The Flexible Plastic Packaging Industry Analysis in United States is estimated to be valued at USD 35.8 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 46.3 billion by 2035, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.6% over the forecast period.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Flexible Plastic Packaging Industry Analysis in United States Estimated Value in (2025 E) | USD 35.8 billion |
| Flexible Plastic Packaging Industry Analysis in United States Forecast Value in (2035 F) | USD 46.3 billion |
| Forecast CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 2.6% |
The flexible plastic packaging market in the United States is experiencing robust growth. Rising demand from food and beverage, personal care, and pharmaceutical sectors is driving adoption. The industry is benefiting from its ability to deliver lightweight, cost-efficient, and durable solutions compared to rigid packaging formats.
Sustainability pressures are influencing innovation, with manufacturers investing in recyclable and bio-based materials to align with environmental standards. The current market is being shaped by consumer preference for convenience-driven packaging, supported by retail expansion and e-commerce penetration. Over the forecast period, technological advancements in barrier coatings, printing, and smart packaging integration are expected to enhance product differentiation and shelf appeal.
Growth rationale is supported by scalability, strong supply chain networks, and regulatory support for packaging safety Together, these factors are positioning flexible plastic packaging as a cornerstone of modern packaging solutions in the United States, ensuring consistent revenue growth and evolving value opportunities across diverse applications.
The pouches segment, holding 38.6% of the product type category, has been leading due to its versatility, lightweight profile, and strong appeal in consumer goods packaging. Its dominance is being reinforced by rising demand in ready-to-eat food, beverages, and personal care products, where convenience and portion control are critical.
Pouches offer cost advantages in storage and transportation, which has strengthened their adoption across retail and e-commerce platforms. Advanced printing technologies are enabling greater brand visibility, while resealable features are improving consumer engagement.
The segment is also benefitting from sustainable packaging developments, including recyclable and biodegradable variants Continuous innovation in barrier films and closures is expected to sustain growth momentum, ensuring that pouches maintain a strong competitive position within the broader flexible packaging landscape in the United States.
The oil-based polymers segment, representing 85.4% of the material category, has remained dominant due to its extensive availability, durability, and adaptability across packaging formats. Cost-effectiveness, coupled with strong mechanical and barrier properties, has reinforced its widespread use in food, pharmaceutical, and industrial packaging applications.
Manufacturing scalability and compatibility with high-speed packaging machinery have further supported its adoption. Despite sustainability challenges, oil-based polymers continue to hold significant market share, while efforts are underway to enhance recyclability and reduce environmental impact.
Producers are investing in circular economy initiatives, recycling infrastructure, and lightweighting solutions to ensure compliance with regulatory expectations and consumer demand for sustainable packaging This balance of performance, cost efficiency, and innovation is expected to sustain the leadership of oil-based polymers in the United States market.
The general barrier segment, accounting for 57.8% of the packaging type category, has secured leadership due to its effectiveness in preserving product freshness, protecting against moisture and oxygen, and extending shelf life. Its dominance has been supported by consistent demand from food and beverage industries, where quality retention is essential.
Cost-efficiency, coupled with adaptability to multiple product categories, has driven continued adoption. Technological enhancements in multilayer film structures and coating applications are reinforcing barrier performance while meeting evolving regulatory and sustainability standards.
The segment’s growth is also being strengthened by its integration into convenience-driven formats such as pouches and wraps As consumer expectations for longer shelf life and product integrity continue to rise, general barrier packaging is anticipated to sustain its leading share and remain a critical enabler of value across the flexible plastic packaging industry in the United States.
In the United States, the growth witnessed by e-commerce and online shopping in recent years is phenomenal. The growth of e-commerce and online shopping has led to an increased demand for flexible plastic packaging. The demand for solutions, particularly in the form of pouches, bags, and films for packaging and shipping products directly to consumers' homes, has surged.
Flexible plastic packaging solutions can offer protection against shocks, vibrations, and moisture during transit. This is set to be crucial for preventing damage to goods during shipping. Flexible plastic packaging is lightweight, which can lead to cost savings in shipping.
