Plastic Films

Plastic Films

Through 2024, US plastic film demand is projected increase 1.1% annually to 16.8 billion pounds valued at $23.8 billion. Gains will be driven by:

continued replacement of rigid packaging with pouches due to their lighter weight and source reduction benefits, which support sustainability goals
a healthy long-term economic outlook beyond the COVID-19 pandemic
rapidly advancing e-commerce sales and film used in related transportation and shipping
innovation in recycling and advances in product development (e.g., bio-based, all-PE) improving the environmental profile of plastic packaging

Near-term growth will be strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, elevated ecommerce and grocery sales are boosting demand for film-based packaging, while weaker construction and manufacturing activity are restraining sales.

Scope of the Report
This study analyzes US plastic film demand by application and resin:
Food Packaging: Meat, Poultry, & Seafood; Snack Food; Baked Goods; Produce; Dairy Products; Candy & Confections; Frozen Food; Pet Food; Grain Mill Products; Beverages
Nonfood Packaging: Pharmaceuticals; Paper & Textiles; Rack & Counter; Medical Products; Agricultural & Horticultural; Chemicals
Secondary Packaging: Stretch Film; Retail Bags; Shrink Film; Industrial Liners
Nonpackaging: Trash/Garbage Bags & Can Liners; Tapes & Labels; Hygiene Products & Nonwovens; Household Food Wraps & Bags; Agricultural Film; Construction & Industrial Film
Resins: Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE); Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE); Polypropylene (PP); High Density Polyethylene (HDPE); Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC); Polyethlyene Terephthalate (PET); Nylon; Polystyrene (PS); Polyvinylidene Chloride (PVDC); Bio-Based Plastic Films; Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH)

Monolayer, multilayer, oriented, and metallized films are included.

Historical data for 2009, 2014, and 2019 and forecasts for 2024 are provided for plastic film demand in pounds. The study also provides corporate analysis of leading plastic film producers, including market share.

Excluded from the study are laminates of conventional films with foils, paper, or other commodity materials. Also excluded are products such as:

retail, grocery, and novelty bags and sacks
paper yard waste and refuse sacks
trash bags
household and institutional plastic storage bags
rolls and sheets of waxed and freezer paper
money bags
mailing envelopes
sausage casings
shrink sleeve and other labels
foodservice disposable packaging (such as sandwich wrap or stretch wrap)