What Advanced Polybag does

Advanced Polybag, Inc. (API) is a U.S.-domiciled plastics converter founded in 1986 and headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas. The company manufactures plastic carryout bags — primarily T-shirt bags and produce bags — from polyethylene (HDPE) resin sourced predominantly from American natural gas, using extrusion, bag-making, and flexographic printing processes across multiple state-of-the-art production plants in the United States and overseas. Its flagship branded product is Touch-N-Go, a federally registered self-opening T-shirt bag engineered to open automatically when the preceding bag is removed, reducing checkout friction. Products are produced to client specifications with custom dimensions, plastic gauge options (13–16 microns), and branded printing, and all manufacturing scrap is recycled into new products.

API serves enterprise retailers (big box retailers, supermarket chains) and mid-market customers (convenience stores, restaurants) through a direct sales model led by Regional Sales Managers, with an emphasis on just-in-time delivery. The company describes itself as the second largest producer in the U.S. plastic bag industry and is a member of the American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance (ARPBA), the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), and the American Chemistry Council (ACC). API operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of API GROUP, a minority-owned holding company (certified by the NMSDC) that also owns Accredo Packaging Inc. (North American CPG flexible packaging, est. 2009) and Accredo Asia Packaging Inc. (Southeast Asian flexible packaging affiliate, est. 2019). In 2025, API entered a $1.7–1.8 million settlement with the California Attorney General and agreed to halt plastic bag sales in California effective January 1, 2026 over allegations of false recyclability claims.

Name

Advanced Polybag

Legal name

Advance Polybag, Inc.

Website

https://apicorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Advanced Polybag, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, manufactures polyethylene T-shirt carryout bags and produce bags — including its Touch-N-Go self-opening line — for big box retailers, supermarkets, convenience stores, and restaurants across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flexible Plastic Packaging

NAICS

Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing (326111)

SIC

Plastics, Foil & Coated Paper Bags (2673)

akta.pro primary industry

Flexible Plastic Packaging (Bags, Pouches, Sachets) Manufacturing (IMANAEAC)

Keywords

• Plastic bag manufacturing
• Polyethylene packaging
• Flexible packaging products
• Carryout T-shirt bags
• Custom retail packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Sugar Land

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Plastic Bag Manufacturing and Sales: API manufactures and sells plastic bags, primarily T-shirt bags and produce bags, to retailers and consumer goods companies. Products are produced according to client specifications with custom dimensions, artwork, and gauge options.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Advanced Polybag manufactures lightweight plastic T-shirt carryout bags and produce bags from polyethylene (HDPE) resin primarily sourced from American natural gas. Products are made to client specifications with custom dimensions, plastic gauge options (13-16 microns), and expert flexographic printing. The company serves big-box retailers, supermarkets, convenience stores, and restaurants through a direct sales model emphasizing just-in-time delivery.

Product overview

Advance Polybag, Inc. (API) is a plastic bag manufacturer specializing in T-shirt carryout bags and produce bags. The company operates as a subsidiary under API GROUP™, a holding company managing subsidiaries in flexible packaging and specialty products. The product portfolio includes Touch-N-Go® self-opening T-shirt bags, custom carryout bags with flexographic printing, and produce bags—all made from polyethylene. API GROUP also includes Accredo Packaging (established 2009, North American flexible packaging) and Accredo Asia (established 2019, Southeast Asian markets).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Touch-N-Go: Self-opening T-shirt plastic bags designed to reduce checkout time by self-opening when the preceding bag is filled and removed.

