Plastic Foams

Plastic foam competes with fiberglass

The volatile market for building and construction affects demand for foam insulation, flooring, appliances and furnishings. Regulations encouraging higher energy efficiency and consumer demand for better sound insulation will maintain plastic foam as a strong competitor to fiberglass insulation. Consumer interest in green construction techniques, better interior air quality, and the media interest shown to topics like the “tiny house movement” will drive demand for affordable, high performance insulation. Consumer demand for luxury feel and noise reduction will fuel increases for foam used in flooring.

Fuel efficiency mandates spur demand

The motor vehicle market will respond to fuel efficiency mandates by using foams that are both structural and insulating for the production of lighter vehicles. Sales for foams used in appliances, furnishings, and other durable goods are expected to rise driven by the superior qualities of comfort and insulation delivered by plastic foam.

Waste-based regulations threaten growth

Plastic Foams projects that demand for plastic foams in packaging markets will remain significant but to slow going forward based on regulations and municipal mandates aimed at reducing landfill waste. Waste-based regulations will drive down the use of foam in disposable packaging, at least until newer grades of recyclable and biodegradable foams have proven themselves in the market. This loss will be compensated in part by increasing demand for protective packaging for durable goods.

New products being developed

There are general industry trends that predict expanding production capacity for polyurethane foams, developing renewably sourced foam raw materials, and consolidating foam production. Innovations currently in commercialization include biodegradable foams for packaging, the use of new chemical blowing agents that do not deplete ozone, and use of biofoams based on mushrooms.

Suppliers use technology to meet demand

Expansion of the foamed plastics market will be fostered by rising construction expenditures, consumer spending, and durable goods output. To meet the projected demand, foam suppliers will leverage technical advances in foam processing and renewable bio-based raw materials to provide the market with new foams that are higher performing and more environmentally sustainable than existing products.

Study coverage

Plastic Foams presents historical demand data (2005, 2010 and 2015) plus forecasts (2020 and 2025) by market (construction, packaging, household products, motor vehicles, other) for polyurethane foams (flexible and rigid), polystyrene foams (extruded and expanded), as well as other plastic foams. The study also considers key market environment factors, details the industry structure, evaluates company market share and profiles US industry competitors.

Freedonia's market research studies provide timely access to reliable, unbiased analysis from which to benchmark performance and answer critical questions: Is your business growing faster or slower than the overall market? Is your organization gaining or losing market share? Which products and markets are the most desirable to explore for expansion? Are there industry trends or competitor activities that present a threat or opportunity to your business?

Studies offer a great ROI and can help business leaders make informed, analytically driven decisions. When considering the time, effort, and expertise that goes into it, our off-the-shelf research saves our clients time and money.

