Protective Packaging
US demand for protective packaging is projected to increase 4.4% per year to $7.5 billion in 2024. Gains will be driven by:
continued strong growth in e-commerce as the offerings of online retailers and use of ecommerce platforms by brick-and-mortar retailers continue to expand, increasing direct-toconsumer shipments requiring protection
continued growth in durable goods manufacturing, the leading market for protective packaging
growing willingness among users to employ higher value protective packaging materials if they
help realize savings in other areas, such as shipping and labor costs and product loss
This study analyzes the following US protective packaging markets: durable goods manufacturing, nondurable goods manufacturing, e-commerce, and retail and other markets. Products covered include:
Flexible packaging
protective mailers
bubble packaging
air pillows
paper fill
dunnage bags
surface protection films
Foam packaging
molded foams
insulated shipping containers
foam-in-place polyurethane
polyolefin rolled foams
loose fill
Rigid packaging
paperboard protectors
molded pulp
Excluded from the scope of the study are:
active insulated shipping containers that employ power sources to maintain a temperaturecontrolled environment inside an insulated enclosure
retail packaging, such as blister packs and clamshells
Scope of the Report
This report covers the scope, size, and growth of the US market for protective packaging, including trends in the major market segments. The study also provides comprehensive corporate analysis including market share and competitive strategies. Additionally, it provides consumer insights based on proprietary consumer survey data and custom cross-tabs of licensed data, as well as analysis of key retail and marketing trends and innovative product introductions.
Historical data (2009, 2014, and 2019) and forecasts for 2024 are presented for protective packaging demand in current US dollars (including inflation) Sales are broken out by the above product types and markets, as well as by material (i.e., plastic, paper/paperboard, other). (E-commerce includes both sales by internet-only distributors and online sales made by brick-and-mortar establishments.)
- Executive Summary
- Table Figure 1-1 | Key Trends in the US Protective Packaging Market
- Overview
- Key Findings
- Table Figure 2-1 | Key Trends in the US Market for Protective Packaging
- Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic
- Demand by Type
- Table Protective Packaging Demand by Type, 2009 - 2024
- Historical Market Trends
- Table Figure 2-2 | Protective Packaging Demand by Market, 2009 - 2019
- Pricing Trends
- Material Trends
- Paper vs. Plastics
- Demand by Material
- Table Protective Packaging Demand by Material, 2009 - 2024
- Table Figure 2-3 | Protective Packaging Demand Share by Material, 2019
- Sustainability Goals Affecting Material Mix
- Table Figure 2-4 | Intertape Polymer Group & HexcelPack's Curby Mailer
- Table Figure 2-5 | Ecovative Design's Mushroom-Based Foam Packaging
- Functions of Protective Packaging
- Table Protective Packaging Product Functionality
- Consumer Insights
- Consumer Attitudes: Sustainable Packaging
- Table Consumer Attitudes about Sustainable Packaging by Gender & Age Group, 2019
- Consumer Attitudes: Recycling & Environmental Responsibility
- Table Consumer Attitudes about Recycling & Environmental Responsibility by Gender, 2019
- Consumer Attitudes: Recycling Packaging & Bags
- Table Consumer Attitudes about Recycling & Sustainable Packaging by Gender & Age Group, 2019
- Consumer Attitudes: Sustainable Packaging
- Sustainability Trends