Products and services

• Touch-N-Go® T-Shirt Carryout Bags Self-opening plastic T-shirt carryout bags engineered to help front-end checkout operations run quickly and smoothly. Bags are designed to self-open when the preceding bag is filled and removed, with custom dimensions, plastic gauge options (13-16 microns), and expert flexographic printing available.
• Custom Carryout T-Shirt Bags Plastic T-shirt carryout bags manufactured according to client specifications with custom dimensions, plastic gauges, and flexographic printing. Products are lightweight, strong, reusable, and 100% recyclable.
• Produce Bags Plastic produce bags marketed as 100% recyclable and made from polyethylene (HDPE) primarily sourced from American natural gas, used by grocery and supermarket produce departments.
• Accredo Packaging (Subsidiary Brand) A fully integrated converting company producing thermoplastic flexible packaging and film rollstock, with a focus on sustainability and best-in-class production processes for Consumer Packaged Goods markets in North America.
• Accredo Asia Packaging (Affiliate Brand) A fully integrated converting company producing thermoplastic flexible packaging and film rollstock, with a focus on sustainability, targeting Consumer Packaged Goods markets in Southeast Asia.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% of Americans reuse plastic bags for trash disposal, lunch bags and pet pickup
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• API GroupcoreOthersAPI Group is the parent company of Advance Polybag, engaging in management, administration, and control of subsidiaries in the flexible packaging and specialty products markets. API Group manages its subsidiaries via headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, leveraging economies of scale for logistical advantages, cost efficiencies, and enhanced technological solutions.
• American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance (ARPBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPI is a member of ARPBA, which is a sub-group of the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS). ARPBA works to facilitate positive change in communities by promoting increased recycling of plastic bags and encouraging proper use, reuse, recovery and disposal.
• Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPI is a member of the Plastics Industry Association and its sub-group ARPBA. API works to facilitate positive change by promoting increased recycling and sustainable use of plastic bags.
• American Chemistry Council (ACC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPI is a member of the American Chemistry Council, supporting industry initiatives for sustainability and responsible plastics use.
• National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)coreOthersAPI is certified as a bona fide minority business, as defined by the NMSDC. This certification recognizes the company as a minority-owned business enterprise.
• Accredo Packaging Inc.minorOthersAccredo Packaging Inc. is a subsidiary of API Group, established in 2009. It is a fully integrated converting company producing thermoplastic flexible packaging and film rollstock, with a focus on sustainability targeting Consumer Packaged Goods markets in North America.
• Accredo Asia Packaging Inc.minorOthersAccredo Asia Packaging Inc. is an affiliate of Accredo Packaging, established in 2019. It is a fully integrated converting company producing thermoplastic flexible packaging and film rollstock, targeting Consumer Packaged Goods markets in Southeast Asia.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Inteplast Group: Major manufacturer of polyethylene bags and films sold into retail, grocery, and foodservice channels. Directly comparable to API on product mix and end markets, and named as a co-defendant in the same California recyclability litigation.
• Novolex: Largest U.S. producer of plastic carryout and foodservice bags, with a similar direct-sales model serving big-box retailers, supermarkets, and restaurants. Directly comparable to API across product, customer, and channel.
• Metro Poly: U.S. plastic bag manufacturer active in retail and grocery carryout bag sales. Co-defendant with API in the California recyclability settlement, indicating directly overlapping products and customers.
• Mettler Packaging: U.S. plastic bag and flexible packaging producer serving retail and grocery channels with carryout and merchandise bags. Closely comparable to API on core products and customers, and likewise named in the California AG settlement.
• Revolution Sustainable Solutions: Specialty plastic bag manufacturer focused on recycled-content carryout bags sold to retailers and grocers. Directly competes with API's T-shirt and produce bag lines, and was a co-defendant in the California settlement.
• PreZero US Packaging: U.S. plastic bag operation of the Schwarz Group, producing retail carryout bags with a recycled-content focus. Directly comparable to API on product, customer, and category, and named as a co-defendant in the California AG settlement.

Broad incumbents

• Pactiv Evergreen: Diversified foodservice and consumer packaging company that produces plastic grocery and T-shirt bags alongside a much broader portfolio of foodservice and food packaging products. Overlaps with API in retail plastic bag SKUs while operating at significantly larger scale.
• Amcor: Global flexible and rigid packaging producer with retail and consumer packaging products including plastic bags and films. Much broader portfolio than API but overlaps in retail/consumer flexible packaging categories.
• Sealed Air: Global packaging company providing protective and retail packaging solutions including bag and film formats. Significantly broader portfolio than API but overlaps in retail/consumer flexible packaging end markets.

Emerging players

• EcoSafe: Producer of compostable and bio-based retail and foodservice bags, competing for the same retailer carryout bag programs as API but with an alternative material proposition. Represents an emerging format competitor as retailers shift away from conventional PE bags.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/advance-polybag-inc.

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Advanced Polybag