This report covers the supply and demand of recycled plastics, specifically with regards to those used to produce packaging materials. Packaging products with recycled content may contain materials collected from office/curbside recycling programs (post-consumer), materials generated after the manufacture of a product but before it reaches the end-user (post-industrial/pre-consumer), and virgin resin materials. Within this report, the total volume of post-consumer recycled plastic going into packaging is analyzed. In addition, information is provided on recycled content levels, which are defined as the total percentage of recovered material in a product.
For the purposes of this study, recycled resin price and value is considered at the pellet level, even though many recycled plastics are sold to end-users in flake form.
Sources for scrap and waste plastics covered in this report include:
- Food and beverage bottles
- Rigid plastics and foam (including food containers)
- Carpeting (including rugs) and fiber
- Flexible packaging (including retail bags, trash bags, and film from other packaging products)
Excluded from the scope of this report are:
- Waste primarily made of nylon
- Post-industrial recycled content
- Bioplastics and engineering plastics
Plastic resins covered in this report include:
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
- High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
- Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) (including LLDPE)
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polystyrene (PS)
Packaging applications for recycled plastic resin evaluated in the study include:
- Bottles, both those used for food and beverage as well as non-food applications (including hair care products, detergents and other cleaning products, motor oil)
- Rigid plastic packaging products other than bottles, including:
- Egg cartons
- Expanded polystyrene packaging
- Lids
- Pails
- Plastic cans
- Plastic caps and closures
- Squeeze tubes
- Trays
- Tubs, cups, and bowl
- Flexible packaging (including retail bags, trash bags, and film from other packaging products - food wrap films, food and beverage pouches, plastic film lidding, plastic food bags, vacuum seal packaging, etc.)
Historical data are provided for 2010, 2015, and 2020, with forecasts for 2025 and 2030. The term “demand” refers to “apparent consumption” and is defined as production (also referred to variously as “shipments”, “output”, or “supply”) from a country’s domestic manufacturing facilities plus imports, minus exports. “Demand” is used interchangeably with the terms “market”, “sales”, and “consumption”. Data are presented in millions of pounds and millions of US dollars.
Post-consumer recycled goods are those that have left the manufacturing facility and have been used, even if their final destination is another manufacturing facility. This is in contrast to post-industrial recycled materials, which are directly generated during the manufacturing process. For example, plastic trimmed from rigid packaging on the manufacturing line that is then recycled would be classified as post-industrial recycled content, while the stretch film used to secure the palletized goods that is removed at the beverage manufacturer’s facility would be classified as post-consumer waste. Packaging made from post-industrial recycled waste is excluded from this study.
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary2. Recycling Industry Overview- Study Scope
- Lifecycle of Plastic
- Plastic Recycling Processes & Technology Development
- Collection
- Sorting Processes
- Baling Processes
- Shredding & Washing Processes
- Technological Developments
- Historical Recycled Plastic Trends
- Trends in Recycled Content Sources (PCR vs. PIR)
- Packaging's Importance to the Recycling Industry
- Data Sources & Methodology
- Growth Scenarios
- Base Case Growth Scenario
- Supply & Demand Overview
- Plastic Waste Collection Outlook
- Recycled Plastic Supply Forecast
- Recycled Plastic Demand in Packaging Forecast
- Increased Collection Scenario
- Plastic Resin Industry Trends
- Plastic Pricing Trends
- Factors Impacting Virgin vs. Plastic Pricing
- Virgin Resins
- Recycled Resins
- Foreign Trade of Plastic Waste
- Plastic Waste Supply & Demand
- China's Ban on Waste Imports
- Impact of the Basel Convention
- 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
- What is Sustainability to Consumers?
