Recycled Plastics in Packaging
Demand for recycled plastic for packaging applications in the US is projected to increase over 15% per year to 2.6 billion pounds in 2025. Gains will be driven by manufacturers’ efforts to meet stringent sustainability goals as well as improvements in recycling processes and technologies that will allow for the production of high-quality, high-performance recycled plastic resins.
This study analyzes recycled plastic demand by resin and packaging application, as well as plastics collection by resin and packaging application.
Demand and plastic waste collection is provided for the following resins:
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
Low-density and linear low-density polyethylene (LDPE, LLDPE)
Polypropylene
Polystyrene
Other plastic resins
Demand is provided for the following packaging applications:
Food and beverage containers (beverage bottles, food bottles and jars, other food and beverage containers)
Non-Food containers (bottles, other non-food containers)
Flexible packaging (retail bags, trash bags, other bags and film packaging)
Other packaging applications
Plastic waste collection is provided for the following packaging applications:
Bottles
Rigid plastics and foam
Bags and film
Scope of the report
This report examines the scope, size, and growth of the packaging market for recycled plastic in the US in million pounds and dollars, and analyzes key trends by resin, packaging application. Trends for waste plastic collection are also analyzed. Historical data are provided for 2010, 2015, and 2020 with forecasts for 2025 and 2030.
- Executive Summary
- Table Figure 1-1 - US Packaging Market for Recycled Plastics
- Recycling Industry Overview
- Study Scope
- Lifecycle of Plastic
- Table Figure 2-1 - Lifecycle of Plastic
- Plastic Recycling Processes & Technology Development
- Collection
- Sorting Processes
- Baling Processes
- Shredding & Washing Processes
- Technological Developments
- Historical Recycled Plastic Trends
- Table Recycled Plastic Market, 2005 - 2020
- Trends in Recycled Content Sources
- Packaging's Importance to the Recycling Industry
- Table Figure 2-2 - Packaging & the Recycling Industry
- Recycled Plastic Supply & Demand
- Data Sources & Methodology
- Growth Scenarios
- Base Case Growth Scenario
- Supply & Demand Overview
- Table Recycled Plastic Supply & Demand Base Scenario, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 3-1 - Recycled Plastic for Packaging Applications Base Scenario, 2020
- Plastic Waste Collection Outlook
- Recycled Plastic Supply Forecast
- Recycled Plastic Demand in Packaging Forecast
- Table Figure 3-2 - Packaging Demand for Recycled Plastic: Supply Constrained vs. Non-Supply Constrained Comparison, 2010 - 2030
- Supply & Demand Overview
- Increased Collection Scenario
- Table Recycled Plastic Processing & Demand: Increased Collection Scenario, 2010 - 2030
- Factors Impacting Plastic Recycling Activity
- Plastic Resin Industry Trends
- Table Plastic Resin Supply & Demand by Type, 2010 - 2030
- Plastic Pricing Trends
- Factors Impacting Virgin vs. Plastic Pricing
- Table Figure 4-1 - Virgin & Recycled Plastic Resin Price Comparison, 2020
- Virgin Resins
- Table Virgin Plastic Resin Average Prices, 2010 - 2030
- Recycled Resins
- Table Average Recycled Plastic Resin Prices in Packaging, 2010 - 2030
- Factors Impacting Virgin vs. Plastic Pricing
- Foreign Trade of Plastic Waste
- Plastic Waste Supply & Demand
- Table Plastic Waste Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030
- China's Ban on Waste Imports
- Impact of the Basel Convention
- Plastic Waste Supply & Demand
- Regulatory & Legislative Environment
- Federal, State, & Local Government Framework
- Container Deposit Laws
- Municipal Collection Infrastructure
- Solid Waste Management Trends
- Food Contact Standards
- Plastic Packaging Bans
- Alternatives to Plastic Recycling for Sustainability
- Bioplastics
- Compostable Plastics
- Material Substitution
- Plastic Resin Industry Trends
- Consumers & Plastic Recycling
- What is Sustainability to Consumers?
