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Sustainable packaging markets will reach $170 billion by 2014, according to a recent report by Pike Research, Boulder, Colo., USA. Worldwide packaging industry revenues will increase from $429 billion in 2009 to $530 billion by 2014, representing a growth rate greater than that of the global economy itself. Along with this growth comes an ever-greater burden on the environment in the form of raw materials, energy, transportation, and disposal impacts. However, Pike Research forecasts that the sustainable packaging sector is growing much faster than the overall packaging industry, and the firm anticipates that eco-friendly packaging will nearly double in revenues between 2009 and 2014, from $88 billion to $170 billion.

Generally, according to the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, sustainable packaging involves "a closed loop flow of packaging materials in a system that is economically robust and provides benefit throughout its life cycle." The Coalition envisions "a world where all packaging is sourced responsibly, designed to be effective and safe throughout its life cycle, meets market criteria for performance and cost, is made entirely using renewable energy and once used, is recycled efficiently to provide a valuable resource for subsequent generations. In summary: a true closed loop system for all packaging."

Pike Research Managing Director Clint Wheelock notes that "the sustainable packaging challenge is one that must be solved by multiple parties in a spirit of cooperation. The move toward more environmentally responsible packaging is being embraced by consumers, manufacturers, retailers, advocacy groups, and world governments alike."

Pike Research anticipates that plastic-based packaging will be the fastest-growing segment of the sustainable packaging sector between now and 2014. "More eco-friendly plastic packaging will have a huge impact," says Wheelock, "because it represents more than a third of the total global packaging industry, second only to paper packaging."

The Pike Research study, titled Sustainable Packaging, assesses the global market opportunity for more environmentally-friendly packaging. It examines key market drivers and includes detailed five-year forecasts for the total packaging market as well as the sustainable packaging sector, segmented by packaging material categories and world regions.