- Attitudes About Recycling
- Attitudes About Recyclable Packaging & Recycled Content in Packaging
- Packaging Materials Ranked by Perceived Eco-Friendliness
- Sustainable Packaging Features Particularly Sought by Consumers
- Attitudes About Recycling & Biodegradability
- COVID-19 Pandemic Household Waste Generation
- Curbside Recycling Services: Consumer Access
- Drop-Off Recycling Services: Consumer Usage
- Frequency of Use: Recycling & Composting Services
- Recycling Participation Rates by Material
- Plastic Containers Recycling
- Glass Containers Recycling
- Paper Recycling
- Paperboard & Corrugated Recycling
- Plastic Film & Bag Recycling
- Composting of Packaging
- Consumer Attitudes About Paying For Waste Services
- Willingness to Pay for Expanded Curbside Recycling & Composting Services
- Who Should Pay For Waste Services
- Public Sector Initiatives
- Recycled Content Requirements & Incentives
- Plastic Bag & Container Regulations
- Private Sector Initiatives & Issues
- Labeling & Bale Standards
- Collection Initiatives
- Extended Producer Responsibility
- Implementation of Recycled Plastic Content Targets
- Consumer Packaged Goods Producers
- Packaging Suppliers
- State Governments & Other Entities
- Recycling Collection by Source
- Bottles
- Collection by Resin
- PET
- PE (HDPE & LDPE)
- PP & Other Resins
- Other Rigid Plastic & Foam
- Collection by Resin
- Packaging
- Motor Vehicles
- All Other Rigid Plastic & Foam
- Carpet & Fiber
- Flexible Packaging
- Demand by Resin
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
- Virgin PET Resin Supply & Demand
- Waste PET Collected & Recycled PET Supply
- Recycled PET Demand in Packaging by Product
- Producers
- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
- Virgin HDPE Resin Supply & Demand
- Waste HDPE Collected & Recycled HDPE Supply
- Packaging Demand for Recycled HDPE by Product
- Producers
- Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE & LLDPE)
- Virgin LDPE & LLDPE Resin Supply & Demand
- Waste LDPE & LLDPE Collected & Recycled LDPE & LLDPE Supply
- Packaging Demand for Recycled LDPE & LLDPE by Product
- Producers
- Polypropylene (PP) & Other Plastic Resins
- Virgin PP & Other Plastic Resins Supply & Demand
- Waste PP & Other Plastic Collected & Recycled PP & Other Plastic Supply
- Packaging Demand for Recycled PP & Other Plastic by Product
- Recycled Plastic Demand in Packaging
- Bottles
- Demand by Application & Resin
- Food & Beverage Bottles
- Non-Food Bottles
- Other Rigid Plastic Packaging
- Flexible Packaging
- Demand by Product & Resin
- Retail Bags
- Trash Bags
- Other Flexible Packaging
- Industry Participants & Key Findings
- Recycled Plastic Processors
- Packaging Suppliers
- Consumer Packaged Goods Producers
- Retailers
- Report Details
- Definitions
- Abbreviations
- Methodology
- Study-Specific Methodology
- Sources
- Associations & Agencies
- Related Studies & Reports
- Macroeconomic Assumptions
- Economic Environment
- Demographics
- Manufacturers' Shipments
2. Recycling Industry Overview
Table 2-1 - Recycled Plastic Market, 2005 - 2020 (million pounds)
3. Recycled Plastic Supply & Demand
Table 3-1 - Recycled Plastic Supply & Demand Base Scenario, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 3-2 - Recycled Plastic Processing & Demand: Increased Collection Scenario, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
4. Factors Impacting Plastic Recycling Activity
Table 4-1 - Plastic Resin Supply & Demand by Type, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 4-2 - Virgin Plastic Resin Average Prices, 2010 - 2030 (dollars per pound)
Table 4-3 - Average Recycled Plastic Resin Prices in Packaging, 2010 - 2030 (dollars per pound)
Table 4-4 - Plastic Waste Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
5. Consumers & Plastic Recycling
Table 5-1 - Consumer Attitudes About Recycling by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021 (% of total respondents who agree with the statements)
Table 5-2 - Consumer Attitudes About Recyclable & Recycled Content in Packaging by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021 (% of respondents in agreement with the statements)
Table 5-3 - 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 (% of total respondents)
Table 5-4 - 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 (% of total respondents)
Table 5-5 - 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 (% total respondents)
Table 5-6 - Consumer Attitudes About Recycled Plastics & Biodegradability by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021 (% of total respondents)
Table 5-7 - COVID-19 Pandemic Household Waste Generation Trends by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021 (% of respondents in agreement with the statements)
Table 5-8 - Access To Curbside Recycling at Home by Product to Recycle, Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021 (% total respondents)
Table 5-9 - Access To Curbside Composting Services at Home by Type, Gender, Age Group, Rural vs. Urban Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021 (% total respondents)
