Every American household, and every congressional district, depends on packaging. From the pouches that keep baby food fresh, to the sterile wraps around life-saving medical supplies, to the rations our military carries into the field, flexible packaging is quietly at work every day.
Yet despite its ubiquity, the flexible packaging industry is often overlooked in public policy discussions. In 2023, the U.S. market was valued at $42.9 billion and, according to the economic analysis group, Inforum, is projected to reach $43.8 billion in 2024, with steady growth of about 2.1% annually through 2030. It is the second-largest packaging segment in the country, representing roughly 20–21% of the total U.S. packaging market and supporting tens of thousands of jobs across nearly every state. That scale alone makes flexible packaging directly relevant to congressional debates on jobs, trade, climate, and public health.
So, what is flexible packaging? At its core, it refers to any non-rigid packaging made from films, foils, plastics, and paper—materials engineered to be lightweight yet protective. You see it every day in snack bags, resealable pouches, refill packs, and medical packaging that preserves sterility. While it may seem ordinary, flexible packaging is central to issues Congress grapples with every day: sustainability, recycling, food safety, labeling, and consumer access.
Flexible packaging advances four national priorities:
- Economic Competitiveness and Jobs: A $65+ billion sector driving U.S. manufacturing and innovation.
- Sustainability: Lightweight materials reduce transportation emissions, while extended shelf life reduces food waste—a leading source of methane emissions.
- Innovation and Safety: From convenient closures to recyclable materials, flexible packaging enhances consumer protection and environmental progress.
- Public Health and National Security: Essential for pharmaceuticals, military rations, and critical food supply chains.
For Congress, understanding the flexible packaging industry is key to shaping effective, balanced policies on recycling infrastructure, extended producer responsibility (EPR), circular economy legislation, food safety regulations, and supply chain resilience.
That’s why the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) is launching Unpacking Flexible Packaging. As the national voice of the flexible packaging industry, FPA represents the manufacturers, suppliers and vendors developing solutions that protect products, reduce waste, and strengthen U.S. manufacturing. Our mission is to be a trusted, nonpartisan resource for public policymakers.
In the months ahead, we’ll share articles exploring sustainability, economic impact, public health, and the future of recycling and circularity. Flexible packaging may not often be in the headlines on Capitol Hill, but it is too significant—and too connected to the lives of your constituents—to overlook.
