UK Metal Packaging Coatings: How Changing Drinking Habits are Reshaping the Market

UK Metal Packaging Market Faces Challenges from Alternative Materials

The UK metal packaging coatings market has recorded stable but modest growth in recent years. Its limited expansion reflects the maturity of major end-use sectors and competition from alternative packaging materials. The availability of coating systems manufactured elsewhere in Europe may also limit domestic production.

Growth in the UK soft-drinks sector remains moderate as consumers increasingly seek products with lower sugar content, natural ingredients and fewer artificial additives. Plastic bottles continue to hold a significant position in this market and have expanded faster than metal cans, restricting growth opportunities for beverage-can coatings.

Source: IRL

Solvent-based coatings account for a large share of the UK market, while water-based, powder and radiation-cured systems remain less widely used. By resin type, polyester coatings lead the market, followed by epoxy systems.

Metal Packaging Market Split by Application System

Source: IRL

Traditional beer consumption has also faced pressure from changing drinking habits and increasing interest in healthier lifestyles. Nevertheless, cans remain an important packaging format for beer and continue to provide an established demand base for metal packaging coatings.

At the same time, the UK’s drinking culture is evolving as consumers become more selective about when, where and how much alcohol they consume. Growing demand for alcohol-free, low-alcohol and ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages is creating new opportunities across the beverage value chain, including the metal packaging coatings market.

According to Drinkaware, 44% of UK drinkers used alcohol-free or low-alcohol products to moderate their consumption in 2025, compared with 31% in 2018. Uptake was particularly strong among people aged 18–34, increasing from 28% to 49%. Adoption also rose among affluent, low-risk and higher-risk drinkers.

Consumers are also showing greater interest in convenient RTD products, including canned cocktails, hard seltzers, spirit-and-mixer combinations and alcohol-free alternatives. Metal cans are well suited to these categories because they are lightweight, portable, recyclable and able to chill quickly.

As beverage manufacturers expand their low/no-alcohol and RTD portfolios, greater use of cans could support demand for internal and external metal packaging coatings. Internal coatings form a protective barrier between the beverage and the metal surface, helping prevent corrosion, metal migration and undesirable changes in taste, colour or quality.

Such protection is particularly important because these drinks may contain carbonation, fruit acids, flavourings, sweeteners and functional ingredients. Each formulation can interact differently with its packaging, creating specific coating-performance and compatibility requirements. Greater product diversity may therefore encourage coating suppliers to develop linings suitable for a wider range of beverage formulations.

External coatings are also expected to become more important as competition within emerging beverage categories intensifies. Packaging helps attract consumers and differentiate products at the point of sale. High-quality inks, overprint varnishes and specialty matt, gloss or tactile finishes can create a premium appearance and position low/no-alcohol drinks as appealing lifestyle products rather than inferior substitutes for conventional alcoholic beverages.

Conclusion:

Although the UK metal packaging coatings market remains mature, changing consumer preferences are creating targeted growth opportunities. Rising demand for alcohol-free, low-alcohol and RTD beverages could increase the use of metal cans and support demand for advanced internal linings and premium exterior coatings. However, the extent of this opportunity will depend on the share of new products packaged in cans rather than glass, plastic or draught formats. Suppliers combining formulation compatibility, product protection, regulatory compliance and visual appeal will be well positioned to benefit from the evolving UK beverage market.

Author: Sandeep Singh

Source: IRL

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