food retailers and packers) and geographic overlap in Europe.
• Constantia Flexibles: Austrian flexible and rigid plastic packaging manufacturer serving food and pharma customers globally. Comparable in B2B food packaging delivery model, regulatory depth (food contact), and ability to supply European retailers at scale.

Regional players

• Detmold Group: Australian-headquartered paper-based and fiber foodservice packaging producer expanding globally. Comparable in food-service disposables and on sustainability/circular packaging narrative, but operates primarily outside Europe.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ilip-s.r.l.

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ILIP