US Recycled Plastics Industry

NEW YORK, Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

US Recycled Plastics Industry

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US demand to rise 5.9% annually through 2016

US demand for post-consumer recycled plastics is forecast to rise 5.9 percent per year to 3.4 billion pounds in 2016. Gains will be driven by a number of factors, including a growing emphasis on sustainability among packaging and consumer product manufacturers, advancements in processing and sorting technologies allowing a wider variety of plastic to be recycled, and an improved collection infrastructure that raises the plastic recycling rate. Continued support by federal, state, and local governments for recycling efforts will also provide a significant boost to recycled plastic collection, processing, and demand. However, the overall rate of plastic recycling in the US will remain relatively low -- 6.5 percent of total plastic demand in 2016 -- as the industry faces a number of challenges. Recycling is minimal in several major plastic markets, including construction products, motor vehicles (other than batteries), and packaging film, due to a lack of collection capability or economical processing. Export sales (particularly to China) siphon off a substantial portion of plastic scrap, and much of what is processed domestically has high levels of contamination. As a result, only 53 percent of the plastic collected for recycling makes its way to manufactured products in the US market.

Collection of rigid plastic and film on the rise

Bottles will remain the leading source of plastic for recycling, accounting for about half of all plastic collected in 2016. The well established collection infrastructure, including deposit laws in several states, makes bottles one of the most widely recycled plastic products. More rapid gains, however, are forecast for other sources, particularly rigid plastics, film, and carpet. The recycling industry has put significant efforts into increasing the collection of rigid plastic, including thermoformed packaging and bulk containers, particularly at the commercial level. Bag and film recycling will also be bolstered by private industry collection initiatives, as these are a key source of raw materials for plastic bag and woodplastic composite producers.

LDPE to be fastest growing recycled resin

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) were the two leading resins used in recycled plastic products in 2011, accounting for over 70 percent of demand. While PET will see above average gains in demand, fueled by rising recycled content in beverage bottles and thermoformed containers, subpar increases in HDPE collection will limit demand for recycled resin. The most rapid growth is forecast for low density polyethylene, which will benefit from a rebound in the construction market, as well as smaller volume resins such as polypropylene and nylon.

Packaging to remain largest recycled plastics market

Packaging will continue to be the leading market for recycled plastic in 2016, with strongest gains expected for food and beverage bottles and clamshell containers, fueled by rising production of recycled resins suitable for food contact uses. A rebound in US construction activity will drive strong demand for recycled plastics in construction product markets, particularly lumber and pipe applications. While advances in the motor vehicle market will be limited by the highly mature battery segment, use of recycled plastic in fabrics and other vehicle interior applications will increase at a robust pace.

Study coverage

This upcoming industry study, Recycled Plastics, presents historical demand data (2001, 2006, 2011) plus forecasts for 2016 and 2021 by source, resin and market. The study also considers market environment factors, evaluates company market share and profiles US industry competitors.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION viii

