The confectionery industry continues to boom in the U.S. A recent study found that 2023 Easter candy sales exceeded projections, with Americans spending $3.3 billion on Easter candy alone. And Easter isn’t the only holiday to boost confectionery sales. Valentine’s Day saw consumers projected to spend an average of $16 on chocolates and candy — up from under $9 per person in 2010 — while Halloween candy sales reached a record $3.1 billion in 2022.
While the confectionery segment may be on the rise, so too are the industry’s mounting packaging waste issues. Plastic packaging continues to dominate the confectionery industry despite warnings that only 5% of U.S. plastic waste is being recycled, making it one of the most wasteful materials on the market.
