Plastics Industry Association releases study on plastics bottles, packaging applications

The Plastics Industry Association (Plastics), Washington, has released a report, "Plastics Market Watch: Bottling," to explain why plastics, particularly polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP), have become leading materials for bottles and packaging.

According to a news release from Plastics, plastic bottles tend to be associated with water and carbonated drinks, but they also are being used by brands that manufacture medicine, personal care and cleaning supplies, food and beverages. Competition among packaging materials, including paper, steel, aluminum and glass, has been intense as innovations are adopted and brands look for the best packaging material to protect and market their products, Plastics states.

“When nearly 40 percent of food products in the U.S. are not consumed, it is evident why plastics packaging is so essential to the food chain that delivers products from the farm to kitchen tables,” says Plastics President and CEO Tony Radoszewski. “Spoiled foods represent wasted water, land and fuel; and they are the single largest material sent to landfills and emit methane gas.”

Plastics says estimates vary on the market size for plastic bottles. In 2019, the trade volume in plastic bottles totaled $18.5 billion based on data from the International Trade Center, a joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations.

“The bottling landscape is expected to remain competitive as manufacturers innovate, redesign packaging, evaluate packaging materials and costs to stay competitive, and introduce or develop new products in response to changing consumer tastes and preference or adapt to industry trends,” says Plastics Chief Economist Perc Pineda. “Thinking back, the choices of fruit juices and drinks were somewhat limited decades ago. Over time, due to demographic changes, different variations of fruit juices including drinks from exotic fruits can now be found in most U.S. grocery stores.”

The unique qualities of plastics make them ideal for a wide range of bottling applications, Plastics says in its news release on its new report. The association states that plastic is a “low-cost” material that can be flexible or rigid with multiple design options. Plastic is also shatterproof and can be clear or colored and offers an array of closures. The material is also safe for food and medical applications and can be recyclable and feature a lower carbon footprint in manufacturing and transportation.

The "Plastics Market Watch: Bottling" report is available for Plastics members and nonmembers to download or purchase here.