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  1. Plastic Foams

    $5,300.00

    1. 1 INTRODUCTION

      $83.00

    2. 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

      $125.00

      1. Table | PLASTIC FOAMS DEMAND

    3. 3 MARKET ENVIRONMENT

      $1,452.00

      1. 3.1 General

        $82.00

      2. 3.2 Macroeconomic Environment

        $153.00

        1. Table | MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS

      3. 3.3 Consumer Income & Spending

        $82.00

        1. Table | PERSONAL CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURES

      4. 3.4 Demographic Trends

        $180.00

        1. Table | POPULATION & HOUSEHOLDS

      5. 3.5 Construction Outlook

        $105.00

        1. Table | CONSTRUCTION EXPENDITURES

      6. 3.6 Manufacturing Outlook

        $187.00

        1. Table | MANUFACTURERS' SHIPMENTS

      7. 3.7 Plastic Resin Outlook

        $101.00

        1. Table | PLASTIC RESIN SUPPLY & DEMAND

      8. 3.8 Plastic Foam Characteristics

        $98.00

      9. 3.9 Competitive Materials

        $82.00

      10. 3.10 Environmental & Regulatory Considerations

        $376.00

        1. 3.10.1 Materials-Based Regulations

          $140.00

        2. 3.10.2 Energy-Based Regulations

          $82.00

        3. 3.10.3 Blowing Agents

          $82.00

        4. 3.10.4 Recycling

          $83.00

      11. 3.11 International Activity

        $82.00

    4. 4 MARKETS

      $3,236.00

      1. 4.1 General

        $82.00

        1. Table | PLASTIC FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET

        2. CHART III-1 PLASTIC FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET, 2015

      2. 4.2 Packaging

        $1,367.00

        1. 4.2.1 Plastic Foams Demand by Resin & Application

          $82.00

          1. Table | PACKAGING MARKET FOR PLASTIC FOAMS BY RESIN & APPLICATION

          2. CHART III-2 PACKAGING MARKET FOR PLASTIC FOAMS BY APPLICATION, 2015

        2. 4.2.2 Foodservice & Consumer Disposables

          $617.00

          1. Table | FOODSERVICE DISPOSABLES DEMAND BY TYPE

          2. Table | FOODSERVICE & CONSUMER DISPOSABLES MARKET FOR PLASTIC FOAMS

        3. 4.2.3 Protective Packaging

          $224.00

          1. Table | PROTECTIVE PACKAGING DEMAND BY MATERIAL

          2. Table | PROTECTIVE PACKAGING MARKET FOR PLASTIC FOAMS BY RESIN & TYPE

          3. CHART III-3 PROTECTIVE PACKAGING MARKET FOR PLASTIC FOAMS BY RESIN, 2015

        4. 4.2.4 Containers

          $438.00

          1. Table | FOOD CONTAINER DEMAND BY TYPE

          2. Table | CONTAINER MARKET FOR PLASTIC FOAMS

      3. 4.3 Construction

        $692.00

        1. 4.3.1 Plastic Foams Demand by Resin & Application

          $82.00

          1. Table | CONSTRUCTION MARKET FOR PLASTIC FOAMS BY RESIN & APPLICATION

          2. CHART III-4 CONSTRUCTION MARKET FOR PLASTIC FOAMS BY APPLICATION, 2015

        2. 4.3.2 Insulation

          $303.00

          1. Table | CONSTRUCTION INSULATION DEMAND BY TYPE

          2. Table | CONSTRUCTION INSULATION MARKET FOR PLASTIC FOAMS

        3. 4.3.3 Flooring & Carpet Backing

          $205.00

          1. Table | CARPET & RUG SUPPLY & DEMAND

          2. Table | FLOORING & CARPET BACKING MARKET FOR PLASTIC FOAMS

        4. 4.3.4 Other Construction

          $84.00

          1. Table | OTHER CONSTRUCTION MARKETS FOR PLASTIC FOAMS

      4. 4.4 Household Products

        $680.00

        1. 4.4.1 Plastic Foams Demand by Resin & Application

          $82.00

          1. Table | HOUSEHOLD PRODUCT MARKET FOR PLASTIC FOAMS BY RESIN & APPLICATION

          2. CHART III-5 HOUSEHOLD PRODUCT MARKET FOR PLASTIC FOAMS BY APPLICATION, 2015

        2. 4.4.2 Bedding

          $237.00

          1. Table | MATTRESS & SLEEP SYSTEM SHIPMENTS

          2. Table | BEDDING MARKET FOR PLASTIC FOAMS

        3. 4.4.3 Furniture

          $143.00

          1. Table | FURNITURE SHIPMENTS

          2. Table | FURNITURE MARKET FOR PLASTIC FOAMS

        4. 4.4.4 Appliances

          $136.00

          1. Table | MAJOR APPLIANCE SHIPMENTS

          2. Table | APPLIANCE MARKET FOR PLASTIC FOAMS

        5. 4.4.5 Other Household Products

          $82.00

          1. Table | OTHER HOUSEHOLD PRODUCT MARKETS FOR PLASTIC FOAMS

      5. 4.5 Motor Vehicles

        $276.00

        1. 4.5.1 Motor Vehicle Outlook

