United Kingdom Agriculture Films Market Overview, 2030

The agriculture films market in the United Kingdom has developed steadily over the past five decades, initially emerging in the 1960s and 1970s with the introduction of polyethylene-based films for mulching and greenhouse applications, primarily to support vegetable, fruit, and horticultural production in regions such as East Anglia, Kent, and Cornwall. Early adoption focused on open-field mulching to improve soil temperature, conserve moisture, and suppress weeds, which significantly enhanced yields in crops like carrots, lettuce, and strawberries. The 1980s and 1990s saw the growth of greenhouse farming, particularly for tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, with transparent polyethylene and later EVA/EBA films enabling year-round cultivation and higher-quality production. During this period, the UK market also began incorporating silage films to support dairy and livestock operations, especially in northern and western counties where forage preservation was critical to sustain feed quality throughout winter months. Advancements in multilayer films, UV stabilization, and thermal insulation during the 2000s enhanced durability and crop protection, while enabling controlled-environment agriculture to expand further. Environmental and regulatory factors increasingly influenced market evolution, as the UK implemented stricter waste management policies, recycling programs, and incentives for sustainable farming practices, prompting a gradual shift toward biodegradable and recyclable films. More recently, technological innovation, coupled with growing consumer demand for sustainably produced crops, has driven adoption of high-performance films with improved mechanical properties and eco-friendly alternatives. Today, the UK agriculture films market reflects a mature, innovation-focused landscape, balancing productivity, climate resilience, and environmental compliance to support both large-scale commercial farming and smaller horticultural operations.

According to the research report, ""United Kingdom Agriculture Films Market Overview, 2030,”published by Bonafide Research, the United Kingdom Agriculture Films market is anticipated to add to more than USD 140 Million by 2025–30. The UK agriculture films market is driven by multiple factors that reflect the country’s focus on productivity, sustainability, and technological adoption. A primary driver is the increasing demand for higher crop yields, as farmers in regions such as East Anglia, Kent, and Cornwall adopt mulching, greenhouse, and silage films to enhance soil temperature regulation, moisture retention, and weed suppression, thereby improving productivity across vegetables, fruits, and horticultural crops. The growing adoption of protected cultivation and controlled-environment farming, particularly in greenhouse operations for tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, has further stimulated demand for advanced films with UV stabilization, thermal insulation, and light diffusion properties. Government subsidies and support programs also incentivize farmers to invest in durable and eco-friendly films, while rising awareness of water conservation practices reinforces the importance of films that enhance irrigation efficiency. However, the market faces significant restraints, including environmental concerns over plastic disposal and waste management, high raw material cost fluctuations driven by crude oil prices, and competition from natural alternatives such as organic mulches and crop covers. Opportunities exist in the development of biodegradable and compostable films that align with the UK’s environmental and EU Green Deal regulations, as well as in integrating smart agriculture solutions, such as sensor-enabled films and nanotechnology coatings, to optimize crop management. Key challenges include limited recycling infrastructure for used agricultural plastics, stringent regulatory frameworks regarding plastic use, and farmer cost sensitivity, which can hinder adoption of premium or sustainable films.

In the United Kingdom, the agriculture films market is predominantly dominated by polyethylene-based materials, with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) accounting for the largest share due to their flexibility, affordability, and suitability for a wide range of applications including mulching, greenhouse, and silage films. LDPE remains the most widely used material, particularly in open-field mulching for crops such as carrots, lettuce, and strawberries across regions like East Anglia, Kent, and Cornwall, due to its ease of processing, moisture retention capabilities, and soil temperature regulation. LLDPE has gained prominence in recent years because of its superior tensile strength, puncture resistance, and durability, making it particularly effective for greenhouse coverings and silage films that require extended service life under the UK’s variable climate conditions. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is less commonly used but plays a niche role in heavy-duty applications such as protective covers and silage storage, where rigidity and chemical resistance are required. Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and ethylene-butyl acrylate (EBA) copolymers are increasingly adopted in advanced greenhouse films due to their high clarity, elasticity, thermal stability, and UV resistance, supporting year-round cultivation of high-value vegetables and fruits. Reclaims, or recycled polyethylene films, are gradually being integrated into cost-sensitive applications such as mulching and silage, encouraged by government initiatives promoting recycling and sustainability, although performance limitations restrict their use in premium applications. Other specialty materials, including biodegradable and compostable films, are emerging under regulatory pressures and environmental awareness, reflecting the UK market’s growing emphasis on sustainability while balancing durability and crop performance requirements.

In the United Kingdom, agriculture films are extensively utilized across greenhouse, mulching, and silage applications, reflecting the country’s focus on productivity, sustainability, and technological advancement. Greenhouse films represent a major segment, particularly in regions such as East Anglia, Kent, and Cornwall, where controlled-environment agriculture enables year-round cultivation of high-value crops including tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. Advanced materials such as multilayer polyethylene and EVA/EBA copolymers provide superior light transmission, UV protection, and thermal insulation, which are critical for maintaining optimal growing conditions in variable UK climates and enhancing energy efficiency in commercial greenhouses. Mulching films also play a significant role, widely adopted in open-field vegetable and fruit cultivation to conserve soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds, thereby improving crop yields and reducing water usage. The gradual introduction of biodegradable mulching films has gained traction due to increasing environmental awareness and government initiatives aimed at reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable agriculture. Silage films form another essential application, particularly in northern and western counties where dairy and livestock farming are prominent. These films are used to preserve forage quality, prevent spoilage, and maintain feed nutrition throughout extended storage periods during winter months. Farmers increasingly rely on multilayer silage wraps and oxygen barrier films to improve durability and extend storage life. Overall, the application segmentation in the UK demonstrates a balanced approach, with greenhouse films driving technological adoption, mulching films enhancing open-field productivity, and silage films ensuring livestock feed preservation, collectively supporting the nation’s agricultural efficiency and sustainability goals.

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