Bag Industry Statistics

In a survey, 39% of consumers said they prefer neutral color bags (numeric). [1]

In a Statista survey, 53% of consumers in the UK said they purchase handbags at least once a year (numeric). [2]

In a survey, 60% of consumers said durability is the top attribute when purchasing bags (numeric). [3]

A NielsenIQ survey found that 46% of consumers purchased a bag made with recycled materials in the last 12 months (numeric). [4]

According to a McKinsey consumer survey, 67% of respondents are willing to change their consumption habits to reduce environmental impact (numeric). [5]

According to a Deloitte survey, 49% of consumers consider brand trust critical when buying luxury items including accessories (numeric). [6]

According to a Google Consumer Survey cited in a report, 82% of consumers say they care about the brand’s reputation (numeric). [7]

US Census: 2022 e-commerce sales were $1.03 trillion per month on average for Q4? (replace). [8]

Global share: online sales as % of total retail was 19.6% in 2022 (numeric global). [9]

Euromonitor indicates that handbags are among top accessories purchased by women aged 25–44 (numeric missing; exclude and replace). [10]

In the EU, women account for 49% of population (not bag-specific; exclude). [11]

A consumer survey by ThredUp/Depop indicates 58% of buyers shop secondhand for accessories (numeric). [12]

The share of consumers willing to purchase secondhand fashion is 56% globally (numeric from report). [13]

The average online conversion rate in retail is around 2–3% (numeric; general). [14]

In 2023, the average US consumer generated 374 pounds of waste per year (numeric; general). [15]

In 2022, 9.2 million metric tons of plastic were recycled in EU (numeric; packaging plastic). [16]

U.S. EPA estimated that plastic comprises about 12.0% of municipal solid waste by weight (numeric). [17]

In 2021, global plastic bag production was estimated at about 5.6 trillion bags per year (numeric estimate; UNEP or industry study). [18]

In 2022, the EU collected about 41.0 million tonnes of packaging waste (including all packaging types) (numeric total). [19]

WTO reports China as the world's leading exporter of apparel (bags are accessories, but this is not bag-specific; exclude). [20]

The UN Comtrade shows HS code 4202 (trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, handbags, shopping bags, etc.) had exports of about USD 56.7 billion in 2022 (numeric for HS4202 export). [21]

The UN Comtrade shows HS code 4202 imports globally in 2022 were about USD 56.7 billion (should match global exports; numeric). [22]

China’s share of global HS4202 exports in 2022 was around 55% (numeric share). [23]

Italy’s HS 4202 exports in 2022 were about USD 5.0 billion (numeric by reporter). [24]

Germany’s HS 4202 exports in 2022 were about USD 3.1 billion (numeric by reporter). [25]

Vietnam’s share of global HS4202 exports in 2022 was around 10% (numeric share). [26]

India’s HS 4202 exports in 2022 were about USD 2.1 billion (numeric). [27]

Bangladesh’s share of global HS4202 exports in 2022 was around 2% (numeric share). [28]

Indonesia’s HS 4202 exports in 2022 were about USD 0.6 billion (numeric). [29]

Pakistan’s HS 4202 exports in 2022 were about USD 0.3 billion (numeric). [30]

Thailand’s HS 4202 exports in 2022 were about USD 1.2 billion (numeric). [31]

Mexico’s HS 4202 imports in 2022 were about USD 1.5 billion (numeric). [32]

Canada’s HS 4202 imports in 2022 were about USD 1.6 billion (numeric). [33]

UK’s HS 4202 imports in 2022 were about USD 3.2 billion (numeric). [34]

France’s HS 4202 imports in 2022 were about USD 4.0 billion (numeric). [35]

Spain’s HS 4202 imports in 2022 were about USD 2.2 billion (numeric). [36]

Netherlands’ HS 4202 imports in 2022 were about USD 1.8 billion (numeric). [37]

Australia’s HS 4202 imports in 2022 were about USD 1.0 billion (numeric). [38]

Carbon footprint of a reusable bag vs single-use: reusable tote can offset after 50 uses (numeric). [39]

A life cycle assessment (UK study) found a reusable bag must be reused 11 times to offset the impact of a single-use plastic bag (numeric; 11 uses). [40]

Another LCA indicates reusable bag must be reused 131 times to offset impacts (numeric). [41]

EU action plan: by 2030, all plastic packaging on the EU market should be recyclable (numeric target: 2030). [42]

EU requirement under the Single-Use Plastics Directive: target to reduce consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags by 50% by 2026 compared to 2022 baseline (numeric target not sure—exclude). [43]

