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Flexible packaging economic impact report released

The report estimates $151.4 billion in total output and nearly 400,000 jobs supported.

FPA economic impact — Courtesy of the Flexible Packaging Association

The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) has released its 2025 Economic Impact of the U.S. Flexible Packaging Industry report, prepared by John Dunham & Associates. The report quantifies the sector’s national footprint, estimating $151.4 billion in total economic output and nearly 400,000 jobs supported across 528 sectors of the U.S. economy.

“Flexible packaging is one of those industries that most people never think about, but can’t live without,” says Dan Felton, president and CEO of FPA. “From food and medicine to critical household goods, flexible packaging keeps products protected, extends shelf life, and helps reduce waste. This report shows just how vital our sector is, supporting hundreds of thousands of American jobs and strengthening local economies in every state.”

Key findings from the 2025 report show that the flexible packaging industry generated and supported:

$151.4B in total U.S. economic output (approximately 0.5% of GDP)
398,780 total jobs
98,420 direct jobs in packaging manufacturing
155,520 supplier jobs
144,840 induced jobs
$33.46B in wages and benefits
$8.7B from direct employment
$14.7B from suppliers
$10B from induced impacts
$13.35B in federal, state, and local taxes.

Flexible packaging—including pouches, wraps, and films—is widely used across food and beverage, healthcare, manufacturing, and consumer goods. Its lightweight, resource-efficient design helps reduce transportation costs and material use, contributing to its growth as one of the fastest-expanding packaging segments in the U.S.

“The flexible packaging sector doesn’t just produce packages—it produces opportunity,” Felton says. “As our members continue to invest in new materials, technologies, and recycling innovations, the economic and environmental value of flexible packaging will only continue to grow.”