SKU proliferation not only is increasing the number of products on retail shelves, it also is helping to fuel the beverage packaging markets. According to “Beverage Containers,” a study from Cleveland-based The Freedonia Group Inc., U.S. demand for beverage containers is expected to increase 1.9 percent a year to 283 billion units in 2019. Plastic containers will remain the largest and fastest growing for beverages with gains supported by the growing bottled water market. However, the market research firm notes that plastic also will gain ground in newer uses, including ready-to-drink (RTD) tea, RTD coffee and larger sizes of alcohol beverages.
Given these facts, plastic bottle manufacturers are stepping up their game to deliver flexible lines, innovative bottle designs and shapes, and cost reduction — all while paying close attention to sustainability and recyclability.