- Attitudes About Recycling
- Table Consumer Attitudes About Recycling by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Attitudes About Recyclable Packaging & Recycled Content in Packaging
- Table Consumer Attitudes About Recyclable & Recycled Content in Packaging by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Packaging Materials Ranked by Perceived Eco-Friendliness
- Table Figure 5-1 - Consumer Perception of the Eco-Friendliness of Packaging Materials, 2021
- Table Consumer Perspectives on the Eco-Friendliness of Packaging Using Conventional Petroleum-Based Plastics by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Table Consumer Perspectives on the Eco-Friendliness of Packaging Using Plant-Based Bioplastics by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Sustainable Packaging Features Particularly Sought by Consumers
- Table Figure 5-2 - Features Consumers Especially Look for When Considering "Sustainable" or "Eco-Friendly" Packaging, 2021
- Table Features Consumers Especially Look for When Considering "Sustainable" or "Eco-Friendly" Packaging by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Attitudes About Recycling & Biodegradability
- Table Consumer Attitudes About Recycled Plastics & Biodegradability by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Attitudes About Recycling
- COVID-19 Pandemic Household Waste Generation
- Table COVID-19 Pandemic Household Waste Generation Trends by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Curbside Recycling Services: Consumer Access
- Table Access To Curbside Recycling at Home by Product to Recycle, Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Table Access To Curbside Composting Services at Home by Type, Gender, Age Group, Rural vs. Urban Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Drop-Off Recycling Services: Consumer Usage
- Table Usage of Drop-Off Recycling Services
- Table Usage of Drop-Off Composting Services
- Frequency of Use: Recycling & Composting Services
- Recycling Participation Rates by Material
- Table Figure 5-3 - Consumer Recycling Frequency by Type of Packaging, 2021
- Plastic Containers Recycling
- Table Consumer Frequency of Plastic Container Recycling by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Glass Containers Recycling
- Table Consumer Frequency of Glass Container Recycling by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Paper Recycling
- Table Consumer Frequency of Paper Recycling by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Paperboard & Corrugated Recycling
- Table Consumer Frequency of Paperboard & Corrugated Recycling by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Plastic Film & Bag Recycling
- Table Consumer Frequency of Plastic Film & Bag Recycling by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Composting of Packaging
- Table Consumer Frequency of Composting Packaging by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Recycling Participation Rates by Material
- Consumer Attitudes About Paying For Waste Services
- Willingness to Pay for Expanded Curbside Recycling & Composting Services
- Table Willingness to Pay for Expanded Curbside Recycling & Composting Services by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Who Should Pay For Waste Services
- Table Consumer Opinion on Who Should Pay for Waste Services by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Willingness to Pay for Expanded Curbside Recycling & Composting Services
- What is Sustainability to Consumers?
- Public & Private Recycling Initiatives
- Public Sector Initiatives
- Recycled Content Requirements & Incentives
- Plastic Bag & Container Regulations
- Private Sector Initiatives & Issues
- Labeling & Bale Standards
- Collection Initiatives
- Extended Producer Responsibility
- Public Sector Initiatives
- Recycled Plastic Content Targets
- Implementation of Recycled Plastic Content Targets
- Consumer Packaged Goods Producers
- Table Selected Consumer Packaged Goods Producers: Recycled Content Goals
- Packaging Suppliers
- Table Selected Packaging Suppliers: Recycled Content Goals
- State Governments & Other Entities
- Table Selected State Governments: Recycled Content Goals
- Plastic Waste Collection for Recycling
- Recycling Collection by Source
- Table Post-Consumer Plastic Waste Collected for Recycling by Source, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 8-1 - Post-Consumer Plastic Waste Collected for Recycling by Source, 2020
- Bottles
- Collection by Resin
- Table Plastic Bottles Collected for Recycling by Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 8-2 - Plastic Bottles Collected for Recycling by Resin, 2010 - 2030
- PET
- Table Figure 8-3 - PET Bottles Collected for Recycling, 2010 - 2025
- PE
- Table Figure 8-4 - HDPE & LDPE Bottles Collected for Recycling, 2010 - 2025
- PP & Other Resins
- Table Figure 8-5 - PP & Other Bottles Collected for Recycling, 2010 - 2025
- Collection by Resin
- Other Rigid Plastic & Foam
- Collection by Resin
- Table Rigid Plastic & Foam Collected for Recycling by Source, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 8-6 - Rigid Plastic & Foam Collected for Recycling by Source, 2010 - 2030
- Packaging
- Table Figure 8-7 - Rigid Plastic & Foam Packaging Collected for Recycling, 2010 - 2025
- Motor Vehicles
- Table Figure 8-8 - Rigid Plastic & Foam Collected from Motor Vehicles for Recycling, 2010 - 2025
- All Other Rigid Plastic & Foam
- Table Figure 8-9 - All Other Rigid Plastic & Foam Collected for Recycling, 2010 - 2025
- Collection by Resin
- Carpet & Fiber
- Table Carpet & Fiber Collected for Recycling by Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 8-10 - Carpet & Fiber Collected for Recycling, 2010 - 2025
- Flexible Packaging
- Table Flexible Packaging Collected for Recycling by Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 8-11 - Flexible Packaging Collected for Recycling by Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Recycling Collection by Source
- Recycled Plastic Resins in Packaging
- Demand by Resin
- Table Recycled Plastic Demand in Packaging by Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 9-1 - Recycled Plastic Demand in Packaging by Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Polyethylene Terephthalate
- Virgin PET Resin Supply & Demand
