Since 2020, the Plant Based Products Council (PBPC) has conducted annual consumer research to better understand how Americans view, use, and purchase plant-based products and materials. Year after year, the findings demonstrate that plant-based products are more than a passing trend. Consumer familiarity, favorability, and demand remain strong, creating new opportunities for American agriculture, domestic manufacturing, and innovation.
Our 2026 Consumer Trends Research, conducted by Cygnal, shows that Americans increasingly recognize the value of plant-based products and support efforts to expand their production here at home.
On Oct. 20, 2026, Cygnal’s John Rogers and PBPC's Spencer Chase took an inside look at the findings and what they mean for the future of the U.S. bioeconomy. Watch the video below to learn more.
Consumers Are Embracing Plant-Based Products
Americans are more familiar with plant-based products than ever before, and enthusiasm continues to grow.
- 87% of consumers view plant-based products favorably, up from 85% in 2025. Strong favorability reached 58%, the highest level since PBPC began tracking consumer attitudes in 2020.
- 75% of Americans are familiar with plant-based products, up from 71% in 2025 and 56% in 2020.
- 90% of consumers express interest in plant-based products and materials, demonstrating their continued appeal.
2026 Consumer Trends at a Glance
Consumer attitudes toward plant-based products and domestic production 87%
Favorability
View plant-based products favorably
87%
Purchase intent
Likely to buy or use within three months
75%
Familiarity
Know products made from plants
75%
Supply chain resilience
See domestic production as strengthening national security
73%
Support domestic production incentives
Favor federal incentives to encourage U.S. production of plant-based products and materials
Consumers Are Ready to Buy Plant-Based Products
Consumer enthusiasm is translating into sustained interest in purchasing and using plant-based products.
- 87% of consumers say they are likely to purchase or use plant-based products in the next three months, up slightly from 86% in 2025.
- 28% say they are extremely likely to purchase or use plant-based products, up from 24% in 2025.
- 81% of Americans say they are more likely to support a company that produces or uses plant-based products.
From packaging and household cleaners to personal care items, clothing, and more, consumers continue to embrace products made from renewable materials. These findings demonstrate a lasting market opportunity for companies investing in plant-based products and innovation.
Americans Support Expanding Domestic Production of Plant-Based Products
Consumers recognize that growing the plant-based products industry can create economic opportunities for American farmers, manufacturers, and rural communities while strengthening U.S. supply chains.
- 75% of Americans agree that producing more plant-based products and materials in the United States strengthens national security by reducing reliance on foreign supply chains, including China.
- 73% support federal incentives to encourage companies to produce more plant-based products and materials, up from 63% in 2022.
- Support for federal incentives crosses party lines, with 70% of Republicans and 81% of Democrats in favor.
By creating new markets for U.S.-grown agricultural feedstocks, plant-based products offer opportunities to expand domestic manufacturing, strengthen supply chains, and support American innovation.
Consumers Support Policies That Grow America's Bioeconomy
Americans also support policies designed to turn growing consumer interest into more products manufactured here at home.
71% of Americans support the bipartisan Biobased Materials Investment and Production Act (H.R.8137), which would provide tax incentives for companies manufacturing plant-based materials in the U.S. and investing in domestic production facilities.
These findings underscore the opportunity for policymakers to strengthen American agriculture and manufacturing by supporting domestic biomanufacturing and innovation.
The 2026 survey was conducted by Cygnal among 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older from September 17–21, 2026. The research focuses on nonfood plant-based products and materials.
Explore More Consumer Research
Discover how consumer attitudes toward plant-based products have evolved over time through PBPC's annual research.
Consumers Are Demanding More Plant-Based Products
Consumer familiarity with plant-based products has grown significantly since PBPC began tracking the issue. In 2025, 71% of Americans said they were familiar with plant-based products, reflecting a multi-year increase and signaling that plant-based materials have firmly entered the mainstream.
Americans also view these products very positively: 85% report favorable opinions, and nearly 90% say they are interested in products and materials made from plants. This strong and growing favorability shows that plant-based products are no longer perceived as a niche category and are increasingly seen as everyday options.
Consumers are embracing plant-based products as a mainstream expectation, not a niche trend.
Consumers Are Ready to Purchase Plant-Based Products
Consumers are not only interested in plant-based products, but ready to buy them. In 2025:
- 86% of Americans say they are likely to purchase plant-based products in the next three months.
- Two-thirds of consumers report using plant-based products at least monthly, including popular categories like paper goods, household cleaners, personal care items, and food-service packaging.
- A large majority (81%) say they are more likely to support companies that use or produce plant-based products.
Consumers from All Parties Want Policymakers to Support Plant-Based Innovation
PBPC's research shows broad public support for the growth of the U.S. bioeconomy.
- 73% of Americans support federal incentives to expand plant-based product manufacturing in the U.S.
- This support crosses political lines — backed by Republicans, Independents, and Democrats.
Consumers see plant-based products as benefiting U.S. agriculture, manufacturing, and rural economies.
Consumers Demanding More Plant-Based Products
Consumer familiarity with plant-based products has increased 20% since 2020 and is now at 75%.
Every year, we learn exciting new things about how consumers view plant-based products, and our 2024 research is no exception!