          $141.00

          1. Table | MOTOR VEHICLE PRODUCTION

        2. 4.5.2 Plastic Foams in Motor Vehicles

          $110.00

          1. Table | MOTOR VEHICLE MARKET FOR PLASTIC FOAMS BY RESIN

      6. 4.6 Other Markets

        $145.00

        1. Table | OTHER MARKETS FOR PLASTIC FOAMS

    5. 5 PRODUCTS

      $144.00

      1. 5.1 General

        $82.00

        1. Table | PLASTICS FOAMS DEMAND BY RESIN

      2. 5.2 Pricing Trends

        $96.00

        1. Table | SELECTED PLASTIC FOAMS PRICING

    6. 6 POLYURETHANE FOAMS

      $1,320.00

      1. 6.1 General

        $83.00

        1. Table | POLYURETHANE FOAMS DEMAND BY TYPE & MARKET

      2. 6.2 Flexible Polyurethane Foams

        $584.00

        1. Table | FLEXIBLE POLYURETHANE FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET

        2. CHART V-1 FLEXIBLE POLYURETHANE FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET, 2015

        3. 6.2.1 Household Products

          $229.00

          1. Table | HOUSEHOLD PRODUCT MARKET FOR FLEXIBLE POLYURETHANE FOAMS

        4. 6.2.2 Motor Vehicles

          $82.00

          1. Table | MOTOR VEHICLE MARKET FOR FLEXIBLE POLYURETHANE FOAMS

        5. 6.2.3 Flooring Underlay

          $92.00

          1. Table | FLOORING UNDERLAY MARKET FOR FLEXIBLE POLYURETHANE FOAMS

        6. 6.2.4 Packaging

          $82.00

          1. Table | PACKAGING MARKET FOR FLEXIBLE POLYURETHANE FOAMS

        7. 6.2.5 Other Markets

          $82.00

          1. Table | OTHER MARKETS FOR FLEXIBLE POLYURETHANE FOAMS

      3. 6.3 Rigid Polyurethane Foams

        $571.00

        1. Table | RIGID POLYURETHANE FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET

        2. CHART V-2 RIGID POLYURETHANE FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET, 2015

        3. 6.3.1 Construction

          $224.00

          1. Table | CONSTRUCTION MARKET FOR RIGID POLYURETHANE FOAMS

        4. 6.3.2 Household Products

          $103.00

          1. Table | HOUSEHOLD PRODUCT MARKET FOR RIGID POLYURETHANE FOAMS

        5. 6.3.3 Packaging

          $82.00

          1. Table | PACKAGING MARKET FOR RIGID POLYURETHANE FOAMS

        6. 6.3.4 Motor Vehicles

          $82.00

          1. Table | MOTOR VEHICLE MARKET FOR RIGID POLYURETHANE FOAMS

        7. 6.3.5 Other Markets

          $102.00

          1. Table | OTHER MARKETS FOR RIGID POLYURETHANE FOAMS

      4. 6.4 Producers

        $82.00

    7. 7 POLYSTYRENE FOAMS

      $986.00

      1. 7.1 General

        $111.00

        1. Table | POLYSTYRENE FOAMS DEMAND BY PROCESSING METHOD & MARKET

        2. CHART VI-1 POLYSTYRENE FOAMS DEMAND BY PROCESSING METHOD, 2015

      2. 7.2 Extruded Polystyrene Foams

        $377.00

        1. Table | EXTRUDED POLYSTYRENE FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET

        2. CHART VI-2 EXTRUDED POLYSTYRENE FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET, 2015

        3. 7.2.1 Packaging

          $196.00

          1. Table | PACKAGING MARKET FOR EXTRUDED POLYSTYRENE FOAMS

        4. 7.2.2 Construction

          $82.00

          1. Table | CONSTRUCTION MARKET FOR EXTRUDED POLYSTYRENE FOAMS

        5. 7.2.3 Other Markets

          $82.00

          1. Table | OTHER MARKETS FOR EXTRUDED POLYSTYRENE FOAMS

      3. 7.3 Expanded Polystyrene Foams

        $449.00

        1. Table | EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET

        2. CHART VI-3 EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET, 2015

        3. 7.3.1 Packaging

          $229.00

          1. Table | EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE FOAMS IN PACKAGING

        4. 7.3.2 Construction

          $113.00

          1. Table | CONSTRUCTION MARKET FOR EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE FOAMS

        5. 7.3.3 Other Markets

          $82.00

          1. Table | OTHER MARKETS FOR EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE FOAMS

      4. 7.4 Producers

        $82.00

    8. 8 OTHER PLASTIC FOAMS

      $1,073.00

      1. 8.1 General

        $82.00

        1. Table | OTHER PLASTIC FOAMS DEMAND BY RESIN

        2. CHART VII-1 OTHER PLASTIC FOAMS DEMAND BY RESIN, 2015

      2. 8.2 High Density Polyethylene Foams

        $92.00

        1. Table | HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET

      3. 8.3 Polypropylene Foams

