Study looks at regulatory impact on plastics demand

The Cleveland-based Freedonia Group, a division of MarketResearch.com, has produced a 106-page report designed to analyze current and near-term market conditions for single-use plastics.

The groups says these plastic items for food service and other applications “are designed to be used once and then disposed of, either as trash or recycling.” Freedonia Group also comments that, “Disposal often depends on the type of resin and local recycling capabilities.”

In less than a century, single-use plastics have provided “convenience in countless ways,” according to Freedonia Group, and have done so with a “relatively small carbon footprint during production” and light weights that make them less expensive to ship and store than products made of alternative materials.

Perhaps the biggest advantage of single-use plastics have been their low cost, for both shipping and production, the analysis found. “The ability to produce thousands of bags, cups, or straws per hour for just pennies is difficult to counter when seeking alternatives.”

Nonetheless, the authors of the study found that manufacturers and retailers alike “are open to new less expensive ways to run their businesses, but a finding a comparably priced, suitable replacement for the plastics has proved challenging.”

Many single-use plastic items are recyclable or are made from recyclable materials. Though recycling rules vary by locality and product and can change as technology develops, a growing number of jurisdictions are requiring recycling of plastic materials by law. Over the last decade, the population covered by such laws has more than doubled, says Freedonia Group.

More information on how to order the Freedonia Group analysis of single-use plastics can be found on this web page.