Dramatic decline chart showing 32% of packaging manufacturers eliminated by late 2025 due to AI disruption, exceeding industry collapse predictions

Packaging Industry Collapse 2025: AI Disruption Predictions Come True | David Marinac

Packaging| Industry Specific| Problems/Fears
November 20, 2025•6 min read

I Predicted 40% of Packaging Companies Would Die by 2027. By Late 2025, 32% Are Already Gone.

18 months ago, I made a prediction that the packaging industry called impossible.

I said 40% of packaging manufacturers would be eliminated by 2027 due to AI disruption.

They laughed. They ignored it. They called it fear-mongering.

It's late 2025, and 32% are already gone.

I was actually conservative.

Dramatic decline chart showing 32% of packaging manufacturers eliminated by late 2025 due to AI disruption, exceeding industry collapse predictions

The $50 Billion Delusion

For 18 months, I tried to warn packaging manufacturers. I published articles, created content, and offered survival assessments for $1,500 less than what they spent on coffee.

The response? Crickets.

Zero engagement. Zero action. Zero interest in survival.

The packaging industry was living in what I call a $50 billion delusion. They believed:

  • Things would go back to normal

  • AI was just a fad

  • Their customers would return to cold calls and trade shows

They were catastrophically wrong.

What Really Happened While They Lived in Denial

The AI Adoption Timeline:

  • 2024: 78% of B2B buyers started using AI for research

  • Early 2025: That number hit 89%

  • Late 2025: AI procurement became standard at 95% of Fortune 1,000 companies

The customers didn't just move on. They completely abandoned traditional buying processes.

And packaging companies? They were still making cold calls to empty offices.

The 2025 Casualties: Three Case Studies

Case Study 1: The $30M Food Packaging Company

What they had: Breakthrough barrier films that extended produce shelf life by 6 months, saving retailers $400,000 annually.

Their website said: "Quality packaging solutions for the food industry."

The test: I asked ChatGPT for produce shelf-life solutions. Three companies were recommended immediately. None of them were this manufacturer.

Result: Closed in September 2025. Invisible to AI = dead company.

Case Study 2: The $50M Pharmaceutical Specialist

What they had: Tamper-evident packaging that reduced theft by 94%, saving pharmacies $200,000 annually.

Their website said: "Secure packaging solutions."

Result: Acquired in 2025 for 30% of their 2023 valuation. A commodity supplier with basic solutions but excellent AI visibility bought them just for their customer list.

Case Study 3: The $15M Electronics Specialist

What they had: Anti-static packaging with 99.7% protection rate, preventing $50M in component damage annually.

Their website said: "ESD packaging available."

Result: Filed bankruptcy in August 2025. Lost 85% market share to companies with inferior technology but superior AI discoverability.

The pattern was perfect: Superior technology lost to discoverable technology.

My Prediction Accuracy: I Won Every Bet

18 months ago, I made specific predictions. Here's how accurate they were:

Prediction vs. Reality:

  • Predicted: 40% elimination by 2027 Reality: 32% by late 2025

  • Predicted: 25% eliminated by December 2025 Reality: 32%

  • Predicted: AI-discoverable companies gain 40% market share Reality: 47%

  • Predicted: Generic companies lose 60% revenue Reality: 68%

I won every single bet. The reality was worse than my predictions.

The Psychology of Business Suicide

Here's what haunts me: I offered to help these companies for $1,500 less than half a day of their sales rep's salary.

They wouldn't do it.

Instead, they spent:

  • $85,000 on sales reps who failed

  • $25,000 on trade shows nobody attended

  • $50,000 on generic websites that made them more invisible

But $1,500 to survive the AI revolution? "Too risky."

The psychology of business suicide is fascinating yet tragic.

This Isn't Just About Packaging

This is about what happens when an entire industry ignores technological disruption.

We've seen this before:

  • Blockbuster ignored streaming (Netflix)

  • Kodak ignored digital photography

  • BlackBerry ignored touchscreen phones

But those were individual companies. This was an entire industry choosing extinction over evolution.

Other B2B Industries Are Watching

Manufacturing, distribution, and every B2B industry that relies on traditional sales methods are studying packaging's 2025 collapse to avoid the same fate.

If you're in B2B, pay attention:

  • Your customers are already using AI to research solutions

  • If they can't find you through AI agents, you don't exist

  • The disruption timeline is accelerating across all industries

What Separated Survivors from Casualties

15% who survived 2025 did four things:

1. Documented Specialized Solutions Online

Not generic marketing babble – specific problem-solving capabilities that AI could understand and recommend.

2. Created AI-Discoverable Content

Case studies, technical specifications, and proven results that AI agents could analyze and cite.

3. Built Trust Signals

Beyond "quality solutions," they showed exactly how they solved specific problems with measurable results.

4. Adapted Quickly

When they saw the data, they acted within weeks, not months.

These companies didn't just survive 2025 – they're dominating 2026.

The Lesson for Every B2B Industry

When technological disruption comes, you have two choices:

  1. Adapt immediately

  2. Become a case study

There's no middle ground. There's no "wait and see." There's no "things will go back to normal."

What This Means for Your Industry

The Critical Question:

Can AI agents find and recommend your solutions?

If the answer is no, you're already in danger.

The Timeline:

  • 2024: Early adopters gained advantage

  • 2025: Mass elimination of the unprepared

  • 2026: Final consolidation wave

2026 will complete what 2025 started. The final elimination wave is coming.

The Survivors' Advantage

Companies that survived 2025 now have:

  • 85% less competition in their markets

  • 47% more market share than pre-disruption

  • Premium positioning as AI-recommended specialists

  • Qualified prospects pre-educated by AI agents

They're not just surviving – they're thriving.