Consumers are now more familiar with plant-based products than ever! Since PBPC started its research project in 2020, consumer familiarity with plant-based products has grown nearly 20%, and almost 85% of consumers view plant-based products favorably.
Nearly 90% of consumers surveyed say they are interested in products and materials made from plants.
Consumer Spending Supports Plant-Based Products
Nearly 85% of consumers say they are likely to include plant-based products in their shopping cart in the next three months.
Two-thirds of consumers say they use plant-based products at least monthly, with paper products, household cleaners, and personal care products among some of the most popular items.
Most consumers – 83% – say they are more likely to support a company if it produces or uses plant-based products.
Consumers Want Public Policy Supporting Plant-Based Products
Nearly 7 out of 10 consumers (69%) say they would support federal incentives to boost plant-based product production in the U.S. That support is strong across Republicans (60%), Independents (68%), and Democrats (81%).
Check out more results from our 2024 consumer research!Familiarity With Plant-Based Products Increased
Consumer familiarity with plant-based products has increased 10% since 2020 and is now at 66%.
Our 2023 research shows that in addition to strong interest in plant-based products, consumers are more favorable towards companies, farmers, and policymakers who are involved in renewability initiatives.
Consumer Interest in Plant-Based Products Grows
Eight-in-10 consumers would consider purchasing plant-based products. More and more consumers are familiar with plant-based products (66%) and prefer plant-based alternatives over petroleum-based products.
Consumers Are Learning About Diverse Feedstocks
Consumers Are Buying Plant-Based Products
Nearly two-thirds (62%) of Americans report purchasing plant-based products monthly or more often. This number continues to grow as more and more consumers learn about the many benefits of products made from plants.
More than eight out of 10 (84%) consumers said they are likely to purchase products and materials made from plants in the next three months.
Over 70% of consumers said they consciously think about products and packaging made from plant-based materials when they are shopping, up from 65% in 2021.
View the results and learn more about the 2023 PBPC Consumer Research study.
Consumers Support Sustainability
Our 2022 research shows that in addition to strong interest in plant-based products, consumers are more favorable towards companies, farmers, and policymakers who are involved in sustainable initiatives.
Consumer Interest in Plant-Based Products Grows
Over 8 in 10 (82% – 4% higher than 2021 figures) of Americans have been exposed to plant-based products. More and more consumers are interested in purchasing plant-based products to provide a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based products – and to support American jobs!.
Consumers Are Buying Plant-Based Products
Nearly half (48%) of Americans report purchasing plant-based products monthly. This number only continues to grow as more and more consumers learn about the many benefits of products made from plants.
Close to nine out of 10 (88%) of consumers said they are likely to purchase products and materials made from plants in the next three months.
Over 70% of consumers said they consciously think about products and packaging made from plant-based materials when they are shopping, up from 65% in 2021 and rebounding to pre-pandemic numbers.
View the results and learn more about the 2022 PBPC Consumer Research study.
Awareness
Nearly 80% of the population has encountered or used plant-based products and more than half are committed to using plant-based product alternatives OR see opportunities to integrate them into their lives.
Since our initial research, consumers have become more familiar with plant-based products and understand that different types of feedstocks are used to make them.
Familiarity with corn use in plant-based products jumped from 37% to 47%
Familiarity with bamboo use in plant-based products jumped from 30% to 35%
Familiarity with soybean use in plant-based products jumped from 26% to 31%
Familiarity with hemp use in plant-based products jumped from 23% to 33%
Plant-Based Products Drive Consumer Interest
Companies at the forefront of leading technology in the plant-based products industry can tap into what consumers crave.
Consumers are much more likely to be interested in a company that leads innovations to create plant-based products OR who use plant-based products.
Our research shows consumers are 62% more interested in companies leading innovations and 61% more interested in companies using plant-based products.
View the results and learn more about the 2021 PBPC Consumer Research study.
Plant-based Potential
- More than 136 million U.S. consumers make up the domestic market potential for plant-based products.
- 54% of the U.S. adult population view plant-based products favorably and are likely to purchase them.
But...
Only 22% have strong familiarity with plant-based products and packaging.
People tend to associate plant-based products with paper and plant-based foods. There is some awareness of other plant-based products such as clothing, bags, boxes, and containers. But the full range of plant-based products includes much, much more.
View the results and learn more about the 2020 PBPC Consumer Research study.
Learn More About Plant-Based Products
PBPC works to educate consumers, policymakers, and industry about the benefits of plant-based products and the growing U.S. bioeconomy. Consumers encounter plant-based materials every day, from personal care items and household cleaners to toys, clothing, and furniture.
To explore the wide range of plant-based products available visit:
- PBPC’s Product Examples page
- Explore USDA’s BioPreferred® Program Catalog, a comprehensive resource for certified biobased products
Consumers want products that support American workers and grow the economy. PBPC is committed to demonstrating how plant-based products fuel domestic manufacturing, create high-quality jobs, and expand market opportunities for American farmers and rural communities.
Interested in a deeper dive into the research? Full results of PBPC’s 2025 Consumer Trends study are available exclusively to PBPC members.
Learn more about PBPC membership or contact us for additional information.