2024 Plastics Research Review

Research Review Scope

Plastic is among the global manufacturing sector's most critical elements and strengths. It is one of the key contributors to the economy and offers vast employment opportunities, too. Products comprising plastics have become essential daily, ranging from packaging materials to household goods. It is also popularly employed throughout the automotive and construction sector owing to its highly versatile, durable, and lightweight nature. In addition, plastic products are cost-effective and can be manufactured in large volumes at a relatively low cost.

The overall plastics industry comprises activities concerned with converting thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers, including the compounding or recycling and fabrication of articles or parts of articles wholly or largely made of such polymers into flexible, rigid, or semi-rigid forms. These can be extruded, blown, molded, injected, cast, formed, coated, compression molded, or rotation molded.

Plastics also enormously contribute to environmental sustainability via their inherent recyclability, energy-saving potential, and energy recovery options. The global plastics market has undergone major transformations in recent years, driven by a growing awareness of environmental issues, evolving consumer preferences, and regulatory changes. Amid rising stringency in environmental regulations globally, the need to become a sustainable circular economy as soon as possible is gaining major attention. Key trends shaping the plastic industry include a shift towards bioplastics derived from renewable sources, including sugarcane, corn starch, and algae, adopting advanced recycling technologies, circular economy initiatives, and focusing on lightweighting.

Research Reviews from BCC Research provide market professionals with concise market coverage within a specific research category. This 2024 Research Review of Plastics provides a sampling of the type of quantitative market information, analysis, and guidance that BCC Research has been developing since its inception in 1971 to help its customers make informed business decisions. This Research Review includes highlights and excerpts from the following reports published by BCC Research in 2024:

PLS009L Medical Plastics: Global Markets

PLS018H Global Market for Plastics Compounding

PLS031E Plastics Recycling: Global Markets

PLS089D Plastic Injection Molding: Global Markets and Technologies

After you survey the excerpts in this Research Review, we encourage you to follow up on these topics by checking out the full market research reports associated with each topic. BCC Research looks forward to serving your market intelligence needs in the future.