Plastic cosmetic & toiletry container demand to reach 17.6 billion units
Demand for plastic cosmetic and toiletry containers in the US is projected to increase 1.6% per year to 17.6 billion units in 2020. Growth will be the result of healthy shipment expansion in a number of key plastic container applications, such as oral care products and cosmetics. In addition, advances will be supported by plastic’s advantages over other materials, including performance characteristics and relatively favorable cost structure. These and other trends are presented in “Cosmetic & Toiletry Containers in the US, 7th Edition,” a new study from The Freedonia Group (freedoniagroup.com).
Because of considerable advantages over competitive packaging media, plastics have captured a substantial share of the U.S. packaging market over the past several decades, including cosmetic and toiletry containers. However, competition from glass and metal containers will remain strong in a number of applications, particularly where a more upscale or distinctive image is desired. According to analyst Katie Wieser, “Advances in full-body can shaping are enabling aluminum containers to make inroads into plastic applications in uses such as sunscreens, sunless tanners, facial cleansers, and depilatories.” However, plastic’s capture of market share from other materials will slow, as many markets have become saturated. Therefore, expansion will arise primarily from shipment and population growth and new product introductions.