Procurement Market Intelligence Report
Plastic Bags
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Plastic Bags Global Overview
Definition
Summary
Plastic bags are a type of packaging made of thin, flexible, plastic film that is commonly used for carrying and transporting goods. They come in various sizes and types, including shopping bags, trash bags, and special-purpose bags like zip-locks and vacuum-seal bags. The typical buyers of plastic bags are a wide range of businesses including grocery stores, supermarkets, retail outlets, restaurants, and waste management services. These businesses rely on plastic bags for the purpose of providing carrying solutions for their customers, for storage, or for waste disposal.
This Report Includes:
- Plastic shopping bags
- Plastic merchandise pouches
Not in this Report:
- Trash bags
- Flexible packaging
Global Plastic Bags Procurement Trends
Discover the top international trends affecting procurement in the global Plastic Bags market.
Warning Trends
Reciprocal tariffs drive up packaging product prices
- The Trump administration’s reciprocal tariffs, which apply general tariff rate increases to all products imported from most nations, are set to take effect on August 7 after the national tariff rates were finalized on August 1. Additionally, 50.0% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, except those from the United Kingdom, went into effect in June.
- These tariffs will have a significant effect across the packaging industry as the United States imports a combined total of more than $127 billion worth of plastic, steel, and lumber annually, the three most common materials in packaging products.
- Leading packaging product importers include Canada, Mexico, and China, which face tariff rates of 35.0%, 25.0%, and 20.0%, respectively, with the Chinese import tariff rate set to rise to 54.0% in August. However, United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA)-originating goods, meaning those produced entirely in Canada or Mexico, are exempt from these tariffs.
- China accounts for 48.6% of imported plastic products in the United States, making current and upcoming tariffs on Chinese goods particularly impactful for the price of plastic packaging materials, which the Yale Budget Lab projects will rise in price by 11.0%.
- Likewise, Canada and Mexico provide a combined 51.6% of lumber imports, driving a 6.8% increase in the price of wooden products. Steel and aluminum tariffs are projected to fuel a 39.2% increase in the cost of metal packaging products on average.
Neutral
Crude oil prices dip, but natural gas and fuel prices remain volatile in 2025
- Oil prices have been falling with the introduction of higher tariffs and the predicted decline in global demand. The OPEC+ group of countries also announced they would be unwinding production cuts and increasing their collective output target for May by 411,000 barrels per day.
- Trade wars, ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, and general unrest in the Middle East are causing uncertainty surrounding oil prices, which has led to volatility in prices. In the third week of May 2025, crude oil prices hit $63.67 per barrel, but volatility remains as geopolitical concerns remain.
- Natural gas prices rallied early in 2025 with colder-than-usual temperatures in the United States and high demand, topping out at $4.68/MMBtu in March. Prices have since fallen with the onset of trade wars and weakening demand projections to $3.64/MMBtu in the third week of May 2025.
- The national average of gasoline prices has been rising slightly due to refinery maintenance/outages and blending issues, hitting a national average of $3.15 per gallon in the third week of May 2025. However, gasoline futures have been volatile, falling due to fears of oversupply and deepening concerns about weakening demand with tariffs, but rising after trade deals.
Global Plastic Bags Market - Suppliers by Region
| Country/Region | Number of Suppliers |
|---|---|
| #1 Europe | 3,730 |
| #2 Oceania & Southeast Asia | 2,990 |
| #3 China | 2,500 |
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Geography Drilldown - US, Canada & Europe
Average Cost of Plastic Bags
United States
2026 Market Pricing$11.55 to $XX.XX
per pack of 1,000 bagsCanada
Europe
Average Price
Prices in the Plastic Bags market range from $11.55 to $XX.XX, depending on Material Quality, Customization and Order quantity. For example, lower prices are associated with Thin LDPE bags ($12.25 to $45.00 per 1,000 bags), whereas higher prices are associated with Thick HDPE bags ($50.00 to $176 per 1,000 bags).
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Plastic Bags Category Price Trends
Pricing trends are indicated by the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during a set period of time. For the Plastic Bags market, prices in the US have declined -0.0% from 2022 to 2025. and +1.3% in Europe.