Table 5-10 - Usage of Drop-Off Recycling Services (at a Store, Community Bin, Waste Management Facility, etc.) in the Last 12 Months by Product, Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021 (% of total respondents)
Table 5-11 - Usage of Drop-Off Composting Services (at a Store, Community Bin, Waste Management Facility, etc.) in the Last 12 Months by Product, Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021 (% of total respondents)
Table 5-12 - Consumer Frequency of Plastic Container Recycling by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021 (% of respondents with access to plastic container recycling services)
Table 5-13 - Consumer Frequency of Glass Container Recycling by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021 (% of respondents with access to glass container recycling services)
Table 5-14 - Consumer Frequency of Paper Recycling by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021 (% of respondents with access to paper recycling services)
Table 5-15 - Consumer Frequency of Paperboard & Corrugated Recycling by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021 (% of respondents with access to paperboard & corrugated recycling services)
Table 5-16 - Consumer Frequency of Plastic Film & Bag Recycling by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021 (% of respondents with access to plastic film & bag recycling services)
Table 5-17 - Consumer Frequency of Composting Packaging by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021 (% of respondents with access to composting for packaging services)
Table 5-18 - Willingness to Pay for Expanded Curbside Recycling & Composting Services by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021 (% of total respondents who agree with the statements)
Table 5-19 - Consumer Opinion on Who Should Pay for Waste Services by Gender, Age Group, Urban vs. Rural Setting, & Annual Household Income Bracket, 2021 (% of respondents in agreement)
7. Recycled Plastic Content Targets
Table 7-1 - Selected Consumer Packaged Goods Producers: Recycled Content Goals
Table 7-2 - Selected Packaging Suppliers: Recycled Content Goals
Table 7-3 - Selected State Governments: Recycled Content Goals
8. Plastic Waste Collection for Recycling
Table 8-1 - Post-Consumer Plastic Waste Collected for Recycling by Source, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 8-2 - Plastic Bottles Collected for Recycling by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 8-3 - Rigid Plastic & Foam Collected for Recycling by Source, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 8-4 - Carpet & Fiber Collected for Recycling by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 8-5 - Flexible Packaging Collected for Recycling by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
9. Recycled Plastic Resins in Packaging
Table 9-1 - Recycled Plastic Demand in Packaging by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds & million dollars)
Table 9-2 - Virgin Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds & billion dollars)
Table 9-3 - PET Waste Collection & Recycled PET Supply, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 9-4 - Recycled PET Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds & million dollars)
Table 9-5 - Virgin HDPE Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds & billion dollars)
Table 9-6 - HDPE Waste Collected & Recycled HDPE Supply, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 9-7 - Recycled HDPE Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds & million dollars)
Table 9-8 - Virgin LDPE & LLDPE Resin Supply & Demand by Resin Type, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds & billion dollars)
Table 9-9 - LDPE & LLDPE Waste Collected & Recycled LDPE & LLDPE Supply, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 9-10 - Recycled LDPE & LLDPE Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds & million dollars)
Table 9-11 - Virgin Polypropylene (PP) & Other Plastic Supply & Demand by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds & billion dollars)
Table 9-12 - PP & Other Plastic Waste Collected & Recycled PP & Other Plastic Supply, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 9-13 - Recycled PP & Other Plastic Resin Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds & million dollars)
10. Recycled Plastics in Packaging Products
Table 10-1 - Recycled Plastic Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 10-2 - Bottles: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Application & Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 10-3 - Food & Beverage Bottles: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Application & Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 10-4 - Non-Food Bottle Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 10-5 - Demand for Recycled Plastic in Other Rigid Plastic Packaging by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 10-6 - Demand for Recycled Plastic in Flexible Packaging by Product & Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 10-7 - Retail Bags: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 10-8 - Trash Bags: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Table 10-9 - Other Flexible Packaging: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