Lower shipping weights can result in reduced shipping fees, making it an economical choice for e-commerce companies. Flexible plastic packaging often includes features such as easy-open tear strips and resealable closures. These can make it convenient for consumers to access and store their purchased items.
Demand to Surge from Food and Beverage and Healthcare Sectors
The United States flexible plastic packaging business is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 2.6% in the evaluation period from 2025 to 2035. In the ever-expanding packaging business, the flexible plastic packaging business in the United States is a vibrant sector.
It includes a wide variety of flexible materials that can be produced into films, sheets, bags, pouches, wraps, and other forms, including polyethylene, polypropylene, and PVC. As these materials are lightweight, affordable, and easily configurable, they are set to be extremely adaptable and have uses in a wide range of sectors.
Several sectors, including food and beverage, healthcare, personal care, industrial, and consumer goods, are served by the United States flexible plastic packaging business.
Products, including snacks, drinks, pet food, medications, medical equipment, and cleaning supplies, are packaged with it. Material science has made great strides in the business, enabling the creation of high-performance films with particular qualities, including puncture resistance, scalability, and barrier resistance.
The flexible plastic packaging business is witnessing an increasing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable substitutes due to rising environmental consciousness. This covers bio-based plastics, biodegradable alternatives, and recyclable materials.
Multiple laws pertaining to food safety, product labeling, environmental effects, and other topics are applicable to the sector. It is imperative that leading players adhere to these norms.
The integration of smart packaging technology, advancements in material science, and a move toward sustainable packaging solutions are among recent trends. Product customization, e-commerce packaging, and health and wellness are a handful of the sectors where there are growth prospects.
A wide range of participants, such as raw material suppliers, converters, and package producers, define sales. Businesses are striving to provide unique, affordable, and sustainable solutions to remain competitive.
The flexible plastic packaging business in the United States recorded a CAGR of 1.5% during the historical period from 2020 to 2025. It reached a value of USD 34,052.2 million in 2025 from USD 32,054.9 million in 2020.
| Historical CAGR (2020 to 2025) | 1.5% |
|---|---|
| Historical Value (2025) | USD 34,052.2 million |
In the past decade, flexible packaging has evolved drastically and is the rapidly growing packaging solution in the field. The demand for flexible plastic packaging is expanding among several sectors, especially food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals.
Food and beverages currently occupy around 2/3rd of all packaging, with flexible packaging accounting for 90% of this usage. According to Perfect Packaging (The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA)), at present, around 39% of packaging worldwide and about 19% of packaging in the United States is made of flexible packaging.
The increasing need for customized packaging, along with ensuring prolonged product shelf life in an economical way, drives the demand for flexible plastic packaging. In addition, rising innovation in the flexible plastic packaging business by key manufacturers supports sustainability trends.
It is anticipated to help boost sales of flexible plastic packaging solutions in the ecosystem. The changing consumer preference toward user-friendly packaging is set to propel the demand for flexible plastic packaging solutions.
Owing to their hectic schedules, consumers have become more and more in need of packaging solutions that provide convenience. These include resealable alternatives, single-serve packs, and shapes that are easy to carry.
More complex and customized packaging designs are expected to be made available with ongoing technological developments, such as improvements in printing technologies and production processes.
Research and development efforts in the 2010s and 2024s concentrated on developing sustainable substitutes with performance characteristics that were comparable to traditional plastics. This includes improved recycling technologies, bio-based polymers, and biodegradable materials.
Thanks to developments in printing and production technology, brands have been attempting to set themselves apart with distinctive packaging labeling and design possibilities.
The table presents the expected CAGR for the United States flexible plastic packaging space over several semi-annual periods spanning from 2025 to 2035. In the first half (H1) of the decade from 2025 to 2035, the field is predicted to surge at a CAGR of 2.4%, followed by a slightly lower growth rate of 2.2% in the second half (H2) of the same decade.
