US Demand for Protective Packaging to Reach $5.2 Billion in 2014

Published: April 15, 2010

CLEVELAND, OH | US demand for protective packaging is forecast to climb 6.2% per year to $5.2 billion in 2014, reflecting an upswing in manufacturing output as the US economy recovers from the recession that began in December 2007, according to a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry market research firm.

Advances will also be boosted by the continued proliferation of Internet shopping, according to the study. Value gains will also be helped by greater interest in environmentally friendly products that tend to be more costly than their conventional counterparts. However, the importance of price in the purchasing decisions of most packaging users will moderate gains for green products to some extent. These and other trends are presented in the study "Protective Packaging."

Through 2014, the fastest growth is expected for air pillows, foamed plastics and bubble packaging, with rapid advances also anticipated in the smaller molded pulp segment. Demand for air pillows will climb 8.7% per year to $395 million in 2014, the result of strong growth in Internet shopping, advantages over other materials in terms of cost and material use, and consumer preference for the product over other materials such as loose-fill.

Protective Packaging (published 03/2010, 273 pages) is available for $4,800 from The Freedonia Group, Inc., 767 Beta Dr., Cleveland, OH  44143-2326. For further details, contact Corinne Gangloff at 440-684.9600; fax: 440/646.0484; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..