Retail Bags: United States

Report Overview

This report forecasts to 2023 US retail bag demand in units. Total demand is segmented by product in terms of: single-use plastic, single-use paper, and reusable. Total demand is also segmented by market as follows: grocery stores; foodservice; and other retail markets such as big-box stores, general merchandise stores, discount stores, hardware stores, department stores, and specialty stores.

To illustrate historical trends, total demand is provided in annual series from 2008 to 2018; the various segments are reported at five-year intervals for 2008, 2013, and 2018.

This report analyzes the market for retail bags in the US. Retail bags are bags used at the point of sale for consumers to carry their purchases from the store. These bags can be provided free by the retailer, purchased at the retailer at the time of purchase, or brought to the store by the customer.

Retail bags are also known as and include the following: carrier bags, carryout bags, die-cut handle bags, fast food bags, grocer bags, merchandise bags, paper sacks, promotional shopping bags, reusable shopping bags, soft loop handle bags, thank you bags, t-shirt bags, wave-top bags, and to go bags.

Retail bags may be made of bleached or unbleached paper; natural fibers like cotton, jute, linen, or hemp; or a variety of plastics, including: high-density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), synthetic fibers such as nylon or polyester, and woven and non-woven polypropylene (PP).

Bags included in this report are only those sold specifically as shopping bags. Excluded from the scope of this report are: bag stock, bakery bags, book bags, can liners, deli bags, dry-cleaning garment bags, duffel bags, food storage bags, general purpose totes, gift bags, insulated cooler bags, kitchen bags, messenger bags, newspaper bags, packaging, party bags, pharmacy bags, produce bags, trash bags, and travel bags.

Also excluded are any other bags used for packing, storing, disposing, or protecting merchandise or that perform any other function other than handling merchandise.

Retailers that use these bags include: big-box stores, convenience stores, department stores, discount stores, drug stores, gas stations, grocery stores, liquor stores, outlet stores, pharmacies, quick service establishments (QSR), restaurants, specialty shops and stores, and supermarkets.

For purposes of this report, markets are defined as where the bag is received or purchased. For example, the grocery market includes only bags given or sold to customers at a grocery store. Reusable shopping bags purchased at other retail stores are counted in "other", even if they are later used at a grocery store.

Key macroeconomic indicators are also provided with quantified trends. Other various topics, including profiles of pertinent leading companies, are covered in this report. A full outline of report items by page is available in the Table of Contents.

Related NAICS Codes:
314910 Textile bag and canvas mills
322220 Paper bag and coated and treated paper manufacturing
326111 Plastics bag and pouch manufacturing
326112 Plastics packaging film and sheet (including laminated) manufacturing