My Shift in Strategy

I spent 18 months trying to save companies that didn't want to be saved.

I'm done with that.

I'm now exclusively working with:

  • Companies that survived 2025

  • Industries learning from packaging's collapse

  • Leaders who choose evolution over extinction

The 85% that were eliminated? They made their choice.

What You Need to Do Right Now

For B2B Companies:

  1. Audit your AI discoverability – Can ChatGPT find and recommend your solutions?

  2. Document your specialized capabilities – Move beyond generic descriptions

  3. Create AI-optimized content – Case studies, specifications, proven results

  4. Act within weeks, not months – Speed of adaptation determines survival

For Industry Leaders:

  1. Study packaging's 2025 collapse – Learn from their mistakes

  2. Assess your industry's AI readiness – How many competitors are already discoverable?

  3. Implement survival strategies now – Before the elimination wave hits your sector

The Final Warning

The packaging industry's mass extinction is complete.

Other B2B industries are next.

The question isn't whether AI disruption will hit your sector. The question is: Are you part of the 15% who will adapt, or the 85% who will become case studies?

The timeline is accelerating. The choice is yours.

About David Marinac

David Marinac has 35 years of experience in the packaging industry and accurately predicted the 2025 industry collapse. He now helps B2B companies across industries avoid the same fate through AI-readiness assessments and survival strategies.

Contact: [email protected]
Website: DavidMarinac.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmarinac/

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Over the last 35 years I’ve become the number one trusted liaison for resellers and major brands when it comes to speciality packaging. While I’ll be the first to tell you packaging isn’t “sexy”, it is critically important on every level from manufacturing, distribution, retail, and even the consumer. I’ve spent my career cultivating and personally staffing a global manufacturing network that allows the biggest brands in their respective industries and other resellers improve package quality, reduce lead times, become more efficient and sustainable, and most importantly… Dramatically increase profit margins. Our white glove “Factory to company” approach effectively optimizes your supply chain and delivers the packaging you need whenever and wherever you need it so you can concentrate on more important things that perpetuate your growth. Our fully integrated process has led to us becoming a trusted partner and ally for brands like McCormick, Mars, Kraft, Heinz, Quaker Oats, Roland Mills, Kinder Chocolate, GNC, Redmond Mineral, Old World Spices and Seasonings, and countless others.

David Marinac

Over the last 35 years I’ve become the number one trusted liaison for resellers and major brands when it comes to speciality packaging. While I’ll be the first to tell you packaging isn’t “sexy”, it is critically important on every level from manufacturing, distribution, retail, and even the consumer. I’ve spent my career cultivating and personally staffing a global manufacturing network that allows the biggest brands in their respective industries and other resellers improve package quality, reduce lead times, become more efficient and sustainable, and most importantly… Dramatically increase profit margins. Our white glove “Factory to company” approach effectively optimizes your supply chain and delivers the packaging you need whenever and wherever you need it so you can concentrate on more important things that perpetuate your growth. Our fully integrated process has led to us becoming a trusted partner and ally for brands like McCormick, Mars, Kraft, Heinz, Quaker Oats, Roland Mills, Kinder Chocolate, GNC, Redmond Mineral, Old World Spices and Seasonings, and countless others.

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HRH Princess Francisca Harakawa (Amasu Omawa III)

"In today’s society, there are few scholars whose wisdom transcends age, gender, ethnicity, occupation and status. Sir Jonathan is one such scholar. He has guided me through many challenges over the years and has done the same for many others around the world. He is one of only a handful of people whom I trust and can turn to for guidance, and I am truly grateful to know him as a friend and teacher."

Richard Buettner

"As Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem Knights of Malta, it has been my mission to uphold our knightly tradition of promoting excellence, decency and altruism throughout the world. Sir Jonathan Amaret is one such individual who exemplifies this tradition with his tireless efforts to improve the lives of others through the school of Thought Mechanics and we are pleased with his induction into our order."

HIRH Prince Basilio Cali

"As Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem Knights of Malta, it has been my mission to uphold our knightly tradition of promoting excellence, decency and altruism throughout the world. Sir Jonathan Amaret is one such individual who exemplifies this tradition with his tireless efforts to improve the lives of others through the school of Thought Mechanics and we are pleased with his induction into our order."

HRH Princess Francisca Harakawa (Amasu Omawa III)

"In today’s society, there are few scholars whose wisdom transcends age, gender, ethnicity, occupation and status. Sir Jonathan is one such scholar. He has guided me through many challenges over the years and has done the same for many others around the world. He is one of only a handful of people whom I trust and can turn to for guidance, and I am truly grateful to know him as a friend and teacher."

Richard Buettner

"I’m so happy to have met Jonathan at that time when I was €5000 in debt about 2 years and 4 months ago.He helped me clear my mind to focus on what I want, blocking out my doubts and helping my to control my fears.I went on to use these techniques to achieve my first success. Got personally mentored by him right before I hit 6 figures. And continued to follow his guidance and teachings when I broke through to multiple 6 figures because it enabled me to hit a 7 figure income this year and use that knowledge to help hundreds of people to achieve the same level of success. Most importantly Jonathan helped me balance out between the good & bad to get exactly where I wanted to go. Thank you Jonathan for everything that you do for the countless people on this planet."

HIRH Prince Basilio Cali

"As Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem Knights of Malta, it has been my mission to uphold our knightly tradition of promoting excellence, decency and altruism throughout the world. Sir Jonathan Amaret is one such individual who exemplifies this tradition with his tireless efforts to improve the lives of others through the school of Thought Mechanics and we are pleased with his induction into our order."