Produce Packaging

Growth in the US produce packaging market will total 3.2% annually through 2019 in value terms.  Advances will be fueled by an increase in the amount of produce that is packaged for retail sale.  The adoption of higher value reusable plastic containers over single-use corrugated boxes will also lead to gains.

This report segments the produce packaging industry by Type and Application.  Data is provided in million US dollars and million units.

Produce packaging product types include:

• Corrugated Boxes

• Bags & Liners

• Plastic Containers (e.g., clamshells, tubs, cups, and bowls) 

• Trays 

• Plastic Film

• Reusable Plastic Containers

• Wood Crates

• Foam Boxes

• Molded Pulp Baskets

Corrugated boxes will remain the largest of these through 2019.  Going forward, plastic containers will see the strongest advances among major product types, benefiting from their prevalence in the packaging of fresh-cut produce and salads. 

Major applications include:

• Vegetables (lettuce, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms)

• Fruits (apples, grapes, citrus, melons, berries)

• Salad

Berries were the leading outlet in 2014.  The most rapid gains through 2019 are forecast for grapes and other fruits sold in snack-size packages, based on the popularity of healthy snacks.

Due to the diversity of applications and product types used, hundreds of firms participate in the produce packaging market, ranging from global packaging concerns to smaller firms focusing on narrower applications or geographic markets.  Participants in this industry include Amcor, Bemis, Berry Plastics, Emerald Packaging, Georgia-Pacific, International Paper, Packaging Corporation of America, Printpack, Reynolds Group, Sealed Air, West Rock.