New Studies: Flexible packaging and Bioplastics

Flexible packaging sales revenue forecast to rise 3.4% this year

The Flexible Packaging Assn. predicts U.S. sales revenue to reach $27.3 billion this year. Also, raw materials pricing supplants the economy as the primary concern of survey respondents.

Providing a historical outlook of the flexible packaging industry, the “2010 FPA State of the Flexible Packaging Industry Report” is prepared by the Business & Economic Research Div. of the Flexible Packaging Assn.

Specifically, sales revenue is expected to increase 3.4% to $27.3 billion this year, up from $26.4 billion. The FPA reports that flexible packaging represents about 18% of the estimated $143 billion U.S. packaging market.

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Bioplastics: Technologies and Global Markets

• Bioplastics will grow at a significant pace over the next 5 years. The total worldwide use of bioplastics is valued at 571,712 metric tons in 2010. This usage is expected to grow at a 41.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2010 through 2015, to reach 3,230,660 metric tons in 2015.

• By 2010, ready access to crops such as soybeans, corn, and sugarcane moved the United States strongly into bioplastics. North American usage is estimated at 258,180 metric tons in 2010 and is expected to increase at a 41.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach 1,459,040 metric tons in 2015.

• Use of bioplastics got off to a faster start in Europe than in the United States. European usage is now reported at 175,320 metric tons in 2010 and is expected to increase at a 33.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach 753,760 metric tons in 2015.

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