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1

II. MARKET ENVIRONMENT 4

General 4

Macroeconomic Outlook 5

Consumer Spending Outlook 8

Construction Industry Outlook 11

Manufacturing Outlook 15

Motor Vehicle Industry Overview 19

Plastic Resin Industry Outlook 22

Plastic Packaging Industry Outlook 25

Solid Waste Management Trends 28

Plastic Recycling Processes & Technology 31

Regulatory & Legislative Environment 35

Container Deposit Laws 36

Municipal Collection Infrastructure 37

Recycled Content Requirements & Incentives 39

Plastic Bag & Container Regulations 41

Private Sector Initiatives & Issues 42

Labeling & Bale Standards 43

Collection Initiatives 45

Extended Producer Responsibility 48

Recycled Plastic Pricing 49

Historical Market Trends 52

Foreign Trade 55

International Activity 57

III. RECYCLED PLASTIC COLLECTION 59

General 59

Bottles 62

PET 63

HDPE 65

Other 66

Rigid Plastic & Foam 67

Packaging 69

Motor Vehicles 71

Other Sources 72

Bags & Film 73

Carpet & Fiber 75

Processing, Yield, & Demand 77

IV. RECYCLED PLASTIC RESINS 81

General 81

Polyethylene Terephthalate 84

PET Resin Overview 84

Recycled PET Collection & Demand 85

Markets 88

Producers 91

High Density Polyethylene 93

HDPE Resin Overview 93

Recycled HDPE Collection & Demand 94

Markets 97

Producers 100

Low Density Polyethylene 100

LDPE/LLDPE Resin Overview 100

Recycled LDPE Collection & Demand 102

Markets & Producers 104

Polypropylene 106

Polypropylene Resin Overview 106

Recycled Polypropylene Collection & Demand 108

Markets & Producers 111

Nylon 114

Nylon Resin & Fiber Overview 114

Recycled Nylon Collection & Markets 116

Polystyrene 119

Polystyrene Resin Overview 119

Recycled Polystyrene Collection & Markets 121

Other Resins 124

V. RECYCLED PLASTIC MARKETS 128

General 128

Packaging 130

Bottles 131

Containers 134

Bags & Film 136

Strapping 138

Other Packaging 140

Construction 142

Carpets & Rugs 144

Lumber 147

Pipe 150

Furnishings 152

Other Construction 153

Motor Vehicles 155

Batteries 157

Other Motor Vehicle 158

Other Markets 160

VI. INDUSTRY STRUCTURE 164

General 164

Industry Composition 164

Market Share 168

Merger & Acquisition Activity 171

Marketing & Distribution 173

Competitive Strategies 175

Cooperative Agreements 176

Company Profiles 180

Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies

Incorporated 181

Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated 184

BioCor LLC 186

Blue Ridge Plastics, see Illinois Tool Works

CarbonLite Industries LLC 187

Clean Tech, see Plastipak Holdings

Clear Path Recycling, see Berkshire Hathaway

The Coca-Cola Company Incorporated 189

Coll Materials Incorporated 191

Custom Polymers Incorporated 193

Dart Container Corporation 194

Entropex 198

Envision Plastics Industries LLC 199

Evergreen Nylon Recycling, see Berkshire Hathaway

Evergreen Plastics, see Polychem

Fresh Pak Corporation 200

Hilex Poly Company LLC 201

Illinois Tool Works Incorporated 203

KW Plastics 205

Marglen Industries Incorporated 207

Mohawk Industries Incorporated 208

MRC Polymers Incorporated 209

NextLife Recycling LLC 210

Nicos Polymers Group, see Coll Materials

Omni Resource Recovery Incorporated 213

Parallel Products of Kentucky Incorporated 214

PARC Corporation 215

Peninsula Plastics Recycling Incorporated 216

PET Processors LLC 217

Phoenix Technologies International LLC 218

Plastic Revolutions Incorporated 220

Plastipak Holdings Incorporated 221

Polychem Corporation 222

PolyQuest Incorporated 223

Reynolds Group Holdings Limited 225

Schupan & Sons Incorporated 227

Signode Packaging Systems, see Illinois Tool Works

Solo Cup, see Dart Container

Trex Company Incorporated 228

UltrePET, see wTe

Wellman Plastics Recycling LLC 229

wTe Corporation 230

Additional Companies Mentioned in Study 232

LIST OF TABLES

SECTION I -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Summary Table 3

SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT

1 Macroeconomic Indicators 8

2 Personal Consumption Expenditures 11

3 Construction Indicators 15

4 Manufacturers' Shipments 18

5 Motor Vehicle Indicators 22

6 Plastic Resin Supply & Demand 25

7 Plastic Packaging Indicators 28

8 Municipal Solid Waste Management by Process 31

9 Recycled Plastic Prices 51

10 Recycled Plastic Market, 2001-2011 54

11 Recycled Plastic Trade 57

SECTION III -- RECYCLED PLASTIC COLLECTION

1 Recycled Plastic Collection by Source 61

2 Plastic Bottle Collection for Recycling 63

3 Rigid Plastic & Foam Collection for Recycling 69

4 Plastic Bag & Film Collection for Recycling 75

5 Carpet & Fiber Plastic Collection for Recycling 77

6 Recycled Plastic Processing & Demand 79

SECTION IV -- RECYCLED PLASTIC RESINS

1 Recycled Plastic Demand by Resin 82

2 Polyethylene Terephthalate Supply & Demand 85

3 Recycled PET Collection & Demand 87

4 Recycled PET Demand by Market 91

5 High Density Polyethylene Supply & Demand 94

6 Recycled HDPE Collection & Demand 97

7 Recycled HDPE Demand by Market 99

8 Low Density Polyethylene Supply & Demand 102

9 Recycled LDPE/LLDPE Collection & Demand 104

10 Recycled LDPE/LLDPE Demand by Market 106

11 Polypropylene Supply & Demand 108

12 Recycled Polypropylene Collection & Demand 111

13 Recycled Polypropylene Demand by Market 114

14 Nylon Resin & Fiber Supply & Demand 116

15 Recycled Nylon Collection & Demand 119

16 Polystyrene Supply & Demand 121

17 Recycled Polystyrene Collection & Demand 124

18 Other Recycled Plastic Collection & Demand 127

SECTION V -- RECYCLED PLASTIC MARKETS

1 Recycled Plastic Demand by Market 129

2 Packaging Markets for Recycled Plastic 131

3 Bottle Demand for Recycled Plastic by Segment & Resin 134

4 Container Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin 136

5 Bag & Film Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin 138

6 Strapping Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin 140

7 Other Packaging Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin 142

8 Construction Product Markets for Recycled Plastic 144

9 Carpet & Rug Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin 147

10 Lumber Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin 150

11 Pipe Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin 152

12 Furnishings Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin 153

13 Other Construction Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin 155

14 Motor Vehicle Markets for Recycled Plastic 156

15 Motor Vehicle Battery Demand for Recycled Plastic 158

16 Other Motor Vehicle Demand for Recycled Plastic by Resin 160

17 Other Markets for Recycled Plastic by Segment & Resin 163

SECTION VI -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE

1 US Recycled Plastic Sales by Company, 2011 167

2 Selected Acquisitions & Divestitures 172

3 Selected Cooperative Agreements 178

LIST OF CHARTS

SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT

1 Plastic Recycling Process Flowchart 34

2 Recycled & Plastic Resin Pricing, 2011 52

3 Recycled Plastic Market, 2001-2011 55

SECTION III -- RECYCLED PLASTIC COLLECTION

1 Recycled Plastic Collection by Source, 2011 61

2 Recycled Plastic Collection, Processing, & Demand, 2011 80

SECTION IV -- RECYCLED PLASTIC RESINS

1 Recycled Plastic Resins: Collection & Demand, 2011 83

SECTION V -- RECYCLED PLASTIC MARKETS

1 Recycled Plastic Demand by Market, 2011 129

SECTION VI -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE

1 US Recycled Plastics Market Share, 2011 168

To order this report:

Plastic Industry: US Recycled Plastics Industry

Contact Nicolas: [email protected]
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