US converted flexible packaging demand will grow 4.2 percent annually through 2011. Gains will be driven in part by advantages over most rigid packaging and by developments in breathable and self-venting films and resealable features. Pouches will be the fastest growing type while bags remain the largest segment.

This study analyzes the $13.4 billion US converted flexible packaging industry. It presents historical demand data for the years 1996, 2001 and 2006, and forecasts for 2011 and 2016 by material (e.g., plastic film, paper, aluminum foil); product (e.g., bags, pouches); and packaging market (e.g., food, nonfood).

The study also considers market environment factors, evaluates company market share and profiles 33 major players including Bemis, Alcan, Printpack, Sealed Air (Cryovac), Altivity Packaging, Pliant and Exopack.

                           TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                    
  
  SECTION                                                          PAGE
  
         INTRODUCTION                                              xiii
  
   I.    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY                                            1
  
  II.    MARKET ENVIRONMENT                                           4
         General                                                      4
         Macroeconomic Outlook                                        5
         Demographic & Household Trends                               9
         Consumer Income & Spending                                  13
         Food Industry Overview                                      16
           Consumer Preferences                                      18
           Distribution Trends                                       20
         Retail Sales Outlook                                        22
         Packaging Trends                                            25
           Performance                                               29
           Aesthetics                                                31
         Competitive Packaging Materials                             32
         Pricing Trends                                              34
         Technological Developments                                  38
         Environmental & Regulatory Factors                          42
         International Outlook                                       44
  
 III.    MATERIALS                                                   47
         General                                                     47
         Plastic Film                                                49
           Polyethylene Film                                         51
              Food Packaging                                         53
              Nonfood Packaging                                      58
           Polypropylene Film                                        62
              Food Packaging                                         65
              Nonfood Packaging                                      70
           Polyvinyl Chloride Film                                   72
              Food Packaging                                         74
              Nonfood Packaging                                      75
           Polyester Film                                            77
              Food Packaging                                         79
              Nonfood Packaging                                      82
           Nylon Film                                                84
           Polystyrene Film                                          87
           Polyvinylidene Chloride Film                              89
           Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Film                               91
           Cellophane Film                                           94
           Other Films                                               97
         Paper                                                      100
           Kraft & Sulfite                                          102
              Food Packaging                                        105
              Nonfood Packaging                                     107
           Glassine & Greaseproof                                   109
              Food Packaging                                        112
              Nonfood Packaging                                     114
           Oiled & Waxed                                            115
         Aluminum Foil                                              117
           Food Packaging                                           120
           Nonfood Packaging                                        121
  
  IV.    PRODUCT & MARKET OVERVIEW                                  123
         General                                                    123
         Bags                                                       126
         Pouches                                                    129
         Other                                                      133
  
   V.    FOOD PACKAGING                                             136
         General                                                    136
         Meat & Related Products                                    139
           Meat & Related Products Outlook                          140
           Converted Flexible Packaging Demand                      142
           Materials                                                146
         Baked Goods                                                150
           Baked Goods Outlook                                      151
           Converted Flexible Packaging Demand                      152
           Materials                                                155
         Grain Mill Products                                        158
           Grain Mill Product Outlook                               158
           Converted Flexible Packaging Demand                      160
           Materials                                                163
         Snack Foods                                                165
           Snack Food Outlook                                       166
           Converted Flexible Packaging Demand                      168
           Materials                                                170
         Candy & Confections                                        174
           Candy & Confections Outlook                              174
           Converted Flexible Packaging Demand                      176
           Materials                                                179
         Produce                                                    183
           Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Outlook                          184
           Converted Flexible Packaging Demand                      186
           Materials                                                189
         Frozen Foods                                               192
           Frozen Food Outlook                                      193
           Converted Flexible Packaging Demand                      195
           Materials                                                198
         Dairy Products                                             201
           Dairy Products Outlook                                   202
           Converted Flexible Packaging Demand                      204
           Materials                                                207
         Beverages                                                  210
           Beverage Products Outlook                                210
           Converted Flexible Packaging Demand                      212
           Materials                                                215
         Other Foods                                                217
           Converted Flexible Packaging Demand                      218
           Materials                                                221
  
