Canada Agriculture Films Market Overview, 2030

The agriculture films market in Canada has evolved gradually over the past five decades, beginning with the introduction of polyethylene-based mulching and greenhouse films in the 1970s to support vegetable and horticultural cultivation in provinces such as Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. Initially, adoption was limited due to the relatively small size of Canada’s horticulture industry compared to the United States, but demand expanded significantly in the 1980s and 1990s as greenhouse farming gained momentum, particularly in southern Ontario, which developed into one of North America’s largest hubs for greenhouse vegetables. The dairy and livestock sector also played a major role in driving growth, with silage films becoming essential for fodder preservation in provinces like Quebec, Alberta, and Manitoba, where cattle farming dominates. Over time, the market shifted from basic single-layer films to advanced multilayer, UV-stabilized, and thermally efficient films that could withstand Canada’s diverse and often harsh climate conditions. Greenhouse growers increasingly adopted EVA and EBA copolymer films due to their superior clarity, durability, and insulation properties, enabling year-round cultivation of high-value crops. By the early 2000s, sustainability concerns began shaping the market as recycling infrastructure expanded and policies encouraged reduced plastic waste, paving the way for pilot projects involving biodegradable films. Today, the Canadian agriculture films market is characterized by its emphasis on durability, energy efficiency, and sustainability, reflecting a steady evolution from simple polyethylene sheets to technologically advanced solutions that align with the country’s regulated environmental standards and the growing need for climate-resilient agricultural practices.

According to the research report, ""Canada Agriculture Films Market Overview, 2030,”published by Bonafide Research, the Canada Agriculture Films market is anticipated to add to more than USD 80 Million by 2025–30. The regulatory and environmental framework governing the agriculture films market in Canada is shaped by a combination of federal, provincial, and municipal policies that emphasize sustainability, plastic waste reduction, and alignment with circular economy goals. At the federal level, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) oversees regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), which includes restrictions on single-use plastics and initiatives to promote recycling and extended producer responsibility (EPR). Provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec have implemented strong recycling mandates and stewardship programs that encourage recovery and reprocessing of agricultural plastics, including mulching and silage films, through agricultural producer organizations and collection systems. Canada also adheres to international environmental commitments, which push for biodegradable and compostable standards, and pilot projects are underway in greenhouse and mulching applications to replace conventional polyethylene with bio-based alternatives. Government incentives and subsidies further support farmers adopting sustainable practices, with funding often directed toward recycling infrastructure, plastic collection programs, and innovations in biodegradable materials. Waste management remains a key regulatory focus, with initiatives like Cleanfarms leading collection and recycling of agricultural plastics across multiple provinces, significantly reducing landfill dependency. This regulatory framework creates both pressure and opportunity for manufacturers, as they must comply with strict sustainability guidelines while innovating to provide recyclable, biodegradable, and high-performance films. Overall, Canada’s policies balance the agricultural sector’s need for durable and cost-effective films with environmental imperatives, driving a gradual but consistent transition toward eco-friendly and circular practices in the agriculture films market.

In the Canadian agriculture films market, material segmentation plays a critical role in shaping adoption patterns across diverse farming practices, with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) dominating usage due to its flexibility, cost efficiency, and suitability for mulching and silage applications, particularly in dairy-intensive provinces like Quebec and Alberta. Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) has seen rising demand in recent years as farmers prefer its higher tensile strength, puncture resistance, and ability to withstand Canada’s harsh seasonal variations, making it especially effective in greenhouse coverings and bale wrapping. High-density polyethylene (HDPE), while less commonly used compared to LDPE and LLDPE, is valued for its rigidity and chemical resistance, supporting niche applications such as silage protection and heavy-duty greenhouse films in regions requiring stronger materials. Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and ethylene butyl acrylate (EBA) copolymers are gaining traction in advanced greenhouse farming, especially in Ontario and British Columbia, where clarity, thermal efficiency, and UV stabilization are vital for year-round vegetable and fruit cultivation. Reclaims, or recycled polyethylene films, are gradually entering the market as Canada strengthens its recycling framework under programs like Cleanfarms, with increasing acceptance among cost-conscious farmers for non-critical applications, although durability and performance concerns limit their usage in high-value crops. Other specialty materials, including biodegradable and compostable films, remain at an early adoption stage but are supported by regulatory momentum and pilot projects aimed at reducing plastic waste, particularly in mulching. Collectively, this material segmentation reflects Canada’s dual focus on durability to withstand climatic challenges and innovation to align with its evolving sustainability mandates.

In Canada, the agriculture films market by application is largely driven by greenhouse, mulching, and silage uses, each reflecting the country’s diverse agricultural landscape and climatic conditions. Greenhouse films are particularly significant in provinces like Ontario and British Columbia, where controlled-environment agriculture supports high-value crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, with advanced multilayer and EVA/EBA copolymer films being adopted to ensure UV stability, thermal control, and high light transmission essential for year-round production. Mulching films have gained steady traction across vegetable farming regions, particularly in Quebec and parts of Atlantic Canada, as they enhance soil temperature, suppress weeds, and conserve moisture, which is crucial for shorter growing seasons. The Canadian government’s push for sustainable farming has also encouraged pilot adoption of biodegradable mulching films to reduce plastic waste. Silage films, however, represent the most dominant application segment, driven by Canada’s strong dairy and cattle farming industry concentrated in Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, where reliable forage preservation is essential for livestock productivity during long winters. Farmers increasingly favor multilayer silage wraps and stretch films for oxygen barrier properties and durability under harsh climatic conditions, ensuring higher feed quality. While silage remains the volume leader, greenhouse films are growing fastest due to the rise of commercial horticulture and the expansion of greenhouse clusters in Ontario. Collectively, these applications illustrate how Canada’s agriculture films market balances productivity and sustainability, with silage supporting livestock, greenhouses driving horticultural exports, and mulching films improving crop yields in open-field farming.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Agriculture Films Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Material
• LDPE
• LLDPE
• HDPE
• EVA/EBA
• Reclaims
• Others

BY Application
• Green house
• Mulching
• Silage Show more