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While the effects of the COVID-19 virus may cause supply and demand disruptions in the near term, the overarching trends driving molded pulp packaging sales – namely, rapidly expanding demand for sustainable packaging alternatives – are expected to support a quick return to strong growth as the effects of the virus subside.
US demand for molded pulp (or molded fiber) packaging is forecast to increase 6.1% annually to $1.3 billion in 2024. Demand is expected to climb at a robust pace due to molded pulp’s environmental advantages, specifically its recyclability, biodegradability, and ability to be composted in industrial facilities. Other key factors supporting strong sales growth include:
- expanding recognition of molded pulp’s performance advantages, including excellent cushioning, bracing, and blocking
- the development of molded fiber products that are more competitive with plastic alternatives in terms of cost, performance, and aesthetics
- backlash against single-use plastic products manufactured from expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, as well as bans on certain EPS foodservice products in a growing number of cities
Food Trays & Filler Flats Will Remain the Leading Molded Pulp Packaging Types
Trays and filler flats used for eggs, apples, and other types of fruits and vegetables will remain the leading packaging outlets for molded pulp through 2024, accounting for over 20% of sales. Trays and flats – along with egg cartons – were among the earliest end uses for molded pulp, due to the material’s good cushioning properties and low cost.
Egg cartons will continue to account for the second largest portion of sales, as egg producers continue to rely on molded fiber for its protective properties and comparable price to EPS foam. The natural aesthetics of molded fiber – while limited compared to plastic – also help impart a “farm fresh” image that many egg suppliers desire for product differentiation purposes.
Foodservice & Protective Packaging Markets to Post Robust Annual Gains
Over the long term, the fastest annual sales increases are projected for the foodservice market, as eating and drinking establishments increasingly invest in environmentally friendly, molded pulp clamshells, plates and bowls, and lunch trays for delivery, takeout, and for serving food. Despite temporary suspensions in enforcement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a rising number of bans on EPS foodservice products will also continue to boost demand for eco-friendly alternatives such as molded fiber.
In the protective packaging market, the most significant sales increases are forecast for the relatively large e-commerce, wine, and other beverages segments. Sales will be supported by falling prices for custom tooling, combined with growing awareness of the environmental and performance benefits of molded fiber.
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Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
2. Overview
Study Scope
Demand Forecast
Molded Pulp Packaging Outlook & Key Drivers & Constraints
Demand by Product
Demand by Market
Pricing Trends
Sustainability
Environmental Advantages of Molded Pulp
PFAS
Polystyrene Foam Foodservice Container Bans
Consumer Attitudes: Sustainable Packaging
Consumer Attitudes: Recycling & Environmental Responsibility
Consumer Attitudes: Higher Prices for Sustainable Packaging
Production & Raw Materials Overview
Competitive Product Comparison
New Product Development
International Trade
Near Term COVID-19 Impact
3. Primary Packaging
Market Scope & Description
Demand by Product
Key Product & Application Trends
Trays/Flats
Egg Cartons
Baskets, Tills, & Punnets
Other Primary Packaging
Food Packaging
Demand by Application
Eggs
Produce
Meat, Frozen Food, & Other Foods
Nonfood Packaging
Growth Opportunities/New Product Development
4. Foodservice Packaging
Market Scope & Description
Demand by Product
Key Product Trends & Outlook
Clamshells & Containers
Plates, Bowls, & Lids
Drink & Food Carriers
Lunch Trays
Other Products
Demand by Application
Key Application Trends & Outlook
Limited Service Restaurants
Institutions
Full Service Restaurants
Other Foodservice Applications
Growth Opportunities & New Product Development
5. Protective Packaging
Market Scope & Description
Demand by Product
Key Product Trends & Outlook
Tray Inserts
End Caps
Shippers
Cradles, Pallets, Corner Guards, & Other Products
