Global Plastic Bags and Sacks Market By Type (Gusseted Bags, T-Shirt Bags, Lay Flat Bags, Rubble Sacks, Trash Bags, Woven Sacks, Others), By Material (Biodegradable v/s Non-Biodegradable), By Application (Retail & Consumer Applications, Institutional Services, Institutional Services, Others), By Company, By Region, Forecast & Opportunities, 2028 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 26.68 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.82%
Fastest Growing Segment	Biodegradable
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 37.46 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Plastic Bags and Sacks Market will grow from USD 26.68 Billion in 2025 to USD 37.46 Billion by 2031 at a 5.82% CAGR. Plastic bags and sacks are defined as flexible packaging containers manufactured from thin polymeric films and utilized extensively for the containment and transport of commercial goods. The market growth is supported by the economic efficiency and high durability of these materials which offer superior moisture resistance and reduced shipping weights compared to rigid alternatives. According to European Bioplastics, in 2024, the packaging segment accounted for 45 percent of the global bioplastics production capacity.

A prominent challenge impeding market expansion is the intensifying regulatory pressure regarding environmental sustainability and waste management. Governments worldwide are enforcing bans and taxation on disposable plastics to mitigate pollution which compels manufacturers to invest in expensive alternative materials or recycling infrastructure. This regulatory landscape creates financial strain on producers and limits volume growth in traditional product lines while necessitating significant operational adjustments.

Key Market Drivers

The rapid expansion of global e-commerce and last-mile delivery services acts as a primary catalyst for the Global Plastic Bags and Sacks Market. As consumers increasingly shift toward online shopping, logistics companies prioritize lightweight, durable, and water-resistant packaging solutions to minimize shipping costs and protect goods during transit. Plastic mailers and courier bags offer superior functional properties compared to rigid boxes, significantly reducing the volumetric weight of parcels and improving fuel efficiency in distribution networks. This surge in parcel volume directly correlates with increased consumption of flexible plastic packaging. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, November 2024, in the 'Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales Report', U.S. e-commerce sales increased by 7.4 percent in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year, highlighting the sustained momentum in online retail that necessitates robust packaging supply chains.

Simultaneously, the rising demand for hygienic and contamination-proof food packaging drives significant adoption of plastic sacks in the grocery and agricultural sectors. Flexible plastic containers are essential for preserving the freshness of perishable goods, extending shelf life, and preventing cross-contamination in meat, poultry, and produce supply lines. This reliance is particularly acute in the organized retail sector, where barrier properties are critical for food safety compliance. According to the Flexible Packaging Association, March 2024, in the 'State of the U.S. Flexible Packaging Industry Report', the U.S. flexible packaging industry reached USD 42.9 billion in annual sales for 2023, largely fueled by food applications which constitute the largest end-use segment. To support this extensive manufacturing requirement, raw material availability remains high; according to Plastics Europe, November 2024, global plastics production reached 413.8 million tonnes in 2023, ensuring a steady feedstock for bag and sack manufacturers worldwide.

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Key Market Challenges

The intensifying regulatory landscape focused on environmental sustainability constitutes a substantial barrier to the growth of the global plastic bags and sacks market. Governments globally are moving beyond simple waste management guidelines to enforcing stringent restrictions, including outright bans on single-use plastics and mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes. This legislative shift directly constrains the sales volume of traditional commodity products, forcing manufacturers to contend with shrinking demand for high-turnover items that have historically driven revenue. The immediate impact is a forced contraction in the addressable market for conventional polyethylene-based bags.

Furthermore, compliance with these evolving standards imposes significant financial strain on producers. Companies are compelled to divert capital from capacity expansion toward legal compliance and the development of eco-friendly alternatives, which often involve higher raw material costs and lower profit margins. The velocity of this legislative activity is measurable. According to the Flexible Packaging Association, in 2024, state legislatures in the United States introduced 49 bills specifically related to extended producer responsibility (EPR), signaling a rapid escalation in the compliance burden facing the industry. This regulatory volatility creates an uncertain operating environment, stalling investment in traditional production lines.

Key Market Trends

The integration of Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) resins in manufacturing is becoming a definitive trend as producers strive to decouple operations from fossil fuel dependency and meet circular economy targets. Unlike simple waste management compliance, this shift involves significant technical modifications to multi-layer blown film extrusion processes to handle the rheological inconsistencies of recycled feedstock while maintaining tensile strength. Manufacturers are aggressively scaling their procurement of reclaimed materials to satisfy the sustainability mandates of global consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands. This operational pivot is quantifiable; according to Berry Global, March 2025, in the '2024 Sustainability Report', the company increased its purchases of post-consumer resin (PCR) by 43 percent year-over-year, signaling a robust movement toward closing the loop in plastic sack production.

