Shoppers in major metropolitan areas have noticed a frustrating and persistent shortage of a basic household staple: Ziploc bags and other resealable plastic baggies. While the problem is less severe in suburban and rural areas, the shelves in big-city grocery and convenience stores are often empty. This is not a sign of a new hoarding craze. It is the result of a complex mix of supply chain problems that are uniquely affecting the delivery of goods to dense, urban centers.
A Shortage of Key Plastic Resins
The problem begins at the very start of the supply chain. The production of plastic bags requires specific petrochemicals known as resins. In 2025, there have been several disruptions at the major chemical plants that produce these resins. This includes both scheduled shutdowns for maintenance and unexpected outages. This has created a nationwide shortage of the raw materials needed to manufacture the bags in the first place.
Manufacturing Plant Shutdowns
On top of the raw material shortage, a few key manufacturing plants that produce plastic bags for major brands have had to temporarily shut down. These shutdowns have been caused by a variety of issues, from labor shortages to equipment failures. This has further reduced the total amount of product that is available to be shipped out to retailers across the country.
The Urban Delivery Bottleneck
The biggest reason why the shortage is worse in big cities is the “last-mile” delivery problem. It is much more difficult and expensive for a truck to deliver goods in a dense, congested city than it is in a suburb. A shortage of truck drivers and high fuel costs have made this urban delivery bottleneck even worse. Distributors are forced to prioritize the delivery of more essential, high-demand items, and plastic bags are not at the top of that list.
Increased Demand from City Dwellers
The demand for resealable bags is often higher in urban areas. People who live in smaller apartments with less pantry space rely on Ziploc bags for efficient food storage. The growth of food delivery services has also increased the demand for these bags, as restaurants use them to package and send out orders. This higher demand in cities is now crashing into a shrinking supply.
The 2025 Class-Action Lawsuit
A new class-action lawsuit filed against S.C. Johnson, the maker of Ziploc, has also impacted the supply. The lawsuit alleges that the company’s “Power Shield” and “Grip ‘n Seal” technologies are defective. It claims the bags frequently tear or the seals fail, making them not durable enough for reuse as advertised. This legal battle has created uncertainty in the market and may have led the company to slow production as it addresses the allegations.
A Complex Urban Problem
The mystery of the missing Ziploc bags is a perfect case study in the fragility of our modern supply chain. It shows how a problem at a chemical plant can combine with a local truck driver shortage to create an empty shelf in a New York or Chicago grocery store. For urban shoppers, it is a frustrating sign that even our most basic household staples are not immune to the complex and often invisible forces of the global economy.
Have you had trouble finding Ziplock bags or other plastic baggies in your city? What other common items have you noticed being out of stock recently? Let us know!
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