Demand by Application
Key Application Trends & Outlook
Wine & Other Beverages
E-Commerce
Automotive Parts
Industrial Components
Food Products
Electronics
Appliances & Other Durable Goods
Other Nondurable Goods
Growth Opportunities & New Product Development
6. Industry Structure
Key Findings & Industry Composition
Market Share
Mergers & Acquisitions
List of Industry Participants
7. Appendix
Scope
Definitions
Abbreviations
Freedonia Methodology
Study-Specific Methodology
Sources
Associations & Agencies
Related Studies & Reports
Macroeconomic Assumptions
Economic Environment
Demographic Trends
Manufacturers' Shipments
Retail Sales & E-Commerce Outlook
List of Tables
2. Overview
Table 2-1 | Molded Pulp Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 2-2 | Molded Pulp Packaging Demand by Market, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 2-3 | Average Prices for Selected Molded Pulp Packaging Products, 2009 - 2024 (cents per unit)
Table 2-4 | Consumer Attitudes on Sustainable Packaging by Gender & Age Group, 2019 (percent of respondents)
Table 2-5 | Consumer Attitudes on Recycling & Environmental Responsibility by Gender, 2019 (percent of respondents & index)
Table 2-6 | Consumer Attitudes on Sustainable Packaging by Gender & Age Group, 2019 (percent of respondents)
Table 2-7 | Molded Pulp vs. Competitive Materials
3. Primary Packaging
Table 3-1 | Molded Pulp Primary Packaging Demand by Product & Market, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 3-2 | Molded Pulp Tray/Flat Demand by Application, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars & million units)
Table 3-3 | Molded Pulp Egg Carton Demand, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars & million units)
Table 3-4 | Molded Pulp Produce Basket, Till, & Punnet Demand, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars & million units)
Table 3-5 | Other Molded Primary Packaging Demand by Application, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars & million units)
Table 3-6 | Food Products: Molded Pulp Primary Packaging Demand by Application, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 3-7 | Eggs: Molded Pulp Primary Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 3-8 | Produce: Molded Pulp Primary Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 3-9 | Meat, Frozen Food, & Other Foods: Molded Pulp Primary Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 3-10 | Nonfood Products: Molded Pulp Primary Packaging Demand by Application, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
4. Foodservice Packaging
Table 4-1 | Molded Pulp Foodservice Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 4-2 | Foodservice Molded Pulp Clamshell & Container Demand by Application, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars & million units)
Table 4-3 | Foodservice Molded Pulp Plate, Bowl, & Lid Demand by Application, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars & million units)
Table 4-4 | Foodservice Molded Pulp Drink & Food Carrier Demand by Application, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars & million units)
Table 4-5 | Foodservice Molded Pulp Lunch Tray Demand by Application, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars & million units)
Table 4-6 | Other Foodservice Molded Pulp Packaging Demand by Application, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars & million units)
Table 4-7 | Molded Pulp Foodservice Packaging Demand by Application, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 4-8 | Limited Service Restaurants: Molded Pulp Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 4-9 | Institutions: Molded Pulp Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 4-10 | Full Service Restaurants: Molded Pulp Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 4-11 | Other Foodservice Applications: Molded Pulp Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
5. Protective Packaging
