The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) today released a new Plastics Market Watch report, Plastic Bottles Today: Innovating to Reach Today’s Consumer, which shows that demand for plastic bottles continues to grow in the United States. Plastic bottles and jars represent approximately 75 percent of all plastic containers, by weight. PLASTICS projects continued increases across products and sectors, including beverage, food and water, household, pharmaceutical and automotive chemicals and fluids.

Last year, for the first time ever, bottled water consumption exceeded carbonated soft drinks in sales in the United States, growing 8.5 percent, according to the Beverage Marketing Corp. Further, plastic accounted for 41.2 percent of all beverage packaging units in 2016 according to same group. Given the increased consumer demand for plastic bottles, PLASTICS’ new study is a timely look into the trends that shape the plastic bottling sector.

“The bottling segment of our industry is projected to grow six percent over the next three years,” said PLASTICS’ Senior Vice President of Membership and Business Development Mark Garrison. “Recognizing this upward trend, we’ll unveil the Bottle Zone at NPE2018: The Plastics Show, as it will prove an invaluable resource for companies that work with PET pre-forms, blow molding, molds, labeling, filling, closures, design and inspection equipment.”

The study provides insight for the entire plastics industry and supply chain, as well as brands and other stakeholders, into the growth and usage of plastics for bottling and containers. Bottlers are currently using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to develop lighter packaging that saves costs in raw polymers, energy and transportation. The PET bottle designs are also more attractive to consumers in packaging and sustainability.

PLASTICS’ new Plastics Market Watch report attributes the incredible growth of PET to the high ranking of bottling in terms of plastics industry employment numbers, dollar value of shipments and capital expenditures. With bottling’s rapid rise, it’s vital manufacturers stay on top of key issues, challenges and advances affecting bottling. To that end, PLASTICS has created the Bottle Zone—covering more than 50,000 square feet on the exhibit floor at NPE2018—which will feature more than 40 industry leaders presenting the latest advancements, technologies and supplies in bottling manufacturing.