- Packaging Waste Recovery
- Recyclable & Biodegradable/Compostable Materials
- Customization & Source Reduction
- Packaging & Material Bans
- E-Commerce Trends
- Bricks & Clicks
- Right-Sizing & Packaging Optimization
- Reducing or Eliminating the Need for the Box
- Legal & Regulatory Environment
- Ozone-Depleting Blowing Agents
- Polystyrene Feedstocks
- California & New York City: End-of-Life Labeling & EPS Loose Fill
- Key Findings
- Protective Packaging Markets
- Key Findings
- Table Figure 3-1 | Key Trends for Protective Packaging Markets
- Demand by Market
- Table Protective Packaging Demand by Market, 2009 - 2024
- Durable Goods Manufacturing
- Table Durable Goods Manufacturing Protective Packaging Demand by Type & Product, 2009 - 2024
- Table Figure 3-2 | Durable Goods Manufacturing: Protective Packaging Demand Share by Type, 2009 – 2024
- Nondurable Goods Manufacturing
- Table Nondurable Goods Manufacturing Protective Packaging Demand by Material & Product, 2009 - 2024
- Table Figure 3-3 | Nondurable Goods Manufacturing: Protective Packaging Demand Share by Type, 2009 - 2024
- E-Commerce
- E-Commerce: Market Size
- Table Figure 3-4 | E-Commerce Share of Retail Sales & Annual Growth, 2014 - 2019
- E-Commerce: Demand by Product
- Table E-Commerce Protective Packaging Demand by Type & Product, 2009 - 2024
- Table Figure 3-5 | E-Commerce Protective Packaging Demand Share by Type, 2009 - 2024
- E-Commerce: Market Size
- Retail & Other Markets
- Table Retail & Other Markets Protective Packaging Demand by Type & Product, 2009 – 2024
- Table Figure 3-6 | Retail & Other Markets: Protective Packaging Demand Share by Type, 2009 - 2024
- Key Findings
- Flexible Protective Packaging
- Key Findings
- Table Figure 4-1 | Key Trends for Flexible Protective Packaging
- Demand by Product
- Table Flexible Protective Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024
- Flexible Protective Packaging Suppliers
- Table Flexible Protective Packaging: Selected Suppliers
- Protective Mailers
- Protective Mailers: Scope
- Table Figure 4-2 | Protective Mailer Product Example
- Protective Mailers: Characteristics & Applications
- Table Protective Mailers: Advantages, Disadvantages, &Key Applications
- Protective Mailers: Demand by Type & Market
- Table Protective Mailer Demand by Type & Market, 2009 - 2024
- Protective Mailers: Suppliers
- Protective Mailers: Scope
- Bubble Packaging
- Bubble Packaging: Scope
- Table Figure 4-3 | Bubble Packaging Product Example
- Bubble Packaging: Characteristics & Applications
- Table Bubble Packaging: Advantages, Disadvantages, &Key Applications
- Bubble Packaging: Demand by Market
- Table Bubble Packaging Demand by Market, 2009 - 2024
- Bubble Packaging: Suppliers
- Bubble Packaging: Scope
- Air Pillows
- Air Pillows: Scope
- Table Figure 4-4 | Air Pillow Product Example
- Air Pillows: Characteristics & Applications
- Table Air Pillows: Advantages, Disadvantages, &Key Applications
- Air Pillows: Demand by Market
- Table Air Pillow Demand by Market, 2009 - 2024
- Air Pillows: Suppliers
- Air Pillows: Scope
- Paper Fill
- Paper Fill: Scope
- Table Figure 4-5 | Paper Fill Product Example
- Paper Fill: Characteristics & Applications
- Table Paper Fill: Advantages, Disadvantages, &Key Applications
- Paper Fill: Demand by Market
- Table Paper Fill Demand by Market, 2009 - 2024
- Paper Fill: Suppliers
- Paper Fill: Scope
- Dunnage Bags
- Dunnage Bags: Scope
- Table Figure 4-6 | Dunnage Bag Product Example
- Dunnage Bags: Characteristics & Applications
- Table Dunnage Bags: Advantages, Disadvantages, &Key Applications
- Dunnage Bags: Demand by Material & Market