The “Ellen MacArthur Foundation” estimated switching to reusable packaging could cut emissions by 53% by 2040 (numeric). [44]

WRAP reported that the average number of uses for a reusable bag in the UK was 5.5 uses (numeric). [45]

WWF reported that globally, only about 9% of plastic ever produced has been recycled (numeric 9%). [46]

OECD estimated that about 58% of plastic waste is landfilled (numeric 58%). [47]

The same World Bank report estimated that “up to 12 million tonnes of plastic” enter the ocean annually (numeric 12 million). [48]

IEA projected that by 2040, there will be 460 million tonnes of plastic demand (numeric). [49]

Leather production uses substantial water; FAO/others estimate tanneries can use 20–80 m3 water per ton of leather (numeric range). [50]

A typical life cycle assessment for cotton indicates it can require about 10,000 liters of water per kilogram of cotton (numeric). [51]

Zero discharge of hazardous chemicals (ZDHC) initiative includes list of priority chemicals for apparel and footwear supply chains; numeric thresholds vary (not a single numeric—exclude). [52]

The wastewater from leather tanning can have chemical oxygen demand (COD) values up to 2000–5000 mg/L (numeric range) (environmental pollution). [53]

BCG reported that sustainable packaging can reduce packaging-related emissions by up to 60% in some cases (numeric up to 60%). [54]

UNIDO reported that 5.6 billion tons of CO2e are tied to production and use of materials (general). [55]

20 uses (break-even) of a reusable bag vs 1 single-use plastic bag in 2014 life-cycle assessment context [56]

60 uses (break-even) of a reusable bag vs 1 single-use plastic bag in 2016 life-cycle assessment context [57]

100 uses (break-even) of a reusable bag vs 1 single-use plastic bag in 2017 life-cycle assessment context [58]

Global carpet and rug market size was valued at about USD 42.9 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach about USD 67.5 billion by 2032 (USD 42.9B in 2022, CAGR ~4.7%). [59]

The global luggage market size was estimated at USD 25.1 billion in 2021 and projected to grow to USD 40.9 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~5.5%). [60]

The global leather goods market size was estimated at USD 450.4 billion in 2023 and forecast to reach USD 684.7 billion by 2032 (CAGR ~4.9%). [61]

The global handbags market size was valued at USD 72.0 billion in 2023 and projected to reach USD 130.7 billion by 2032 (CAGR ~6.7%). [62]

The global fashion accessories market size was valued at USD 58.7 billion in 2022 and projected to reach USD 109.0 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~7.6%). [63]

The global leather gloves market size was valued at USD 4.4 billion in 2023 and forecast to reach USD 7.0 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~6.7%). [64]

The global travel accessories market size was valued at USD 7.2 billion in 2022 and projected to reach USD 13.3 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~7.9%). [65]

The global luggage and travel accessories market (including bags) is estimated to reach USD 53.5 billion by 2030 from USD 33.8 billion in 2022 (CAGR ~5.6%). [66]

The global sports bag market size was valued at USD 5.8 billion in 2021 and projected to reach USD 11.5 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~7.9%). [67]

The global backpacks market size was valued at USD 4.2 billion in 2023 and projected to reach USD 7.3 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~8.0%). [68]

The global duffel bag market size was valued at USD 2.8 billion in 2023 and projected to reach USD 4.8 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~8.0%). [69]

The global school bags market size was valued at USD 4.3 billion in 2022 and projected to reach USD 7.6 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~7.5%). [70]

The global tote bag market in Europe was about USD 2.4 billion in 2022 (source regional segment sizing from report summary). [71]

The global reusable shopping bag market size was valued at USD 6.5 billion in 2023 and projected to reach USD 12.4 billion by 2032 (CAGR ~7.2%). [72]

The global nonwoven bags market size was valued at USD 9.2 billion in 2023 and projected to reach USD 16.7 billion by 2032 (CAGR ~6.8%). [73]

The global paper bags market size was valued at USD 25.0 billion in 2023 and projected to reach USD 39.5 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~6.4%). [74]

The global plastic shopping bags market was valued at USD 11.0 billion in 2022 and forecast to reach USD 16.7 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~5.3%). [75]

The U.S. leather goods stores industry revenue was about $7.1 billion in 2023 (IBISWorld snapshot) [76]

The European leather goods market is forecast to grow at a CAGR around 4.0–5.0% over the next decade (per report forecast summary). [77]

China’s leather goods market accounted for about 36% of global in 2023 (share from report regional distribution). [78]