Moving into the subsequent period, from H1 2025 to H2 2035, the CAGR is projected to increase slightly to 2.9% in the first half and remain relatively moderate at 2.7% in the second half.
| Particular | Value CAGR |
|---|---|
| H1 (2025 to 2035) | 2.4% |
| H2 (2025 to 2035) | 2.2% |
| H1 (2025 to 2035) | 2.9% |
| H2 (2025 to 2035) | 2.7% |
| Attributes | Key Factors |
|---|---|
| United States Flexible Plastic Packaging Business Trends |
|
| Growth Hindrances |
|
| Upcoming Opportunities |
|
The table below signifies leading sub-categories under product type and end-use categories in the United States flexible plastic packaging business. Pouches are expected to dominate the business of flexible plastic packaging by exhibiting a 2.4% CAGR in the evaluation period. Under the end-use category, the consumer packaging segment is projected to lead at a 2.6% CAGR.
| Segment | Value-based CAGR |
|---|---|
| Pouches (Product Type) | 2.4% |
| Consumer Packaging (End-use) | 2.6% |
Pouches are the most lucrative segment in the United States flexible plastic packaging business. Its growth is attributed to the ongoing expansion of the retail and e-commerce sectors. It is also set to be driven by the surging need for packaged food and beverages.
As flexible pouches are environmentally friendly, portable, easily customizable, and tear and puncture-resistant, their demand can surge in the food and beverage sector. The pouches segment is set to stimulate a supplementary potential worth USD 3,354.2 million by 2035.
Flexible plastic packaging solutions are anticipated to be popular in consumer sectors such as food, beverage, pharmaceuticals, personal care, retail, and others. Expansion of the food service sector supplements the sales of flexible plastic packaging. The demand for user-friendly packaging in the pharmaceutical sector would also augment sales of flexible plastic packaging.
Key manufacturers are focusing on the innovation and sustainability of flexible plastic packaging solutions, which will further drive the United States' flexible plastic packaging space. The consumer packaging segment is estimated to witness a 2.6% CAGR in the forecast period.
Leading players in the business are gaining high shares by developing innovations and advancements in the United States flexible plastic packaging space. These key players are also seeking to execute merger acquisition and expansion strategies.
Recent developments by leading players in the business are
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Estimated Flexible Plastic Packaging Business Revenue (2025) | USD 35.8 billion |
| Projected Flexible Plastic Packaging Business Revenue (2035) | USD 46.3 billion |
| Value-based CAGR | 2.6% |
| Historical Data | 2020 to 2025 |
| Forecast Period | 2025 to 2035 |
| Quantitative Units | Value (USD million) and Volume (thousand tons) |
| Report Coverage | Revenue Forecast, Volume Forecast, Company Ranking, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, Trends and Pricing Analysis |
| Segments Covered | By Product Type, By Material, By Packaging Type, By End-use, By Sub-region |
| Key Companies Profiled | Amcor Plc; Constantia Flexibles; Berry Global Group, Inc.; Huhtamaki Oyj; Sonoco Products Company; InterFlex Group; Sealed Sir Corporation; Mondi Plc; Uflex Ltd.; Winpak Ltd.; Rengo Co. Ltd.; Transcontinental Inc.; ePac Holdings, LLC.; Glenroy, Inc.; ProAmpac LLC; Goglio SpA; Bryce Corporation; Printpack; American Packaging Corporation; SK microworks America, Inc. |
The global flexible plastic packaging industry analysis in united states is estimated to be valued at USD 35.8 billion in 2025.
The market size for the flexible plastic packaging industry analysis in united states is projected to reach USD 46.3 billion by 2035.
The flexible plastic packaging industry analysis in united states is expected to grow at a 2.6% CAGR between 2025 and 2035.
The key product types in flexible plastic packaging industry analysis in united states are pouches, stand-up pouches, flat pouches, bags and sacks, retAIl bags and sacks, jumbo bags, other industrial bags, tubes, sleEVe labels, films and wraps, shrink films, stretch films and wrapping and lidding films.
In terms of material, oil-based polymers segment to command 85.4% share in the flexible plastic packaging industry analysis in united states in 2025.
Explore Similar Insights
Flexible Plastic Packaging Industry Analysis in United States
Thank you!
You will receive an email from our Business Development Manager. Please be sure to check your SPAM/JUNK folder too.
Chat With
MaRIA