  VI.    NONFOOD PACKAGING                                          224
         General                                                    224
         Pharmaceuticals                                            226
           Pharmaceutical Industry Outlook                          227
           Converted Flexible Packaging Demand                      228
           Materials                                                231
         Paper & Textile Products                                   233
           Paper & Textile Products Outlook                         234
         Converted Flexible Packaging Demand                        236
           Materials                                                240
         Agricultural & Horticultural Products                      242
           Agricultural & Horticultural Industry Outlook            243
           Converted Flexible Packaging Demand                      245
           Materials                                                248
         Chemicals                                                  249
           Chemical Products Outlook                                250
           Converted Flexible Packaging Demand                      252
           Materials                                                254
         Medical Products                                           256
           Medical Products Outlook                                 257
           Converted Flexible Packaging Demand                      259
           Materials                                                263
         Rack & Counter                                             266
           Converted Flexible Packaging Demand                      266
           Materials                                                268
         Other Nonfood Markets                                      269
           Converted Flexible Packaging Demand                      270
           Materials                                                273
  
 VII.    INDUSTRY STRUCTURE                                         276
         General                                                    276
         Market Share                                               280
           Bemis                                                    282
           Alcan                                                    282
           Printpack                                                283
           Sealed Air                                               284
           Altivity Packaging                                       285
           Pliant                                                   285
           Exopack                                                  286
           Other Market Leaders                                     287
         Acquisitions & Divestitures                                288
         Marketing Strategies                                       293
         Channels of Distribution                                   294
         Research & Development                                     295
         Competitive Strategies                                     297
         Cooperative Agreements                                     299
         Company Profiles                                           302
           Alcan Incorporated, see Rio Tinto Group                     
           Alcoa Incorporated                                       303
           Altivity Packaging LLC                                   305
           Amcor Limited                                            307
           American Packaging Corporation                           309
           Ampac Packaging LLC                                      310
           Applied Extrusion Technologies Incorporated              314
           BagcraftPapercon, see Packaging Dynamics                    
           Bancroft Bag Incorporated                                316
           Bemis Company Incorporated                               317
           Berry Plastics Group Incorporated                        323
           BPX Films LP, see Bryce Corporation                         
           Bryce Corporation                                        325
           Burrows Paper Corporation                                327
           Cello-Foil Holding Corporation, see Exopack                 
           Clear Lam Packaging Incorporated                         328
           Coating Excellence International LLC                     329
           Covalence Specialty Materials, see Berry Plastics           
           Cryovac Incorporated, see Sealed Air                        
           Curwood, see Bemis Company Incorporated                     
           Diversapack LLC, see Printpack Incorporated                 
           DuPont (EI) de Nemours                                   330
           EVAL Company of America, see Kuraray                        
           Exopack Holding Corporation                              332
           Exxon Mobil Corporation                                  335
           Floeter Flexible Packaging Group, see Ampac
              Packaging LLC                                            
           Glopak, see Hood Companies                                  
           Grupo Industrial Pl stico, see Printpack                    
           Honeywell International Incorporated                     338
           Hood Companies                                           340
           Innovia Films Limited                                    342
           International Converter, see Packaging Dynamics             
           Johnson Bryce Incorporated, see Bryce Corporation           
           Kuraray Company Limited                                  344
           Milprint, see Bemis Company Incorporated                    
           Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation                 346
           Mohawk Northern Plastics Incorporated, see
              Ampac Packaging LLC                                      
           Noltex LLC, see Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings                
           Nordenia International AG                                348
           Oracle Packaging Incorporated                            350
           Packaging Dynamics Corporation                           352
           Perfecseal, see Bemis Company Incorporated                  
           Pliant Corporation                                       354
           Printpack Incorporated                                   356
           Reynolds Food Packaging, see Alcoa Incorporated             
           Rio Tinto Group                                          359
           Scholle Corporation                                      363
           Sealed Air Corporation                                   365
           Shields Bag and Printing Company                         368
           Sonoco Products Company                                  369
           Thilmany Papers, see Packaging Dynamics                     
           TOLAS Healthcare Packaging, see Oracle Packaging            
           Toray Industries Incorporated                            371
           Tredegar Corporation                                     372
           Vacumet Corporation, see Scholle Corporation                
           Wycon Corporation, see Sonoco Products Company              
  