- Table Virgin Polyethylene Terephthalate
- Table Figure 9-2 - Virgin PET Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030
- Waste PET Collected & Recycled PET Supply
- Table PET Waste Collection & Recycled PET Supply, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 9-3 - Waste PET Collected & Recycled PET Supply, 2010 - 2030
- Recycled PET Demand in Packaging by Product
- Table Recycled PET Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 9-4 - Recycled PET Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030
- Producers
- Virgin PET Resin Supply & Demand
- High-Density Polyethylene
- Virgin HDPE Resin Supply & Demand
- Table Virgin HDPE Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 9-5 - Virgin HDPE Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030
- Waste HDPE Collected & Recycled HDPE Supply
- Table HDPE Waste Collected & Recycled HDPE Supply, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 9-6 - HDPE Waste Collected & Recycled HDPE Supply, 2010 - 2030
- Packaging Demand for Recycled HDPE by Product
- Table Recycled HDPE Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 9-7 - Recycled HDPE Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030
- Producers
- Virgin HDPE Resin Supply & Demand
- Low-Density Polyethylene
- Virgin LDPE & LLDPE Resin Supply & Demand
- Table Virgin LDPE & LLDPE Resin Supply & Demand by Resin Type, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 9-8 - Virgin LDPE & LLDPE Resin Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030
- Waste LDPE & LLDPE Collected & Recycled LDPE & LLDPE Supply
- Table LDPE & LLDPE Waste Collected & Recycled LDPE & LLDPE Supply, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 9-9 - LDPE & LLDPE Waste Collected & Recycled LDPE & LLDPE Supply, 2010 - 2030
- Packaging Demand for Recycled LDPE & LLDPE by Product
- Table Recycled LDPE & LLDPE Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 9-10 - Packaging Demand for Recycled LDPE & LLDPE by Product, 2010 - 2030
- Producers
- Virgin LDPE & LLDPE Resin Supply & Demand
- Polypropylene
- Virgin PP & Other Plastic Resins Supply & Demand
- Table Virgin Polypropylene
- Table Figure 9-11 - Virgin Polypropylene & Other Plastic Resin Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030
- Waste PP & Other Plastic Collected & Recycled PP & Other Plastic Supply
- Table PP & Other Plastic Waste Collected & Recycled PP & Other Plastic Supply, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 9-12 - PP & Other Plastic Waste Collected & Recycled PP & Other Plastic Supply, 2010 - 2030
- Packaging Demand for Recycled PP & Other Plastic by Product
- Table Recycled PP & Other Plastic Resin Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 9-13 - Recycled PP & Other Plastic Resin Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030
- Virgin PP & Other Plastic Resins Supply & Demand
- Demand by Resin
- Recycled Plastics in Packaging Products
- Recycled Plastic Demand in Packaging
- Table Recycled Plastic Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 10-1 - Recycled Plastic Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030
- Bottles
- Demand by Application & Resin
- Table Bottles: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Application & Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 10-2 - Bottles: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Application, 2010 - 2030
- Food & Beverage Bottles
- Table Food & Beverage Bottles: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Application & Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 10-3 - Food & Beverage Bottles: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Application, 2010 - 2030
- Non-Food Bottles
- Table Non-Food Bottle Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 10-4 - Non-Food Bottle Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Demand by Application & Resin
- Other Rigid Plastic Packaging
- Table Demand for Recycled Plastic in Other Rigid Plastic Packaging by Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 10-5 - Demand for Recycled Plastic in Other Rigid Plastic Packaging by Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Flexible Packaging
- Demand by Product & Resin
- Table Demand for Recycled Plastic in Flexible Packaging by Product & Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 10-6 - Demand for Recycled Plastic in Flexible Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030
- Retail Bags
- Table Retail Bags: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 10-7 - Retail Bags: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Trash Bags
- Table Trash Bags: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 10-8 - Trash Bags: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Other Flexible Packaging
- Table Other Flexible Packaging: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Table Figure 10-9 - Other Flexible Packaging: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin, 2010 - 2030
- Demand by Product & Resin
- Recycled Plastic Demand in Packaging
- Industry Structure
- Industry Participants & Key Findings
- Recycled Plastic Processors
- Avangard Innovative
- Custom Polymers
- Indorama Ventures
- KW Plastics
- Norwich Plastics
- Phoenix Technologies
- Packaging Suppliers
- Amcor
- Berry Global
- Pactiv Evergreen
- Sealed Air
- Consumer Packaged Goods Producers
- Nestlé
- PepsiCo
- Procter & Gamble
- Unilever
- Retailers
- Costco Wholesale
- Kroger
- Target
- Walmart
- Appendix
- Report Details
- Table Relevant Industry Codes
- Table Relevant HS Codes
- Table Relevant NACE Codes
- Definitions
- General
- Recycling
- Abbreviations
- Table Abbreviations Used in the Study
- Freedonia Methodology
- A Comprehensive Approach to Data Analysis
- High-Quality, Industry-Leading Market Research
- Study-Specific Methodology
- Sources
- Associations & Agencies
- Related Studies & Reports
- US Freedonia Group Studies
- Global Freedonia Group Studies
- Freedonia Focus Reports
- Knowledge Center
- Macroeconomic Assumptions
- Economic Environment
- Table Macroeconomic Indicators, 2010 - 2030
- Demographics
- Table Population & Households, 2010 - 2030
- Manufacturers' Shipments
- Table Manufacturers' Shipments, 2010 - 2030
- Economic Environment
- Report Details
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