Table 5-1 | Molded Pulp Protective Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 5-2 | Molded Pulp Tray Insert Demand by Application, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 5-3 | Molded Pulp End Cap Demand by Application, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 5-4 | Molded Pulp Shipper Demand by Application, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 5-5 | Molded Pulp Cradle, Pallet, Corner Guard, & Other Product Demand by Application, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 5-6 | Molded Pulp Protective Packaging Demand by Application, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 5-7 | Wine & Other Beverages: Molded Pulp Protective Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 5-8 | E-Commerce: Molded Pulp Protective Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 5-9 | Automotive Parts: Molded Pulp Protective Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 5-10 | Industrial Components: Molded Pulp Protective Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 5-11 | Food Products: Molded Pulp Protective Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 5-12 | Electronics: Molded Pulp Protective Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 5-13 | Appliances & Other Durable Goods: Molded Pulp Protective Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Table 5-14 | Other Nondurable Goods: Molded Pulp Protective Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
6. Industry Structure
Table 6-1 | US Molded Pulp Packaging Sales by Company, 2019 (million dollars)
Table 6-2 | Selected Mergers & Acquisitions
Table 6-3 | Selected Industry Participants
7. Appendix
Table 7-1 | Relevant Industry Codes
Table 7-2 | Relevant HS Codes
Table 7-3 | Abbreviations & Acronyms Used in Study
Table 7-4 | Macroeconomic Indicators, 2009 - 2024 (billion 2012 dollars)
Table 7-5 | Population & Households, 2009 - 2024 (million persons)
Table 7-6 | Manufacturers' Shipments, 2009 - 2024 (billion dollars & billion 2012 dollars)
Table 7-7 | Retail & E-Commerce Sales, 2014 - 2024 (billion dollars)
List of Figures
1. Executive Summary
Figure 1-1 | US Molded Pulp Packaging Market
2. Overview
Figure 2-1 | Molded Pulp Packaging Demand, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Figure 2-2 | Molded Pulp Packaging: Demand & Annual Growth Forecast by Market, 2019 - 2024 (million dollars)
Figure 2-3 | Key Areas of Focus for Molded Pulp Product Development
3. Primary Packaging
Figure 3-1 | Molded Pulp Primary Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Figure 3-2 | Molded Pulp Trays/Flats: Product Examples
Figure 3-3 | Molded Pulp Egg Cartons: Product Examples
Figure 3-4 | Molded Pulp Produce Baskets, Tills, & Punnets: Product Examples
Figure 3-5 | Molded Pulp Primary Packaging: Demand & Annual Growth Forecast by Application, 2019 - 2024 (million dollars)
Figure 3-6 | Molded Pulp Packaging for Meat, Frozen Food, & Other Foods: Product Examples
Figure 3-7 | Molded Pulp Packaging for Nonfood Goods: Product Examples
Figure 3-8 | Molded Pulp Primary Packaging: Key Growth Applications
4. Foodservice Packaging
Figure 4-1 | Molded Pulp Foodservice Packaging Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Figure 4-2 | Molded Fiber Clamshells & Containers: Product Examples
Figure 4-3 | Molded Pulp Plates, Bowls, and Lids: Product Examples
Figure 4-4 | Molded Pulp Drink & Food Carriers: Product Examples
Figure 4-5 | Molded Pulp Lunch Trays: Product Examples
Figure 4-6 | Other Molded Pulp Foodservice Packaging: Product Examples
Figure 4-7 | Molded Pulp Foodservice Packaging: Demand & Annual Growth Forecast by Application, 2019 - 2024 (million dollars)
Figure 4-8 | Molded Pulp Foodservice Packaging: Key Growth Applications
5. Protective Packaging
Figure 5-1 | Molded Pulp Protective Packaging: Demand by Product, 2009 - 2024 (million dollars)
Figure 5-2 | Molded Pulp Tray Inserts: Product Examples
Figure 5-3 | Molded Pulp End Caps: Product Examples
Figure 5-4 | Molded Pulp Shippers: Product Examples
Figure 5-5 | Cradles, Pallets, Corner Guards, & Other Molded Pulp Protective Packaging: Product Examples
Figure 5-6 | Molded Pulp Protective Packaging: Demand & Annual Growth Forecast by Application, 2019 - 2024 (million dollars)
Figure 5-7 | Molded Pulp Protective Packaging: Key Growth Opportunities
6. Industry Structure
Figure 6-1 | US Molded Pulp Packaging Market Share by Company, 2019 (million dollars)
Figure 6-2 | Molded Pulp Packaging Market: Leading Supplier, 2019
Figure 6-3 | Molded Pulp Packaging Market: Second Leading Supplier, 2019
Figure 6-4 | Molded Pulp Packaging Market: Third Leading Supplier, 2019
Figure 6-5 | Molded Pulp Packaging Market: Fourth Leading Supplier, 2019
Figure 6-6 | Molded Pulp Packaging Market: Fifth Leading Supplier, 2019
7. Appendix
Figure 7-1 | Annual Growth in Real GDP, 2000 - 2019, Compared to 1980 - 2005 Average (percent)
Figure 7-2 | Annual Population Growth, 2004 - 2019 (percent)
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