12. Appendix
Table 12-1 - Relevant Industry Codes
Table 12-2 - Relevant HS Codes
Table 12-3 - Relevant NACE Codes
Table 12-4 - Abbreviations Used in the Study
Table 12-5 - Macroeconomic Indicators, 2010 - 2030 (billion 2012 dollars)
Table 12-6 - Population & Households, 2010 - 2030 (million persons)
Table 12-7 - Manufacturers' Shipments, 2010 - 2030 (billion dollars)
List of Figures
1. Executive Summary
Figure 1-1 - US Packaging Market for Recycled Plastics
2. Recycling Industry Overview
Figure 2-1 - Lifecycle of Plastic
Figure 2-2 - Packaging & the Recycling Industry
3. Recycled Plastic Supply & Demand
Figure 3-1 - Recycled Plastic for Packaging Applications Base Scenario, 2020
Figure 3-2 - Packaging Demand for Recycled Plastic: Supply Constrained vs. Non-Supply Constrained Comparison, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
4. Factors Impacting Plastic Recycling Activity
Figure 4-1 - Virgin & Recycled Plastic Resin Price Comparison, 2020 (cents per pound)
5. Consumers & Plastic Recycling
Figure 5-1 - Consumer Perception of the Eco-Friendliness of Packaging Materials, 2021 (% total respondents)
Figure 5-2 - Features Consumers Especially Look for When Considering "Sustainable" or "Eco-Friendly" Packaging, 2021 (% total respondents)
Figure 5-3 - Consumer Recycling Frequency by Type of Packaging, 2021 (% of respondents with access to recycling for each type)
8. Plastic Waste Collection for Recycling
Figure 8-1 - Post-Consumer Plastic Waste Collected for Recycling by Source, 2020 (billion pounds)
Figure 8-2 - Plastic Bottles Collected for Recycling by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 8-3 - PET Bottles Collected for Recycling, 2010 - 2025 (million pounds)
Figure 8-4 - HDPE & LDPE Bottles Collected for Recycling, 2010 - 2025 (million pounds)
Figure 8-5 - PP & Other Bottles Collected for Recycling, 2010 - 2025 (million pounds)
Figure 8-6 - Rigid Plastic & Foam Collected for Recycling by Source, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 8-7 - Rigid Plastic & Foam Packaging Collected for Recycling, 2010 - 2025 (million pounds)
Figure 8-8 - Rigid Plastic & Foam Collected from Motor Vehicles for Recycling, 2010 - 2025 (million pounds)
Figure 8-9 - All Other Rigid Plastic & Foam Collected for Recycling, 2010 - 2025 (million pounds)
Figure 8-10 - Carpet & Fiber Collected for Recycling, 2010 - 2025 (million pounds)
Figure 8-11 - Flexible Packaging Collected for Recycling by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
9. Recycled Plastic Resins in Packaging
Figure 9-1 - Recycled Plastic Demand in Packaging by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 9-2 - Virgin PET Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 9-3 - Waste PET Collected & Recycled PET Supply, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 9-4 - Recycled PET Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 9-5 - Virgin HDPE Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 9-6 - HDPE Waste Collected & Recycled HDPE Supply, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 9-7 - Recycled HDPE Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 9-8 - Virgin LDPE & LLDPE Resin Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 9-9 - LDPE & LLDPE Waste Collected & Recycled LDPE & LLDPE Supply, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 9-10 - Packaging Demand for Recycled LDPE & LLDPE by Product, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 9-11 - Virgin Polypropylene & Other Plastic Resin Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 9-12 - PP & Other Plastic Waste Collected & Recycled PP & Other Plastic Supply, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 9-13 - Recycled PP & Other Plastic Resin Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
10. Recycled Plastics in Packaging Products
Figure 10-1 - Recycled Plastic Demand in Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 10-2 - Bottles: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Application, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 10-3 - Food & Beverage Bottles: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Application, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 10-4 - Non-Food Bottle Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 10-5 - Demand for Recycled Plastic in Other Rigid Plastic Packaging by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 10-6 - Demand for Recycled Plastic in Flexible Packaging by Product, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 10-7 - Retail Bags: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 10-8 - Trash Bags: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Figure 10-9 - Other Flexible Packaging: Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin, 2010 - 2030 (million pounds)
Samples
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Methodology
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