United States (2022-2025)
Canada (2018-2021)
Compound Annual Growth Rate
Europe (2022-2025)
Compound Annual Growth Rate
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Price trend forecasts are available to subscribers, along with price driver projections and forward-looking cost structure data.
Cost Analysis - Total Cost of Ownership for Plastic Bags
Total cost of ownership is Low in the Plastic Bags market. The average cost of ownership differs depending on the contract but generally includes costs negotiated before the contract begins, costs billed during the contract period and unforeseen costs. For example, unforeseen costs in the form of Delays may raise the total cost of ownership unexpectedly.
Negotiated Before
Customization
Transportation
Billed During
Disposal
Unforeseen
Delays
Buyer Power in Procurement Negotiations
In 2026, buyer power amounts to -0.7 in the United States. Buyer power is most positively impacted by Recent Developments. It is most negatively impacted by Availability of Substitutes. Subscribers can access details on eight other factors that impact buyer power. Learn more
United States
Canada
Europe
Buyer power forecasts: your glimpse into the future
Develop strategies for the upcoming year and identify unforeseen opportunities for buying now
- Actionable "Buy Now" and "Buy Later" insights
- Near-real-time updates to current and forecast Buyer Power Scores
- Methodology and weightings for Buyer Power Score Components
Supply Chain Risk
The average level of supply chain risk is assessed as Medium, which has a negative impact on buyer power. The level of supply chain risk is affected by industry volatility, barriers to entry, competition, import penetration, regulation and industry financial risk. Buyers in this market can mitigate procurement and supply chain management risks by monitoring risk levels for individual first and second tier suppliers:
1st
Tier Suppliers
- Plastic & Resin Manufacturers
- Ink Manufacturers
- Industrial Machinery & Equipment Wholesalers
2nd
Tier Suppliers
- Petroleum Refineries
- Petrochemical Manufacturers
- Dye & Pigment Manufacturers
- Metalworking Machinery Manufacturers
Biggest Plastic Bags Suppliers in the US by Revenue
The largest Plastic Bags vendors by revenue in the US are Bunzl Plc, System Inc. and W.W. Grainger, Inc. Subscribers can sort and filter by market share concentration, profit level and other factors. Learn more
| Supplier | Operational Size | Headquarters | Number of Employees | Market Share (%) | Market Share Performance (3yr trend) | Total Revenue ($ million) | Profit Level (%) | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W.W. Grainger, Inc. | Global | LAKE FOREST | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Bunzl Plc | Global | London, UK | >10,001 | < 5 | ||||
| Alpha Industries | International | Lyndhurst, NJ | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Inteplast Group, Ltd. | Global | Livingston, NJ | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Novolex Holdings LLC | Global | Hartsville, SC | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| ProAmpac Holdings Inc. | International | Cincinnati, OH | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Uline, Inc. | International | Pleasant Prairie, WI | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| System Inc. | National | PORT WASHINGTON | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| International Plastics Inc. | Global | Greenville, SC | 25-50 | < 5 | ||||
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Profit Analysis
The average profit margin across vendors in the Plastic Bags market is 7.1% and steady. Profit levels shift depending on suppliers' spend on wages, purchases and overhead. The highest cost component for vendors is Purchases. The cost trend for this component is rising, when considering movement between 2025 and 2026. To understand cost forecasts for 2027 and uncover the implications on profit, start your subscription. Learn more
Vendor & Supply Chain Analysis
The plastic bags market is fragmented with the top four players capturing less than 30.0% of total market revenue. This enhances buyer power through increasing negotiation leverage due to high competition.
The plastic bags market has a moderate level of supply chain risk. Risk primarily stems from volatility in upstream inputs, such as plastic and resins, which are petroleum-based materials and subject to frequent price shifts.
On average, vendor risk in the market is low as plastic bags are an established and widely used product, helping sustain demand. However, smaller vendors may experience higher risk as competition in the market is high.
The United States is a net importer of plastic bags, as it imports more than it exports. This adds significant risk to buyers, as trade policies and currency exchange rates can add price volatility to the market.
Supplier Information
Advance Polybag Inc.
