South America Single-use Plastic Packaging - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026-2031)

The South America single-use plastic packaging market size was valued at USD 1.84 billion in 2025 and is estimated to grow from USD 1.91 billion in 2026 to reach USD 2.29 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 3.70% during the forecast period 2026-2031. This report is segmented by Product Type (Bottles and Containers, Bags and Pouches, and More), Material Type (Polyethylene, and More), Packaging Format (Rigid Packaging, Flexible Packaging, and Semi-Rigid Packaging), Application (Food Packaging, and More), End User (Retail and Supermarkets, and More), and Geography. The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

South America Single-use Plastic Packaging Market Trends and Insights

Expansion of Food Delivery and Quick-Service Restaurants

Food delivery and quick-service restaurants require packaging that protects food and supports safe handling. The South America Single-use Plastic Packaging Market benefits when delivery operators use sealed bags, trays, and pouches for each order. Cloud kitchens use film pouches, tamper-evident trays, and heat-sealed bags because these formats are well-suited to rapid preparation cycles. Drive-through and app-based orders can include several individually packed items in one protected outer bag. This can increase the packaging used per order, even as restaurant menus become simpler. The requirement for secure delivery packaging, therefore, supports stable demand for converters as foodservice channels expand.

Growth of Packaged Food and Beverage Consumption

Brazil’s processed-food output grew 4.2% year over year in 2025, led by poultry, instant coffee, and fruit concentrates that need barrier packaging during export transport. Pouches have gained use for condiments as retailers and foodservice companies seek refill-friendly formats. This shift can reduce the material weight of each unit while increasing the number of packaged units used in a category. Functional beverages, energy drinks, and chilled dairy products also require clear PET and PP containers with barrier properties. Growth in convenience retail creates further demand for affordable packs that can protect products through fragmented distribution networks. These needs keep food and beverage consumption central to the South America Single-use Plastic Packaging Market.

Single-Use Plastic Restrictions and Extended Producer Responsibility Costs

Brazil’s Federal Decree No. 12,688/2025 established a national reverse-logistics framework for plastic packaging. The framework set a 32% recovery target and 22% recycled-content requirement for 2026, with different implementation dates for large and smaller companies. Chile introduced further requirements in February 2026 that restricted the use of single-use products in food establishments. Foodservice operators can provide certain products off-premises only when they meet compostability requirements or are requested by consumers. These rules increase the importance of certified recyclable and compostable designs. They also raise compliance, testing, and documentation costs for converters that rely on multi-material structures.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

• E-Commerce and Quick-Commerce Fulfillment Demand
• Conversion From Rigid to Flexible Single-Use Formats
• Volatility in Petrochemical Resin Prices

Segment Analysis

Bottles and Containers held 36.14% of 2025 revenue, supported by beverage, pharmaceutical, and personal care applications that require rigidity and product visibility. PET and PP bottles remain important in organized retail, particularly for branded products that require tamper-evident packaging and clear presentation. The share of the South America Single-use Plastic Packaging Market held by these formats reflects their fit with high-volume consumer products. This makes rigid bottles an important source of stable demand in the South America Single-use Plastic Packaging Market. Bags and Pouches are projected to grow at a 4.83% CAGR through 2031. Their growth reflects demand for lightweight packs used for condiments, dairy products, and dry food ingredients.

Trays, Cups, and Lids serve the foodservice and restaurant delivery sectors, where volume follows prepared-meal orders. Thermoforming improvements can reduce tray gauge while retaining the required strength for handling. Clamshells remain useful for fresh produce and bakery items because they allow product visibility. Films and Wraps support industrial stretch-film, agricultural mulch, and food heat-seal applications. Paper alternatives may limit growth in selected secondary-packaging uses. Constantia Flexibles launched a mono-material PE zipper pouch in Chile that was designed for LDPE collection systems.

Polyethylene accounted for 35.05% of material revenue in 2025 because it is used in films, bags, and bottles. Its broad use and cost profile sustain demand in the South America Single-use Plastic Packaging Market. It also provides converters with a widely available resin base for various end uses in the South America Single-use Plastic Packaging Market. PP is widely used for closures, microwave-safe trays, and heat-resistant foodservice containers. PET remains important for clear bottles and food trays. PET spot prices reached USD 1.06 per kilogram in 2025, while recycled PET was priced at USD 1.12 per kilogram.

Polystyrene and expanded polystyrene face lower market access as restrictions take effect in Chile and Brazilian municipalities. This supports demand for PP and PET alternatives in several foodservice uses. Polylactic Acid is projected to record a 4.62% CAGR through 2031, the fastest rate among the listed materials. Brazil’s sugarcane-based ethanol supply chain supports the development of bio-based materials. Braskem presented bio-based and circular polyolefin grades for food-contact, healthcare, and hygiene uses in 2026. Brazil also reduces the import duty on PLA used in food-contact applications, thereby supporting adoption by certified converters.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Product Type
  • Bottles and Containers
  • Bags and Pouches
  • Trays, Cups, and Lids
  • Clamshells
  • Films and Wraps
  • Other Product Types
• By Material Type
  • Polyethylene
  • Polypropylene
  • Polyethylene Terephthalate
  • Polystyrene and Expanded Polystyrene
  • Polylactic Acid
  • Other Material Types
• By Packaging Format
  • Rigid Packaging
  • Flexible Packaging
  • Semi-Rigid Packaging
• By Application
  • Food Packaging
  • Beverage Packaging
  • Personal Care Packaging
  • Pharmaceutical Packaging
  • Household and Institutional Packaging
  • Industrial and Agricultural Packaging
• By End User
  • Foodservice and Quick-Service Restaurants
  • Retail and Supermarkets
  • E-Commerce and Delivery Platforms
  • Consumer Goods Manufacturers
  • Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
  • Personal Care and Cosmetics Manufacturers
• By Geography
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Rest of South America

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

• Amcor plc
• Berry Global Group, Inc.
• Sealed Air Corporation
• Mondi plc
• Sonoco Products Company
• Huhtamäki Oyj
• ProAmpac Holdings Inc.
• Constantia Flexibles Group GmbH
• Coveris Management GmbH
• Transcontinental Inc.
• Winpak Ltd.
• ALPLA Werke Alwin Lehner GmbH & Co KG
• Plastipak Holdings, Inc.
• Valgroup Participações S.A.
• Logoplaste Group
• AptarGroup, Inc.
• CCL Industries Inc.
• Gerresheimer AG
• Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
• Comar, LLC
• ZARAPLAST S.A.
• Petropack S.A.
• EMUSA
• Megapack

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support