- by Owen Stuart
- January 28 2019
- Packaging
- sustainability
Sustainable Packaging’s Winners & Losers
Corporate America is changing its ways as consumers demand sustainable packaging. For example, McDonald’s expects to use 100% renewable, recycled, or Forest Stewardship Council Certified packaging by 2025, while PepsiCo intends to use 100% recyclable packaging. Here’s a look at which packaging materials are in position to see the biggest benefits – and the biggest losses – from the shift to sustainable packaging.
- by Leon Mengri
- January 25 2019
- services & miscellaneous
Update: Ultra-Low-Cost Carriers Continue to Outperform the Airline Industry
Ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs) disrupted the US airline industry with a new business model – discounted fares in exchange for stripped-down service – and they continue to enjoy significant success. Global revenues for Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Travel Company, two of the three leading ULCCs in the country, grew at an average annual rate of 15% over the 2010-2017 period, roughly 3.6 times faster than the airline industry overall. Frontier Airlines is the other ULCC that participates in the US airline industry but is not publicly traded and does not publish financial data.
Alternative Products Make Inroads Into the Meat & Poultry Market
Suppliers of fresh, frozen, and processed meat and poultry are facing increased competition from producers of meat substitutes. Manufacturers of such products include Beyond Meat, Kellogg Company’s MorningStar Farms, and Impossible Foods. As these companies continue to improve the taste and texture (e.g., ability to sizzle on a grill) of plant-based patties and other meat substitutes, more individuals are experimenting with these products. The increased availability of meat substitutes on restaurant menus and grocery store shelves is also spurring sales.
- by Leon Mengri
- January 14 2019
- environment
- Materials & Chemicals
- packaging
- sustainability
- Waste Management
List of Cities Banning Polystyrene Foam Grows
In the US, a considerable number of cities and counties have passed ordinances banning foodservice disposables made from polystyrene foam. Some localities have even banned a wider range of consumer products made of polystyrene foam, such as beach and pool toys, coolers, egg containers, and marine navigation markers. While polystyrene foam bans have not made a large impact on total US demand yet, an increase in bans throughout the US by municipalities and foodservice companies could impact sales in the future.
- by Chris Dyer
- January 7 2019
- beverage trends
- food and beverage
- fruit
Squeezing the Juice from the Fruit Beverage Market
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Historically, a simple mention of “100% Juice” was sufficient to encourage a consumer to purchase fruit beverages based on what appeared to be a healthy choice. However, with greater consumer awareness of the sugar content of juice, the movement of consumers away from sugary beverages, and the decline of traditional breakfast habits, fruit beverage shipments have been on a recent decline. As manufacturers change their product lines to appeal to new consumer habits, a range of new beverage options marketed as healthy has entered the market.
- by Owen Stuart
- January 7 2019
- Materials & Chemicals
Polyethylene Production Expands, but Trade Fears Loom
Between 2014 and 2017, polyethylene production expanded as chemical companies opened new facilities. Production is further expected to expand through 2022 as companies such as LyondellBasell and Shell bring even more capacity online. However, the US market for polyethylene is mature and saturated. So why are these companies still ramping up production?
- by Owen Stuart
- November 29 2018
- consumer goods
Turning the Tables on the Furniture Industry
Long dominated by a single business model, the furniture market is getting shaken up by challengers using a variety of strategies to attract new customers. Three trends are disrupting the furniture industry, giving startups a chance to break into the market. However, established furniture manufacturers aren’t just couch potatoes – they’ve got some strategies of their own to compete in the rapidly changing retail space.
- by Chris Dyer
- October 19 2018
- e-shopping
- home
- online retail
Online Shopping Brings Bed & Bath Furnishings Closer to Home
The impact of online shopping on brick and mortar retailers is becoming more pronounced as consumers grow increasingly comfortable making purchases from the comfort of home – including purchases of bed and bath furnishings.
- by James Lacy
- October 17 2018
- Materials & Chemicals
Polypropylene Resin Continues to Improve Due to Reinforcements
Suppliers of polypropylene resins and compounds continue to invest in compounding and processing improvements to boost the resin’s competitiveness with alternative materials such as steel and aluminum. The addition of reinforcement materials (e.g., glass and carbon fibers) increase the resin’s impact resistance and strength, while also offering the weight reduction and corrosion resistance advantages plastics have over metals
- by Chris Dyer
- October 15 2018
- coal
- Energy & Resources
The Smoldering Remains of American Coal
Coal production in the US continues to fall year-over-year, despite the best efforts of the current administration to end the “war on coal” and efforts by industry insiders to maintain market share. Even with relaxed environmental standards, demand for coal is falling precipitously. If environmental regulations are not responsible for killing coal, what is?