Here's a summary of a report that touches on what I highlighted...

Here's a summary of a report that touches on what I highlighted last night...

Protective Packaging

US Industry Study with Forecasts for 2016 & 2021

Advances will be driven in part by the growing presence of value-added product types, such as higher performing insulated shipping containers and environmentally friendly products.

US demand to rise 5% annually through 2016 Protective packaging demand in the US is projected to increase 5.0 percent per year to $5.9 billion in 2016, fueled by a rebound in manufacturing output, especially for durable goods, along with continued solid growth for Internet shopping. These factors will necessitate heightened requirements for cost effective packaging used in the protection of goods from shock, vibration, abrasion and other damaging effects of shipping and handling. Advances will also be driven by the growing presence of value-added product types, such as higher performing insulated shipping containers and environmentally friendly
products. Green products such as those made from recycled or biodegradable materials tend to be more costly than their conventional counterparts. While interest in green products will increase, pressures to control packaging costs will limit gains to some extent.

Recovery in durable goods manufacturing to benefit foam products, molded pulp Recovery in the manufacturing sector, particularly a substantial improvement in
durable goods output, will fuel accelerated gains for protective packaging, especially foam products and molded pulp. Advantages of molded foams include light weight, excellent cushioning and blocking and bracing capabilities, along with the ability to be customized to conform to the shape of sensitive electronics and appliances. Opportunities for paperboard protectors will be assisted by healthy growth for warehouse clubs and home center stores, boosting demand for edge protection products, which are used by these establishments to unitize and stack pallets.

Internet shopping to favor protective mailers, air pillows, bubble packaging

The increasing popularity of Internet shopping will be one of the most important trends influencing protective packaging demand. Products expected to benefit include protective mailers, air pillows and bubble packaging. Mailers are valued as an alternative to boxes, providing reduced material and postage costs, source reduction and space savings. Solid gains for air pillows will be the result of advantages over other voidfill materials in terms of cost and material use, and consumer preference for the product over traditional materials such as loose-fill. Growing requirements for cost-effective, lightweight cushioning will propel gains for bubble packaging, which also offers greater ease of use than alternatives such as foam-in-place polyurethane.

http://www.freedoniagroup.com/brochure/28xx/2839smwe.pdf