In today’s market that pursues brand differentiation, packaging is not only a protective layer for products, but also a silent marketing language. Paper tube packaging is becoming a new choice for brands to break through with its unique cylinder shape and environmentally friendly characteristics. Data shows that the global sustainable packaging market is expected to exceed US$370 billion in 2025, and paper tubes, as a representative of recyclable materials, are penetrating from food fields such as tea and coffee to high-end gift boxes (rigid boxes) and customized packaging box solutions.
1. Basic application: innovation of food packaging
Tea: a double breakthrough in moisture-proof and visual
The most common application scenario of paper tube packaging is tea storage. Its waterproof coating can effectively isolate air humidity and extend the shelf life of tea. A tea company in Yunnan prints tea elements on the surface of paper tubes, which not only conveys product information intuitively, but also enhances the high-end sense through matte texture, increasing shelf recognition rate by 40%.
Coffee: The perfect balance of light blocking and convenience
The problem of coffee oxidation has long plagued the industry, and the light blocking performance of paper tubes can block 97% of ultraviolet rays. Guizhou companies innovatively use newsprint secondary processing to make coffee tubes, which not only reduces costs by 30%, but also enables one-handed operation through the rotating lid design, becoming the preferred packaging solution for boutique coffee brands.
Salt: A cross-border integration of function and aesthetics
High-end salt brands break the traditional impression through paper tube packaging. For example, Himalayan rose salt uses hollow carved paper tubes, and consumers can grind the salt block by turning the tube cover. This interactive design increases the repurchase rate by 25% . paper tube manufacturers have also developed food-grade pressure-resistant paper tubes that can bear up to 5kg and still maintain structural stability.
2. Advanced expansion: The rise of the cylindrical gift box market
The packaging revolution of the festival economy
The share of round gift boxes (rigid boxes) in the gift market has risen from 18% in 2020 to 34% in 2024. During the 2025 Spring Festival, a jewelry brand launched a rotatable double-layer paper tube gift box with embedded AR technology to scan and present the product story, which increased the average customer price by 60%. This case of combining the traditional cultural concept of “the sky is round and the earth is square” with modern technology confirms the emotional value of round packaging.
Technological breakthrough in high-end customization
The latest patent of Taizhou Hongye Technology shows that by adding threaded grooves to the outer wall of the paper tube, the compressive strength is increased by 50%. This technology has been applied to perfume packaging by luxury brands. The tube body is inlaid with a detachable metal nameplate, and consumers can engrave exclusive blessings to achieve secondary dissemination of packaging.
3. The core advantages of customized solutions
Material innovation drives environmental protection upgrades
The use of FSC-certified paper and corn starch adhesive shortens the degradation cycle of paper tubes to 90 days. The “pressure paper tube” developed by a factory in Guangzhou uses recycled construction waste paper, and the wall thickness of 3mm can achieve the protection performance of traditional 5mm plastic tubes.
Precise delivery of intelligent production
Tianjin’s leading enterprises have introduced an IoT tracking system, which reduces the time from design draft to finished product delivery to 72 hours. It supports personalized customization with a diameter of 2cm-50cm, and the minimum order quantity is reduced to 500 pieces, meeting the market needs of small and medium-sized brands.
4. Future trends: packaging is experience
Paper tube packaging is evolving from a container to an experience carrier. A Japanese toy manufacturer embeds an NFC chip in a paper tube, and the product assembly tutorial can be viewed by touching the phone; Yunnan flower brand launches a plan table paper tube – consumers remove the packaging and bury it in the soil, the special coating on the tube body decomposes when it encounters water, and the seeds inside germinate simultaneously. These innovations confirm the industry’s prediction: 70% of packaging will have secondary use value in 2025.
By integrating environmentally friendly materials, smart technology and cultural elements, paper tube packaging is reconstructing the way products connect with consumers. From basic moisture-proof needs to emotional experience design, this seemingly simple cylindrical shape is becoming a strategic fulcrum for brands to practice sustainable development and increase added value.
