What does it really cost to serve a meal in 2025?
For many brands, it’s no longer just about ingredients packaging is becoming one of the biggest cost variables in the food business. With recent U.S. tariffs doubling on imported steel and aluminum (now up to 50%), everything from soda cans to foil trays is being affected. The impact stretches across manufacturing, foodservice, and retail and it’s reshaping how food is stored, served, and sold.
This is a critical moment for companies to reevaluate what materials they’re using, how they’re sourcing them, and how to stay competitive without compromising sustainability.
Let’s break it down.
Why Is It Not Just About the Can Anymore?
Steel and aluminum have long been go-to materials for packaging. They’re sturdy, recyclable, and familiar to consumers. But with tariffs rising, costs are expected to jump 9–15% and that’s just for canned goods.
Here’s what else is affected:
Foil takeout containers, trays, and pans
Insulated foil delivery bags
Aluminum beverage cans
Frozen and chilled meal trays
Foil wraps and aluminum sheets used in food prep
Because so much of this material is imported, the price increases are felt throughout the food packaging ecosystem showing up in grocery stores, restaurants, and delivery platforms alike.
How Are Businesses Responding?
The ripple effect has been swift.
Manufacturers are absorbing higher material costs, retooling production lines, and in some cases shifting to domestic sources though capacity limits make this challenging.
Foodservice operators are pivoting faster. They’re swapping in fiber-based packaging, paper-based wraps, and reusable alternatives. Others are diversifying with glass jars and multilayer cartons to reduce reliance on metals.
In short, companies aren’t just reacting they’re redesigning.
What Is the Sustainability Trade-Off?
Every packaging decision in 2025 now carries more weight financially and environmentally.
Here’s how popular packaging options are stacking up:
The key is finding the balance optimizing for durability, disposal, and customer experience without inflating packaging budgets.
How Can Businesses Navigate the New Packaging Landscape?
Short-term, many brands are adapting out of necessity. But long-term, this moment is driving smarter packaging strategies.
Forward-thinking brands are:
Testing compostable trays and recyclable fiber formats
Exploring reusable packaging models
Light-weighting designs to use less material
Replacing foil with layered paper or glass where possible
Reimagining packaging to minimize metal use
This isn’t just reactive problem-solving — it’s progress.
How Can Brands Balance Cost and Sustainability?
While tariffs are triggering immediate action, the bigger opportunity lies in aligning sustainability goals with long-term cost control.
Brands leading the shift are focusing on:
Streamlined packaging that reduces waste and saves money
Durable materials with reliable recycling or composting pathways
Consumer education on responsible disposal
Measurable KPIs that align with ESG goals and brand values
It’s not just about avoiding short-term costs, it’s about building lasting systems that make sense both financially and environmentally.
What Does This Shift Mean for Food Packaging?
This shift isn’t just about packaging. It’s about leadership.
Tariffs are creating pressure, yes but they’re also accelerating necessary changes in how we approach food packaging. What we use, how we source it, and how we communicate it to consumers matters more than ever.
This is a rare chance to rethink the everyday: How we serve food. How we design our containers. How we show our values through the materials we choose.
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FAQs
Why are tariffs impacting food packaging in 2025?
Because many steel and aluminum products are imported, new U.S. tariffs (up to 50%) have raised costs on cans, trays, foil, and other packaging widely used in foodservice and retail.
What types of packaging are most affected by tariffs?
Aluminum beverage cans, foil takeout trays, insulated delivery bags, frozen meal trays, and foil wraps are all heavily impacted.
How are businesses adapting to rising packaging costs?
Companies are shifting to fiber-based trays, compostable wraps, reusable formats, glass jars, and lightweight paper-based designs to reduce reliance on metals.
Do sustainable alternatives actually reduce costs long term?
Yes. While initial costs may be higher, alternatives like compostable or recyclable fiber packaging help cut disposal fees, reduce shipping emissions, and meet compliance standards.
What does this shift mean for consumers?
Shoppers are seeing more eco-friendly packaging options in grocery stores, restaurants, and delivery apps, while brands strengthen their reputation for sustainability.
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