Simultaneously, the adoption of biodegradable and compostable polymer alternatives is gaining momentum, specifically targeting food-contact applications where mechanical recycling is often impractical due to contamination. This trend is characterized by the commercialization of advanced biopolymers like polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), which are engineered to offer barrier properties comparable to conventional polyethylene while ensuring end-of-life compostability. The supply side is expanding rapidly to meet this specialized demand, moving beyond niche status to industrial-scale availability. According to European Bioplastics, January 2025, in the 'Bioplastics Market Development Update 2024', global bioplastics production capacity is projected to increase to approximately 5.73 million tonnes by 2029, underscoring the long-term investment viability of these non-fossil alternatives in the flexible packaging sector.

Segmental Insights

The Biodegradable material segment is currently the fastest-growing category within the Global Plastic Bags and Sacks Market, driven primarily by intensifying regulatory pressure to mitigate environmental pollution. Governments worldwide are implementing strict prohibitions on single-use petroleum-based products, compelling a structural shift toward compostable alternatives. For instance, the European Union has enforced rigorous directives banning various single-use plastic items, which has significantly accelerated the adoption of bio-based materials across the region. This legislative landscape, combined with heightened corporate sustainability mandates, is forcing manufacturers to transition away from conventional polymers, thereby fueling rapid expansion in this segment.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific commands the leading position in the Global Plastic Bags and Sacks Market, driven by robust industrial activity and a rapidly expanding consumer base. The region's dominance is underpinned by the aggressive growth of the e-commerce and organized retail sectors, particularly in major economies like China and India, which necessitates extensive packaging for logistics and delivery. Furthermore, the region serves as a primary global manufacturing hub, benefiting from cost-efficient production capabilities and high raw material availability. Sustained demand from the food, beverage, and construction industries for reliable storage and transport solutions further cements Asia Pacific's market supremacy.

Recent Developments

• In May 2025, Gravis launched Sustainabulk, a flexible intermediate bulk container manufactured entirely from recycled PET plastic. This heavy-duty sack was designed to meet the rigorous demands of industrial transport while achieving a reduction in carbon emissions of approximately 70% compared to standard virgin polypropylene bags. The product features high tensile strength and resistance to UV light and abrasion, making it suitable for outdoor storage and demanding logistics environments. This release was aligned with emerging regulations requiring higher recyclability standards, demonstrating the effectiveness of using material derived from recycled plastic bottles in the bulk packaging sector.
• In November 2024, Berry Global collaborated with T2 Maschinenbau to demonstrate a new polyethylene bag solution containing 50% recycled plastic content. This partnership highlighted the successful application of Single Wound Sheet films made from recycled material on continuous vertical form-fill-seal machinery, a process commonly used for industrial and consumer packaging. The joint effort proved that sustainable films could be processed at high speeds without compromising print quality, durability, or operational efficiency. The initiative underscored the viability of incorporating significant amounts of post-consumer recycled resin into plastic sacks for diverse applications, including agriculture and construction.
• In October 2024, Novolex introduced the Power Prep™ product line, featuring bags and rolls specifically engineered for the grab-and-go hot food market. Produced by the company's Bagcraft division, these packaging solutions utilize a multilayered insulated structure that preserves the temperature and flavor of food items such as sandwiches and bagels. The design incorporates an oil-and-grease-resistant paper laminated to a honeycomb liner, ensuring durability and moisture control during freezing, thawing, and reheating processes. This innovation was aimed at foodservice operators and convenience stores seeking reliable, high-performance packaging to enhance the consumer experience for prepared foods.
• In April 2024, Revolution announced the launch of Dailygood Bags, a new line of eco-friendly heavy-duty trash bags designed for household use. These bags are manufactured using up to 97% post-consumer recycled plastic resin, a formulation that significantly reduces reliance on virgin materials and lowers the product's environmental footprint. The bags were developed through the company’s proprietary sustainable loop model, which involves collecting and recycling agricultural plastic waste to create durable, commercial-strength film. This introduction marked a strategic expansion of the company's sustainable portfolio into the consumer market, offering a high-performance alternative to traditional waste disposal bags.

Key Market Players

• Berry Global Inc.
• Mondi
• Amcor plc
• Inteplast Group
• Smurfit Kappa
• Novolex
• Bischof+Klein SE & Co. KG
• Alfa Poly Plast
• Goglio SpA
• ARIHANT PACKAGING

By Type	By Material	By Application	By Region
Gusseted Bags T-Shirt Bags Lay Flat Bags Rubble Sacks Trash Bags Woven Sacks Others	Biodegradable v/s Non-Biodegradable	Retail & Consumer Applications Institutional Services Institutional Services Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Plastic Bags and Sacks Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Plastic Bags and Sacks Market, By Type:

• Gusseted Bags
• T-Shirt Bags
• Lay Flat Bags
• Rubble Sacks
• Trash Bags
• Woven Sacks
• Others

• Plastic Bags and Sacks Market, By Material:

• Biodegradable v/s Non-Biodegradable

• Plastic Bags and Sacks Market, By Application:

• Retail & Consumer Applications
• Institutional Services
• Institutional Services
• Others

• Plastic Bags and Sacks Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE