Flexible Packaging
Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) is a Düsseldorf-based industry association representing over 85 member companies accounting for approximately 90% of European flexible packaging sales, supporting them through regulatory advocacy, life-cycle assessment research, position papers and industry events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersDüsseldorf, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Flexible Packaging does
Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) is a Düsseldorf-headquartered industry association, established in 1994 and organized as part of AMS Europe e.V., that represents more than 85 member companies responsible for approximately 90% of European flexible packaging sales and a workforce of over 57,000 people across 350+ European production sites. The association's substantive focus is the promotion, defense and technical validation of flexible packaging — multi-material structures produced from polymer films, paper and aluminium foil — across a wide range of primary retail applications including bread and baked goods, cheese and dairy, fresh and processed meat, crisps and snacks, ground coffee, pharmaceuticals, pet food, confectionery, toiletries and household products.
Its core offerings are not packaged software or physical products, but a portfolio of research publications, technical guidance, regulatory position papers and industry events. Technical assets include the LCA Guidance developed with Quantis and six converter partners, Food Lifecycle Studies commissioned with the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (ifeu), the FPE Sustainability Vision, the ManifestO 2024, Food Contact Materials and GMP guidance, and Reuse/Refill Pouches documentation. Convening assets comprise the inaugural European FlexPack Summit (Barcelona, February 2025, with a 2027 edition already scheduled) and the Global FlexPack Executive Forum held during interpack trade shows, supported by media channels including press releases, position papers, and a presence on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
FPE operates as a non-profit, membership-funded association, generating revenue principally through membership fees negotiated individually with its 85+ corporate members, supplemented by event-related and partnership income. Its go-to-market is community-led: regulatory advocacy and representation toward EU institutions (notably on PPWR, chemical recycling and recycled content targets), coalition-building through CEFLEX and cross-industry position papers co-signed with groups such as CAOBISCO, ELIPSO, EAFA, ESA, GIFLEX, NRK Verpakkingen and FEDIAF, and knowledge dissemination through publications and events. Leadership comprises an Executive Director (Guido Aufdemkamp), an elected Chair (Karri Koskela, CEO of Wipak, elected June 2025) and a President (Bruno Rea), supported by specialized Directors and Managers covering Statistics & Market Analysis, Regulatory Affairs, Sustainability, Communications, Public Affairs and Recycling Projects.
Flexible Packaging firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Flexible Packaging
- Legal name
- Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) - Part of AMS Europe e.V.
- Website
- https://flexpack-europe.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) is a Düsseldorf-based industry association representing over 85 member companies accounting for approximately 90% of European flexible packaging sales, supporting them through regulatory advocacy, life-cycle assessment research, position papers and industry events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Flexible Packaging industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industry Trade Association
- NAICS
- Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080), Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lidding, Sealant & Packaging Webs (Heat-Seal, Peelable, Retort Lids) (IMALABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Reusable & Refill Packaging Systems (Returnable Packaging, Refill-at-Home/In-Store) (IMALAMAE), Recyclable/Mono-Material Flexible Packaging (PE/PP-Based, Compatibilized Structures) (IMALABAN), Packaging Recovery & Closed-Loop Programs (Take-Back, Deposit-Return, EPR Support) (IMALAMAF), Flexible Packaging Converting & Finishing (Slitting, Rewinding, Coating, Embossing) (IMALABAL)
Keywords
Where Flexible Packaging is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Düsseldorf
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Flexible Packaging business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership fees: FPE operates as an industry association representing flexible packaging suppliers. The association generates revenue through membership fees from its 85+ member companies.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Flexible Packaging product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) is a non-profit industry association representing 85+ European flexible packaging manufacturers that collectively account for approximately 90% of European flexible packaging sales. The association provides industry advocacy with European regulatory bodies, commissions sustainability research and life cycle assessment studies, publishes position papers and regulatory guidance, supplies market data and statistics, and organizes industry events including the European FlexPack Summit and Global FlexPack Executive Forum for its member companies.
Product overview
Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) is an industry association, not a product company. It does not offer a unified product platform but instead provides a portfolio of publications, guidance documents, research studies, and industry events. The main offerings include: LCA Guidance for environmental assessment of flexible packaging; Food Lifecycle Studies providing LCA research on packaging environmental performance; Position Papers on packaging regulations and policy; Sustainability guidance on reuse, refill pouches, and packaging-to-product ratios; Food contact materials guidance and GMP codes; and industry events including the Global FlexPack Executive Forum and European FlexPack Summit. FPE also provides media resources including product videos and lifestyle images.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CEFLEX: A collaborative initiative representing the entire value chain of flexible packaging, aimed at improving end-of-life performance and making flexible packaging more relevant in the circular economy
Products and services
- FPE Industry Membership Subscription-based membership service for European flexible packaging manufacturers and suppliers, providing industry advocacy, regulatory representation, access to research and market data, and participation in association activities. Member companies collectively account for approximately 90% of European flexible packaging sales and employ 57,000+ workers across 350+ production sites.
- European FlexPack Summit Annual industry summit bringing together executives and key players from the European flexible packaging industry for knowledge exchange, market development discussions, and networking on emerging industry trends and challenges.
- Global FlexPack Executive Forum Annual Business Breakfast event for flexible packaging executives held during interpack trade shows, facilitating executive-level discussions on emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges facing the global flexible packaging industry.
Quantifiable outcome
- Packaging-to-product ratio is 5 to 10 times lower than alternative solutions
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Flexible Packaging
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Flexible Packaging technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Flexible Packaging partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- QuantiscoreQuantis, an environmental sustainability consultancy, collaborated with FPE and six European flexible packaging converting companies to develop LCA guidance for the industry.