    

                          LIST OF TABLES
                                   
    TABLE NUMBER                                                   PAGE
  
         SECTION I -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
         Summary Table                                                3
  
         SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT
    1    Macroeconomic Indicators                                     9
    2    Population & Households                                     13
    3    Consumer Income & Spending                                  16
    4    Food & Beverage Shipments                                   18
    5    Retail Sales                                                25
    6    Packaging Shipments & Demand                                28
    7    Selected Raw Material Prices                                38
  
         SECTION III -- MATERIALS
    1    Converted Flexible Packaging Materials Demand by Type       48
    2    Plastic Film Demand in Converted Flexible Packaging 
           by Resin                                                  50
    3    Polyethylene Film Demand in Converted Flexible Packaging
           by Type & Market                                          53
    4    Polyethylene Film Demand in Converted Flexible Food
           Packaging by Type & Market                                57
    5    Polyethylene Film Demand in Converted Flexible Nonfood 
           Packaging by Type & Market                                61
    6    Polypropylene Film Demand in Converted Flexible
           Packaging by Type & Market                                65
    7    Polypropylene Film Demand in Converted Flexible
           Food Packaging                                            69
    8    Polypropylene Film Demand in Converted Flexible
           Nonfood Packaging                                         72
    9    Polyvinyl Chloride Film Demand in Converted Flexible
           Packaging by Market                                       74
   10    Polyvinyl Chloride Film Demand in Converted Flexible
           Food Packaging                                            75
   11    Polyvinyl Chloride Film Demand in Converted Flexible
           Nonfood Packaging                                         77
   12    Polyester Film Demand in Converted Flexible Packaging
           by Market                                                 79
   13    Polyester Film Demand in Converted Flexible Food Packaging  82
   14    Polyester Film Demand in Converted Flexible Nonfood
           Packaging                                                 84
   15    Nylon Film Demand in Converted Flexible Packaging
           by Market                                                 87
   16    Polystyrene Film Demand in Converted Flexible
           Packaging by Market                                       89
   17    Polyvinylidene Chloride Film Demand in Converted Flexible 
           Packaging by Market                                       91
   18    Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Film Demand in Converted Flexible 
           Packaging by Market                                       94
   19    Cellophane Film Demand in Converted Flexible Packaging
           by Market                                                 97
   20    Other Plastic Film Demand in Converted Flexible Packaging
           by Market                                                100
   21    Paper Demand in Converted Flexible Packaging by Type       101
   22    Kraft & Sulfite Paper Demand in Converted Flexible
           Packaging by Market                                      104
   23    Kraft & Sulfite Paper Demand in Converted Flexible
           Food Packaging                                           107
   24    Kraft & Sulfite Paper Demand in Converted Flexible
           Nonfood Packaging                                        109
   25    Glassine & Greaseproof Paper Demand in Converted
           Flexible Packaging by Market                             112
   26    Glassine & Greaseproof Paper Demand in Converted
           Flexible Food Packaging                                  114
   27    Glassine & Greaseproof Paper Demand in Converted
           Flexible Nonfood Packaging                               115
   28    Oiled & Waxed Paper Demand in Converted Flexible
           Packaging by Market                                      117
   29    Aluminum Foil Demand in Converted Flexible
           Packaging by Market                                      120
  
         SECTION IV -- PRODUCT & MARKET OVERVIEW
    1    Converted Flexible Packaging Demand by Type & Market       125
    2    Bag Demand by Market                                       129
    3    Pouch Demand by Market                                     133
    4    Other Converted Flexible Packaging Demand by Market        135
   