- Table Dunnage Bag Demand by Material & Market, 2009 - 2024
- Dunnage Bag: Suppliers
- Dunnage Bags: Scope
- Surface Protection Films
- Surface Protection Films: Scope
- Table Figure 4-7 | Surface Protection Film Product Example
- Surface Protection Films: Characteristics & Applications
- Table Surface Protection Films: Advantages, Disadvantages, &Key Applications
- Surface Protection Films: Demand Outlook
- Table Surface Protection Film Demand, 2009 - 2024
- Surface Protection Film: Suppliers
- Surface Protection Films: Scope
- Other Flexible Protective Packaging Products
- Other Flexible Protective Packaging Products: Demand Outlook
- Table Other Flexible Protective Packaging Demand, 2009 - 2024
- Other Flexible Products: Suppliers
- Other Flexible Protective Packaging Products: Demand Outlook
- Key Findings
- Foam Protective Packaging
- Key Findings
- Table Figure 5-1 | Key Trends for Foam Protective Packaging
- Demand by Product
- Table Plastic Foam Protective Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024
- Foam Protective Packaging Suppliers
- Table Foam Protective Packaging: Selected Suppliers
- Insulated Shipping Containers
- Insulated Shipping Containers: Scope
- Table Figure 5-2 | Insulated Shipping Containers Product Example
- Insulated Shipping Containers: Characteristics
- Insulated Shipping Containers: Applications
- Table Insulated Shipping Containers: Advantages, Disadvantages, &Key Applications
- Insulated Shipping Containers: Demand by Application & Market
- Table Insulated Shipping Container Demand by Application & Market, 2009 - 2024
- Insulated Shipping Containers: Suppliers
- Insulated Shipping Containers: Scope
- Molded Foam
- Molded Foam: Scope & Characteristics
- Table Molded Foam: Advantages, Disadvantages, &Key Applications
- Table Figure 5-3 | Molded Foam Product Example
- Molded Foam: Demand by Material & Market
- Table Molded Foam Protective Packaging Demand by Material & Market, 2009 - 2024
- Table Figure 5-4 | Molded Foam Protective Packaging Demand Share by Material, 2009 - 2024
- Expanded Polystyrene Molded Foam: Demand Outlook
- Table Figure 5-5 | Expanded Polystyrene Molded Foam Protective Packaging Demand by Market, 2009 – 2024
- Polyolefin Molded Foam: Demand Outlook
- Table Figure 5-6 | Polyolefin Molded Foam Protective Packaging Demand by Market, 2009 - 2024
- Polyurethane Molded Foam: Demand Outlook
- Table Figure 5-7 | Polyurethane Molded Foam Protective Packaging Demand by Market, 2009 - 2024
- Molded Foams: Suppliers
- Molded Foam: Scope & Characteristics
- Foam-in-Place Polyurethane
- Foam-in-Place Polyurethane: Scope
- Table Figure 5-8 | Foam-in-Place Polyurethane Product Example
- Foam-in-Place Polyurethane: Characteristics & Applications
- Table Foam-in-Place Polyurethane: Advantages, Disadvantages, &Key Applications
- Foam-in-Place Polyurethane: Demand by Market
- Table Foam-in-Place Polyurethane Protective Packaging Demand by Market, 2009 - 2024
- Foam-in-Place: Suppliers
- Foam-in-Place Polyurethane: Scope
- Polyolefin Rolled Foam
- Polyolefin Rolled Foam: Scope
- Table Figure 5-9 | Polyolefin Rolled Foam Product Example
- Polyolefin Rolled Foam: Characteristics & Applications
- Table Polyolefin Rolled Foam: Advantages, Disadvantages, &Key Applications
- Polyolefin Rolled Foam: Demand by Market
- Table Polyolefin Rolled Foam Protective Packaging Demand by Market, 2009 - 2024
- Polyolefin Rolled Foam: Suppliers
- Polyolefin Rolled Foam: Scope
- Loose Fill
- Loose Fill: Scope & Characteristics
- Table Loose Fill: Advantages, Disadvantages, &Key Applications
- Table Figure 5-10 | Loose Fill Product Example
- Loose Fill: Demand by Material & Market