- CAOBISCOcoreCAOBISCO (Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery of Europe) co-signed the cross-industry position paper on packaging circularity, representing the downstream food industry perspective in the flexible packaging value chain.
- ELIPSOcoreELIPSO (French Plastic Packaging Association) co-signed the cross-industry position paper on packaging circularity, collaborating on advocacy for progressive packaging regulations.
- European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA)coreEAFA co-signed the cross-industry position paper on packaging circularity. FPE is part of AMS Europe e.V., which is related to EAFA through shared industry representation.
- European Snacks Association (ESA)coreESA co-signed the cross-industry position paper, representing the snacks industry as a major end-user of flexible packaging.
- GIFLEXcoreGIFLEX (Italian Flexible Packaging Association) co-signed the position paper, representing the Italian flexible packaging industry.
- NRK VerpakkingencoreNRK Verpakkingen (Dutch Plastic Packaging Association) co-signed the position paper, representing the Dutch packaging industry.
- FEDIAFcoreThe European Pet Food Industry (FEDIAF) co-signed the position paper, representing the pet food sector as a major flexible packaging end-user.
- Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (ifeu)coreifeu conducted life cycle assessment studies commissioned by FPE, showing environmental benefits of flexible pouches for pasta sauce and olives compared to glass and steel alternatives.
- CEFLEXcoreCEFLEX is a collaborative initiative of a European consortium of companies representing the entire value chain of flexible packaging. Flexible Packaging Europe is a founding member. The initiative aims to improve end-of-life performance of flexible packaging through optimized packaging design and improved infrastructure for collection, sorting and recycling.
- P&GflagshipP&G is referenced as an example company using refill pouch systems combined with rigid containers, demonstrating the reuse model for flexible packaging in consumer goods.
- HenkelflagshipHenkel is referenced as an example company using refill pouch systems combined with rigid containers (e.g., Pril brand dishwashing liquid), demonstrating the reuse model for flexible packaging in household products.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Flexible Packaging competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CEFLEX: A collaborative European value-chain initiative co-founded by FPE focused on improving collection, sorting and recycling of flexible packaging. Operates in the same flexible-packaging advocacy and circular-economy space as FPE, with overlapping member companies and shared mandate.
- European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA): European trade association representing aluminium foil and converting companies; FPE shares parent organisation (AMS Europe e.V.) with EAFA and co-signed circularity papers. Directly comparable as a packaging-material industry association serving the same converters and brand owners.
Regional players
- AMERIPEN: US packaging industry advocacy organisation. Comparable to FPE as a packaging value-chain trade association engaging with regulators on packaging and recycling policy, but serving the North American market.
- ELIPSO: French plastic packaging association that co-signed FPE's cross-industry circularity position paper. Comparable as a national-level flexible/ plastic packaging trade body addressing the same regulatory and sustainability themes from a French market perspective.
- GIFLEX: Italian flexible packaging association that co-signed FPE's circularity position paper. Comparable as a national trade body for flexible packaging converters, focused on the Italian market but aligned with FPE's pan-European advocacy agenda.
- NRK Verpakkingen: Dutch plastic packaging association and co-signatory of FPE's circularity position paper. A national-level industry association covering plastic packaging converters in the Netherlands, directly comparable in scope and mandate.
Broad incumbents
- Plastics Europe: The pan-European association representing plastics producers. Comparable to FPE as a packaging-relevant industry association advocating with EU regulators on PPWR, circularity and chemical recycling, though operating one level upstream at the resin-producer tier.
- Mondi Group: European-headquartered packaging and paper group with significant flexible packaging operations. Comparable as a major European flexible packaging converter whose membership and competitive position is materially shaped by FPE's advocacy and standards work.
- Amcor: Global flexible and rigid packaging manufacturer with strong European presence. While Amcor is a commercial converter rather than an association, it is a member-company analogue of FPE and a direct comparable in flexible packaging technology, scale and end-market exposure.
Emerging players
- European Bioplastics: European association representing the bioplastics industry. Comparable as a materials advocacy group influencing EU packaging regulation, but with a competing sustainability narrative (bio-based vs. resource-efficient conventional flexible packaging) relevant to FPE members.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Flexible Packaging social profiles
Digital presenceFlexible Packaging financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Flexible Packaging leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Flexible Packaging funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Flexible Packaging M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Flexible Packaging
What does Flexible Packaging do?
Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) is a non-profit industry association representing 85+ European flexible packaging manufacturers that collectively account for approximately 90% of European flexible packaging sales. The association provides industry advocacy with European regulatory bodies, commissions sustainability research and life cycle assessment studies, publishes position papers and regulatory guidance, supplies market data and statistics, and organizes industry events including the European FlexPack Summit and Global FlexPack Executive Forum for its member companies.
Is Flexible Packaging a public or private company?
Flexible Packaging is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Flexible Packaging founded?
Flexible Packaging was founded in 1994. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Flexible Packaging based?
Flexible Packaging is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Flexible Packaging make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership fees.
Who are Flexible Packaging's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CEFLEX and European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA). Regional players are AMERIPEN, ELIPSO, GIFLEX and NRK Verpakkingen. Broad incumbents are Plastics Europe, Mondi Group and Amcor. European Bioplastics is listed as an emerging player.
Does Flexible Packaging have an API?
No public API is recorded for Flexible Packaging.
What industry is Flexible Packaging in?
Flexible Packaging's product category is Industry Trade Association. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALABAG, Lidding, Sealant & Packaging Webs (Heat-Seal, Peelable, Retort Lids), with a secondary code of IMALAMAE, Reusable & Refill Packaging Systems (Returnable Packaging, Refill-at-Home/In-Store). Its NAICS code is 326112 and its SIC code is 3080.