        $105.00

        1. Table | POLYPROPYLENE FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET

      4. 8.4 Vinyl Foams

        $128.00

        1. Table | VINYL FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET

      5. 8.5 Engineering Plastic Foams

        $177.00

        1. Table | ENGINEERING PLASTIC FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET

      6. 8.6 Low Density Polyethylene Foams

        $106.00

        1. Table | LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET

      7. 8.7 Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Foams

        $82.00

        1. Table | ACRYLONITRILE-BUTADIENE-STYRENE FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET

      8. 8.8 Biodegradable Plastic Foams

        $175.00

        1. Table | BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET

      9. 8.9 All Other Plastic Foams

        $150.00

        1. Table | ALL OTHER PLASTIC FOAMS DEMAND BY MARKET

    9. 9 INDUSTRY STRUCTURE

      $5,333.00

      1. 9.1 General

        $92.00

        1. Table | US PLASTIC FOAM SALES BY COMPANY, 2015

      2. 9.2 Market Share

        $214.00

        1. CHART VIII-1 US PLASTIC FOAMS MARKET SHARE, 2015

      3. 9.3 Mergers & Acquisitions

        $139.00

        1. Table | SELECTED ACQUISITIONS & DIVESTITURES

      4. 9.4 Marketing & Distribution

        $82.00

      5. 9.5 Research & Development

        $110.00

      6. 9.6 Competitive Strategies

        $82.00

      7. 9.7 Cooperative Agreements

        $126.00

        1. Table | SELECTED COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS

      8. 9.8 Company Profiles

        $5,333.00

        1. 9.8.1 ACH Foam Technologies LLC

          $171.00

        2. 9.8.2 American Excelsior Company

          $82.00

        3. 9.8.3 Arkema SA

          $93.00

        4. 9.8.4 Armacell International SA

          $188.00

        5. 9.8.5 BASF SE

          $212.00

        6. 9.8.6 Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated

          $193.00

        7. 9.8.7 Bridgestone Corporation

          $89.00

        8. 9.8.8 Carlisle Companies Incorporated

          $186.00

        9. 9.8.9 Carpenter Company

          $246.00

        10. 9.8.10 Chemours Company

          $82.00

        11. 9.8.11 Covestro AG

          $151.00

        12. 9.8.12 Dart Container Corporation

          $149.00

        13. 9.8.13 Dow Chemical Company

          $292.00

        14. 9.8.14 DuPont (EI) de Nemours

          $142.00

        15. 9.8.15 Evonik Industries AG

          $91.00

        16. 9.8.16 Free-Flow Packaging International Incorporated

          $82.00

        17. 9.8.17 FXI Incorporated

          $190.00

        18. 9.8.18 Hood Companies

          $121.00

        19. 9.8.19 Huntsman Corporation

          $132.00

        20. 9.8.20 Innocor Incorporated

          $171.00

        21. 9.8.21 INOAC Corporation

          $189.00

        22. 9.8.22 Johnson Controls Incorporated

          $82.00

        23. 9.8.23 New WinCup Holdings Incorporated

          $92.00

        24. 9.8.24 Noël Group LLC

          $150.00

        25. 9.8.25 Novipax LLC

          $82.00

        26. 9.8.26 Owens Corning

          $82.00

        27. 9.8.27 Pak-Lite Incorporated

          $95.00

        28. 9.8.28 Pregis Corporation

          $120.00

        29. 9.8.29 Reynolds Group Holdings Limited

          $169.00

        30. 9.8.30 Ring Companies

          $82.00

        31. 9.8.31 Rmax Incorporated

          $102.00

        32. 9.8.32 Rogers Foam Corporation

          $82.00

        33. 9.8.33 Saint-Gobain

          $183.00

        34. 9.8.34 Schweiter Technologies AG

          $165.00

        35. 9.8.35 Sealed Air Corporation

          $179.00

        36. 9.8.36 Sekisui Chemical Company Limited

          $82.00

        37. 9.8.37 Solvay SA

          $127.00

        38. 9.8.38 Sonoco Products Company

          $113.00

        39. 9.8.39 StarchTech Incorporated

          $82.00

        40. 9.8.40 Storopack Hans Reichenecker GmbH

          $107.00

        41. 9.8.41 Tekni-Plex Incorporated

          $82.00

        42. 9.8.42 3M Company

          $180.00

        43. 9.8.43 UFP Technologies Incorporated

          $151.00

      9. 9.9 Other Companies Mentioned in Study

        $82.00

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