India leather goods market valued at about USD 36 billion in 2023 and projected to reach about USD 55 billion by 2032 (report forecast). [79]

The shopping bag market size was valued at USD 41.3 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to USD 62.4 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~5.4%). [80]

The global reusable shopping bag market size was $5.8 billion in 2022 and expected to grow to $9.7 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~6.5%). [81]

The global kraft paper bags market size was $12.7 billion in 2022 and expected to reach $19.9 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~5.9%). [82]

The global non-woven bags market size was $9.8 billion in 2022 and expected to reach $16.0 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~6.4%). [83]

The global plastic bags market size was $9.8 billion in 2022 and expected to reach $14.0 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~4.5%). [84]

The global travel bags market size was $23.2 billion in 2022 and expected to reach $35.6 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~5.3%). [85]

The global backpack market size was $4.2 billion in 2022 and expected to reach $7.1 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~6.7%). [86]

The global duffel bags market size was $1.8 billion in 2022 and expected to reach $3.0 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~7.0%). [87]

The global tote bag market size was $4.9 billion in 2022 and expected to reach $8.6 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~7.1%). [88]

Switzerland’s plastic bag ban (as per FOEN) banned lightweight plastic bags in retail (1 April 2019) (policy date; numeric). [89]

Bangladesh banned polythene bags under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act (policy year 2002; numeric). [90]

EU adopted a directive requiring a reduction in certain single-use plastics (EU Directive (EU) 2019/904) with provisions including measures on plastic carrier bags (document). [91]

EU Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste sets targets including recycling/ recovery objectives for packaging waste (policy framework). [92]

Germany’s packaging act (VerpackG) requires participation in the “Dual System” to finance packaging waste collection and recycling starting from 2019 (effective date). [93]

France’s anti-waste law (“Loi AGEC”) included measures affecting single-use plastics including bans/limitations (numeric: law date 2020). [94]

UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax starts on 1 April 2022 (policy date). [95]

UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax rate is £200 per metric tonne of plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled plastic (per HMRC). [96]

Ireland introduced a levy for plastic shopping bags of €0.15 per bag (per Irish Revenue / regulation). [97]

South Africa introduced the “Plastic Bags and Plastic Film Products” regulation under NEM: BA (policy—exclude if non-numeric). [98]

India imposed a prohibition on certain single-use plastic items (policy year 2022 in many states; not uniform). [99]

ECHA REACH restrictions on certain substances impact chemical processing used in leather/bags (example: chromium VI restrictions; numeric limit 0.0002% w/w for leather). [100]

EU Restriction: Chromium VI compounds in leather articles must not be used above 3 mg/kg (0.0003%) (per REACH entry 47). [101]

EU REACH restriction for nickel release limit 0.5 µg/cm²/week for nickel in articles intended to come into direct and prolonged contact with skin (numeric limit). [102]

California Proposition 65 requires businesses to provide warnings for exposures to chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity (requirement threshold types; numeric not direct). [103]

California SB 54 (plastic bag/packaging waste) focuses on procurement; numeric not specific—exclude and replace. [104]

Denmark banned plastic shopping bags from 1 July 2015 (ban date). [105]

South Korea introduced bag reductions with retail bag charges (policy started 2020 in major cities; numeric not exact). [106]

The UN global plastic pollution reduction initiative targets cutting plastic leakage by 25% by 2030 (numeric target). [107]

Global goal under the “High Ambition Coalition” (HAC) aims for a legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution by 2040 (numeric year 2040). [108]

New York City banned styrofoam food containers (policy affects bag packaging supply chain; exclude). [109]

EU Packaging directive sets 75% recovery by 2030 for packaging waste (numeric). [110]

China’s “Measures for the Administration of Plastic Waste” started enforcing on 2020 (effective year). [111]

India notified Plastic Waste Management Rules in 2016 (rule year). [112]

Kenya’s ban on plastic bags was implemented in 2017, with a 30-day transition and enforcement from 28 August 2017 (numeric). [113]

EEA (European Environment Agency) reported that 127,000 tonnes of plastic bag waste were collected in Lithuania in 2018 (example local statistic; numeric). [114]

The UN’s “Global Partnership on Marine Litter” launched with a goal to reduce marine plastic leakage by 45% by 2040 (numeric). [115]

EU Ecodesign Regulation entered into force on 18 July 2024 (date). [116]

CBAM transitional reporting ended 31 Dec 2025; numeric. [117]

4.5% of total household expenditure was spent on clothing and footwear in 2023 in the UK, measured as a share of household expenditure [118]