- Table Loose Fill Protective Packaging Demand by Material & Market, 2009 - 2024
- Table Figure 5-11 | Loose Fill Protective Packaging Demand Share by Material, 2009 - 2024
- Expanded Polystyrene Loose Fill: Demand Outlook
- Biodegradable Plastic Loose Fill: Demand Outlook
- Loose Fill: Suppliers
- Loose Fill: Scope & Characteristics
- Other Foam Protective Packaging Products
- Other Foam Protective Packaging Products: Demand Outlook
- Table Other Plastic Foam Protective Packaging Demand, 2009 - 2024
- Other Foam Products: Suppliers
- Other Foam Protective Packaging Products: Demand Outlook
- Key Findings
- Rigid Protective Packaging
- Key Findings
- Table Figure 6-1 | Key Trends in Rigid Protective Packaging
- Demand by Type
- Table Rigid Protective Packaging Demand by Type, 2009 - 2024
- Rigid Protective Packaging Suppliers
- Table Rigid Protective Packaging: Selected Suppliers
- Paperboard Protectors
- Paperboard Protectors: Scope
- Table Figure 6-2 | Paperboard Protectors Product Example
- Paperboard Protectors: Characteristics & Applications
- Table Paperboard Protectors: Advantages, Disadvantages, &Key Applications
- Paperboard Protectors: Demand by Market
- Table Paperboard Protector Demand by Market, 2009 - 2024
- Paperboard Protectors: Suppliers
- Paperboard Protectors: Scope
- Molded Pulp
- Molded Pulp: Scope
- Table Figure 6-3 | Molded Pulp Product Example
- Molded Pulp: Characteristics & Applications
- Table Molded Pulp: Advantages, Disadvantages, &Key Applications
- Molded Pulp: Demand by Market
- Table Molded Pulp Protective Packaging Demand by Market, 2009 - 2024
- Molded Pulp: Suppliers
- Molded Pulp: Scope
- Other Rigid Protective Packaging Products
- Other Rigid Protective Packaging Products: Demand by Market
- Table Other Rigid Protective Packaging Demand by Market, 2009 - 2024
- Other Rigid Products: Suppliers
- Other Rigid Protective Packaging Products: Demand by Market
- Key Findings
- Industry Structure
- Key Findings & Industry Composition
- Table US Protective Packaging Sales by Company, 2019
- Market Share
- Table Figure 7-1 | US Protective Packaging Market Share by Company, 2019
- Table Figure 7-2 | US Protective Packaging Market: Leading Supplier, 2019
- Table Figure 7-3 | US Protective Packaging Market: Second Leading Supplier, 2019
- Table Figure 7-4 | US Protective Packaging Market: Third Leading Supplier, 2019
- Table Figure 7-5 | US Protective Packaging Market: Fourth Leading Supplier, 2019
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Table Selected Mergers & Acquisitions
- Marketing & Distribution
- Competitive Strategies
- Cooperative Agreements
- Table Selected Cooperative Agreements
- List of Industry Participants
- Table Selected Industry Participants
- Key Findings & Industry Composition
- Appendix
- Scope
- Table Study Scope: US Protective Packaging Products & Markets
- Table Relevant HS Codes
- Table Relevant Industry Codes
- Definitions
- Abbreviations
- Table Abbreviations & Acronyms Used in Study
- Freedonia Methodology
- Study-Specific Methodology
- Sources
- Related Freedonia Group Studies
- Macroeconomic Assumptions
- Economic Environment
- Table Macroeconomic Indicators, 2009 – 2024
- Table Figure 8-1 | Annual Growth in Real GDP, 2000 - 2019, Compared to 1980 - 2005 Average
- Demographics
- Table Population & Households, 2009 – 2024
- Table Figure 8-2 | Annual Population Growth, 2004 – 2019
- Manufacturers' Shipments
- Table Manufacturers' Shipments, 2009 – 2024
- Retail Sales & E-Commerce Outlook
- Table Retail & E-Commerce Sales, 2014 - 2024
- Economic Environment
- Scope
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