         SECTION V -- FOOD PACKAGING
    1    Food Packaging Markets for Converted Flexible Packaging    138
    2    Meat, Poultry & Seafood Consumption                        142
    3    Meat & Related Products: Converted Flexible Packaging
           Demand by Type                                           146
    4    Meat & Related Products: Converted Flexible Packaging
           Demand by Material                                       150
    5    Baked Goods Shipments                                      152
    6    Baked Goods: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand by Type   154
    7    Baked Goods: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand by
           Material                                                 157
    8    Grain Mill Product Shipments                               160
    9    Grain Mill Products: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand
           by Type                                                  163
   10    Grain Mill Products: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand
           by Material                                              165
   11    Snack Food Shipments                                       167
   12    Snack Food: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand by Type    170
   13    Snack Food: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand by
           Material                                                 173
   14    Candy & Confection Shipments                               176
   15    Candy & Confections: Converted Flexible Packaging
           Demand by Type                                           179
   16    Candy & Confections: Converted Flexible Packaging
           Demand by Material                                       183
   17    Fresh Produce Consumption                                  185
   18    Produce: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand by Type       189
   19    Produce: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand by Material   192
   20    Frozen Food Shipments                                      195
   21    Frozen Foods: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand
           by Type                                                  198
   22    Frozen Foods: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand
           by Material                                              201
   23    Dairy Product Shipments                                    204
   24    Dairy Products: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand
           by Type                                                  207
   25    Dairy Products: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand
           by Material                                              209
   26    Beverage Shipments                                         212
   27    Beverages: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand by Type     215
   28    Beverages: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand by Material 217
   29    Other Foods: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand by Type   221
   30    Other Foods: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand
           by Material                                              223
  
         SECTION VI -- NONFOOD PACKAGING
    1    Nonfood Markets for Converted Flexible Packaging           225
    2    Pharmaceutical Shipments                                   228
    3    Pharmaceuticals: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand
           by Type                                                  231
    4    Pharmaceuticals: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand
           by Material                                              233
    5    Paper & Textile Product Shipments                          236
    6    Paper & Textile Products: Converted Flexible Packaging
           Demand by Type                                           239
    7    Paper & Textile Products: Converted Flexible Packaging
           Demand by Material                                       242
    8    Agricultural & Horticultural Indicators                    245
    9    Agricultural & Horticultural Products: Converted Flexible 
           Packaging Demand by Type                                 247
   10    Agricultural & Horticultural Products: Converted Flexible 
           Packaging Demand by Material                             249
   11    Chemical Product Shipments                                 252
   12    Chemicals: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand by Type     254
   13    Chemicals: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand
           by Material                                              256
   14    Medical Product Shipments                                  259
   15    Medical Products: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand
           by Type                                                  263
   16    Medical Products: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand
           by Material                                              265
   17    Rack & Counter: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand
           by Type                                                  267
   18    Rack & Counter: Converted Flexible Packaging Demand
           by Material                                              269
   19    Other Nonfood Products: Converted Flexible Packaging
           Demand by Type                                           272
   20    Other Nonfood Products: Converted Flexible Packaging
           Demand by Material                                       275
  
         SECTION VII -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
    1    US Converted Flexible Packaging Sales by Company, 2006     278
    2    Selected Acquisitions & Divestitures                       291
    3    Selected Cooperative Agreements                            301
  
    

                           LIST OF CHARTS
                                   
    CHART NUMBER                                                   PAGE
  
         SECTION III -- MATERIALS
    1    Converted Flexible Packaging Materials Demand 
           by Type, 2006                                             48
    2    Plastic Film Demand in Converted Flexible Packaging
           by Resin, 2006                                            50
    3    Polyethylene Film Demand in Converted Flexible Food
           Packaging by Market, 2006                                 58
    4    Polyethylene Film Demand in Converted Flexible Nonfood 
           Packaging by Market, 2006                                 62
    5    Polypropylene Film Demand in Converted Flexible Food 
           Packaging, 2006                                           70
  
         SECTION IV -- PRODUCT & MARKET OVERVIEW
    1    Converted Flexible Packaging Demand by Type, 2006          126
  
         SECTION V -- FOOD PACKAGING
    1    Food Packaging Markets for Converted Flexible
           Packaging, 2006                                          139
  
         SECTION VI -- NONFOOD PACKAGING
    1    Nonfood Markets for Converted Flexible Packaging, 2006     226
  
         SECTION VII -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
    1    US Converted Flexible Packaging Market Share, 2006         281