Advance Polybag Inc. is a private company operating nationally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include plastic bags. Founded in 1986, the company is currently headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, United States of America with an estimated 175 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Alpha Industries
Alpha Industries is a private company operating internationally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include plastic bags and trash bags. Founded in 1959, the company is currently headquartered in Reston, Virginia, United States of America with an estimated 375 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Bunzl Plc
Bunzl Plc is a public company operating globally in the construction, manufacturing and manufacturing sectors. The company's offerings include paper bags, plastic bags, slip sheets, molded fiber packaging, safety apparel. Founded in 1854, the company is currently headquartered in London, United Kingdom with... Subscribe to learn more
Inteplast Group, Ltd.
Inteplast Group, Ltd. is a private company operating globally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include plastic film, plastic bags and trash bags. Founded in 1991, the company is currently headquartered in Livingston, New Jersey, United States of America with an estimated 5500 employees.... Subscribe to learn more
International Plastics Inc.
International Plastics Inc. is a private company operating globally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include plastic bags. Founded in 1964, the company is currently headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, United States of America with an estimated 40 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Novolex Holdings LLC
Novolex Holdings LLC is a private company operating globally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include plastic film, laminated papers, paper cups, paper bags, plastic bags. Founded in 2004, the company is currently headquartered in Hartsville, South Carolina, United States of America with... Subscribe to learn more
ProAmpac Holdings Inc.
ProAmpac Holdings Inc. is a private company operating internationally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include plastic bags and flexible packaging. Founded in 1971, the company is currently headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America with an estimated 4000 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Superbag U.S.A. Corp.
Superbag U.S.A. Corp. is a private company operating nationally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include plastic bags. Founded in 1988, the company is currently headquartered in Houston, Texas, United States of America with an estimated 275 employees. Subscribe to learn more
System Inc.
Global Industrial Co. is a distributor of over a million industrial and maintenance, repair, and operation (MRO) products in North America under the Global™, GlobalIndustrial.com™, Nexel™, Paramount™, and Interion™ trademarks. Its product categories include storage and shelving, safety and security, carts... Subscribe to learn more
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Procurement Management KPIs for the Plastic Bags Market
Managing vendor performance throughout the contract period is easier when tracking specific key performance indicators (KPIs). For example, buyers should monitor Cash Flow and Cost of Goods Sold. Buyers may experience better performance throughout their contracts if they establish service level agreements (SLAs) based on Customer Support and other factors.
| KPI | Level of Importance (1-5) | Measurements | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Flow |
|
Press reports Financial statements |
Vendors with positive cash flow are preferred because it signifies a higher level of profitability and solvency of the vendor. These factors minimize the risk of a supplier abruptly exiting the market. |
| Cost of Goods Sold |
|
Press reports Financial statements |
The cost of goods sold can be used to determine a vendor's profitability, as well as potential pricing strategies. Buyers can utilize this accounting info to determine whether they are receiving a fair price. |
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Questions to Ask During Procurement Negotiations
How can I gain leverage during negotiations?
Quality Control
What are your best-selling plastic bag products?
What procedures do you have in place to evaluate product quality?
Experience Qualifications
How many years of experience in plastic bag manufacturing or distribution do you have?
What geographic regions do you currently serve?
Customer Service
How long does it usually take to receive a product?
Do you charge any shipping and handling fees? Do you have a minimum order amount? What other additional charges do you impose?
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Plastic Bags RFP Guidelines
What should my RFP include?
Organizational Overview
Buyers should describe their organization, including geographic location and size.
Buyers should indicate the type of plastic bags they wish to purchase.
Statement Of Need
Buyers must indicate the volume of orders and their expected frequency
Buyers should include any design requirements, such as size, material, color and gauge.
Project Budget
Buyers should indicate the total value of the contract for plastic bags.
Buyers must specify any terms for price adjustments during the term of the contract.
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Our Reports include:
- Opportunity assessment
- Market dynamics
- Recent developments
- Positive and warning trends
- Buyer power levers
- Price environment and market pricing
- Geographic wage rates
- Global market updates
- Total cost of ownership
- Cost structure benchmarks and analysis
- Supply chain and vendors
- Global supplier breakdown
- Market share concentration
- Regulation and business requirements
- Vendor management and KPIs
- Sourcing strategy guidance
