According to a recent study by the Freedonia Group, a department of MarketResearch.com, plastics will continue to be the leading protective packaging material, accounting for 71% of the global $33.2 billion protective packaging industry. By 2027, global demand for protective packaging is expected to grow at an annual rate of 4.0%, reaching $40.4 billion.

Research on global protective packaging shows that the market with the fastest growth of protective packaging will be supported by expanding the use of protective mail, air pillow and other flexible products in e-commerce order fulfillment. The increase in sensitive and fragile items (such as electronic products) in e-commerce transportation also contributes to growth, as these items require greater protection to avoid damage during transportation. These materials include molded foam used to hold items in place, surface protective film to prevent scratches, and rolled foam used to increase cushioning.