Abstract
This report:
- Covers the key resins used in rigid food packaging by major applications,
including bottles, dairy and meat/deli, molded/thermoformed containers,
prepared food and foodservice
- Assesses individual plastics used with forecasts for the North American
market through
- Examines trends within each market sector
- Analyzes the roles of the many companies involved, such as molders,
thermoformers and converters
- Details industry structure
- Discusses the Impact of recycling and other critical issues confronting
the industry.
INTRODUCTION
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY
There have been very few reports that specifically cover the overall rigid
plastic food packaging market. Previous studies in the field covered segments
of this market such as bottles or food containers, but did not combine all the
elements into a cohesive report. There have also been a great many reports on
the flexible portion of the food packaging market, which is mainly comprised
of film-based structures.
An overall study on rigid plastic food packaging markets takes into account a
wide array of structures that can be blow or injection molded, extruded, or
thermoformed. It is also important to consider the non-plastic competitive
scene made up of glass, metal, and paperboard, as well as to assess relatively
new technologies such as barrier bottles to maintain proper balances of oxygen
and carbon dioxide. A reassessment of the recycling scenario, especially with
plastic food bottles, is also needed to fully understand the market.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This report covers usage of the key resins used in rigid food packaging,
segmented by the major applications which include bottles; dairy, meat and
deli containers; molded and thermoformed containers made up mostly of liquid
foods; prepared foods (e.g., frozen, microwave, dual-ovenables); and food
service packaging.
Coverage is specific in terms of analyzing pre-packaged foods in rigid
packaging and excludes non-prepackaged rigid packaging in addition to food
service uses such as trays for holding meals, utensils, and cups.
The market data represents consumption of plastics in rigid food packaging in
North America. Clearly, there has been a trend to source plastics offshore,
especially from Asia and more specifically from China, although significant
volumes of finished products are made in North America.
This trend of offshore sourcing has been most prominent with plastic films,
although more recently, commodity plastic pellets, powders, and other products
have been imported in greater amounts. Imports of molded and/or thermoformed
products have been less prominent, but larger amounts of imports of these
materials are anticipated.
At this point in time it is not feasible to quantitatively assess the impact
of offshore products in plastic rigid food packaging, and it is important to
keep in mind that consumption in North America is the basis for the market
tables in this report.
In addition to evaluations of the many technologies involved, this report
quantitatively assesses individual plastics usage in the key markets; provides
rationales for the trends within each market sector; describes the roles of
the many companies involved such as molders, thermoformers, and converters;
and discusses the structure of the industry, the impact of recycling, and
other critical issues.
METHODOLOGY
A comprehensive review and analysis was undertaken of literature related to
the industry that included trade industry articles and company literature.
These data were elaborated upon through interviews with key participants in
the industry for their assessment of the present and future scenario of the
rigid plastic food packaging market.
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