US Plastic Foodservice Disposables

Plastic Foodservice Disposables

Demand for plastic foodservice single-use products is forecast to grow 3.5% annually to $14.3 billion in 2027. However, growth in market value will come primarily from a shift in product mix toward higher value packaging and carryout bags. In real terms, demand will decline overall but this hides several important underlying trends:

• Overall demand in units will decline slightly due to sustainability-driven efforts to reduce or eliminate the use of single-use plastics and this will be especially noticeable in small plastic serviceware like straws and cutlery.
• Above average growth is expected in disposables used in the fast growing takeout and delivery market, especially for full-service establishments that have historically not been large users of disposables.

Serviceware to Experience Slowest Growth Due to Sustainability Concerns

Serviceware – including dinnerware, trays, cutlery, and straws – has historically comprised a significant portion of plastic foodservice disposable demand due to the convenience and sanitary benefits proffered by these items compared to reusable options. However, smaller serviceware products such as straws and cutlery are often improperly disposed of and may negatively interfere with the environment. As such, many foodservice operators are electing to either switch to serviceware made of alternative, compostable materials, or outright stop offering these items, as they are often viewed as “excess” packaging and unnecessary.

Carryout & Off-Premises Dining Continues at High Levels

Limited service restaurants have long had a strong takeout business, but over the past decade there has been a marked shift in focus for all restaurants to off-premise sales. Shifts away from dining inside restaurants are significantly expanding the number of disposables needed per order, leading to the development of improved products designed to deliver food safely while retaining its quality and presentation.

Flexible Formats to See the Strongest Growth

Though the majority of plastic foodservice disposable are composed of rigid plastic or foam, flexible plastic continues to penetrate the market. This is especially true for newer packaging products such as fillable beverage pouches and bag-in-box formats, which will see the strongest growth among all disposables due to their lighter weight, increased product evacuation, and lower cost compared to traditional alternatives such as cups.

Suppliers Increase Use of Recycled Content & Bioplastic to Improve Sustainability

Though plastic remains a significant portion of single-use foodservice packaging, it suffers from a poor sustainability image and faces stiff competition from materials seen as more environmentally friendly such as molded fiber. In an effort combat this, many plastic manufacturers are increasingly incorporating post-consumer recycled content into their packaging, as well as offering products made of bioplastic and biodegradable foam, improving the materials’ sustainability. These newer materials are expected to experience strong gains and bolster value growth of plastic disposables overall.

Study description

This study analyzes US demand for plastic foodservice disposables by product, material, and market. Product segments include:

• beverage packaging, including cups, lids, fillable beverage pouches, and plastic bladders for bag-in-box
• clamshells
• food cups (including portion cups), tubs, pails, and their respective lids
• two-piece containers
• flexible and other food packaging
• carryout bags
• serviceware, including dinnerware, cutlery, straws and stirrers, trays and carriers, and other serviceware such as table covers, skewers, and steak markers

Materials include:

• rigid plastic
• plastic foam
• flexible plastic (film)
• bioplastics

Markets include eating and drinking places (limited service restaurants and full-service restaurants); and retail and non-commercial foodservice.

Historical data (2012, 2017, and 2022) and forecasts for 2027 are presented for plastic foodservice disposables demand in current US dollars (including inflation) and in units.