The trash bag category in the US remains stable, yet primed for transformation. Mintel projects flat growth of -0.2% in 2025, followed by a promising 13.8% increase through 2029, ultimately reaching $4.5 billion. Despite short-term economic pressures, consistent demand and innovation are driving long-term momentum.
Consumers prioritize functionality, with durability and strength as key factors, driven by concerns around tears, odors and ease of use. Premium options offering odor control, pest prevention and tailored solutions for small spaces are gaining traction, showing willingness to pay for enhanced performance.
Sustainability is reshaping the category, as consumers feel guilty about the environmental impact of traditional trash bags. This paves the way for compostable and recycled innovations, though doubts about their reliability remain a challenge. Tackling concerns over green claims and production costs, brands are innovating with affordable, multifunctional, sustainable solutions, transforming trash bags into tools for conscious living.
This report looks at the following areas:
- Analysis of US trash bag market size and forecast through 2030
- Consumer attitudes toward trash management and sustainability
- Examination of challenges with trash management
- Consumer preferences for trash bag features like durability and scent
- Impact of economic factors on the trash management category
- Insights into consumer shopping habits and purchase locations
- Opportunities for innovation in trash bag design and functionality
Trash bags reflect evolving priorities, balancing durability, functionality and sustainability as consumers navigate practicality and environmental impact.
Lindsay Cameron, Analyst – Health & Wellness
Market Definitions
For the purposes of this Report, Mintel defines the trash bag market as consisting of the following segment:
Trash bags – Includes kitchen trash bags, black trash bags and small trash bags designed for bathroom or other small trash cans
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- What you need to know
- Market size & forecast
- Market predictions
- What consumers want & why
- Opportunities
- Elevate the story of scent from optional to functional
- Bridge the gap between values and choices
- Streamline and help organize high-traffic areas of the home
- Tap into trash bag’s role in fragrance layering in the home
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MARKET DYNAMICS
- Market context
- US economic snapshot
- Inflation accelerated in June as a result of tariffs pushing up prices
- Graph 1: headline CPI and core CPI, 2021-25
- Consumer sentiment increased again in July, though looming tariffs threaten to evaporate the potential for further gains
- Graph 2: consumer sentiment index, 2022-25
- Market drivers
- Tariffs could complicate trash bag affordability
- Fewer plastic bags could make space for small trash bags
- Household sizes are expected to continue declining
- Graph 3: households, by presence of own children, 2013-23
- Graph 4: median age of the US population, 1940-2050
- Market size and forecast
- Retail sales and forecast of trash bags
- Graph 5: total retail sales and forecast of trash bags, at current prices, 2019-30
- Retail sales and forecast of trash bags, at current prices
- Retail sales and forecast of trash bags, at inflation-adjusted prices
- Market/brand share
- Sales of trash bags, by company
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CONSUMER INSIGHTS
- Consumer fast facts
- Trash bag usage
- The necessity of trash bags drives heavy usage
- Graph 6: usage of trash bag products, 2025
- Trash bag usage becomes less varied with age
- Graph 7: usage of trash bag products, by age group, 2025
- Encourage compostable bag usage beyond pet waste
- Graph 8: usage of select trash bag type by material type, 2025
- Trash bag purchase locations
- Enhance visibility and convenience for trash bag purchases
- Graph 9: typical trash bag purchase locations, 2025
- Tailor prompts to shopper preferences for timely restocking
- Graph 10: typical trash bag purchase locations, by age, 2025
- Tailor prompts to shopper preferences for timely restocking
- Glad aligns products with consumer shopping habits at home improvement stores
- Important factors in trash bag selection
- Durability and strength has to be the foundation of messaging
- Graph 11: top three trash bag attributes NET any rank up to three, 2025
- Older adults demand functionality, while younger audiences see value in extras
- Graph 12: top three trash bag attributes NET any rank up to three, by age group, 2025
- Highlight odor control over masking scents
- Trash bag shopping habits
- Brand loyalty and convenience drive purchasing behaviors for trash bags
- Cost savings and promotions create opportunities to engage less affluent shoppers of all ages
- Graph 13: select trash bag purchasing habits, by age and income, 2025
- Highlight hassle-free solutions to appeal to affluent bulk shoppers
- Graph 14: purchase trash bags in bulk quantities, by age and income, 2025
- Connect with parents by addressing key life-stage transitions for them and their children
- Challenges with trash management
- Address functional challenges like bag tears and odors
- Graph 15: challenges with trash management , 2025
- Show younger audiences how they can simplify trash duties, even if they don’t tackle them as frequently as they should
- Graph 16: challenges with trash management, by age group, 2025
- EcoBricking convenience without compromise
- Address household challenges through scent-focused education
- Attitudes toward trash management
- Although sustainability is a concern and a source of guilt for consumers, it isn’t heavily considered during purchasing
- Graph 17: attitudes toward sustainability and trash management, 2025
- Engage environmentally conscious consumers by emphasizing durability rather than sustainability
- Graph 18: attitudes toward sustainability and trash management, by age group, 2025
- Highlight the durability of sustainable bags compared to regular ones to prove their effectiveness
- Consumers will pay a higher price point if durability matches quality
- Budget dynamics shape how consumers perceive value in trash bags
- Graph 19: attitudes toward trash bag cost and value, by financial situation, 2025
- Functional benefits take center stage for private label, with savings as an extra perk
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INNOVATION AND MARKETING STRATEGIES
- Launch activity and innovation
- Using fungi to break down plastic waste into soil
- Trashie turns textile waste into rewards
- Rubbish aims to make the trash experience less garbage
- Marketing and advertising
- Leading brands are inspiring consumers to consider how trash bags contribute to seasonal household scent experiences
- Hefty brings mindfulness to trash duty
- Glad & T-Boz bring ’90s nostalgia to household cleaning
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APPENDIX
- Market definition
- Consumer research methodology
- Generations
- Trash bag type base sizes
- Forecast methodology
- Forecast fan chart methodology
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