The market for plastic molds for phone components will rise rapidly in 2014.

With millions iPhone 5c smartphones sold, it represents a total consumption of tons of PC resin by just one device. With the introduction of the 5c, Apple is part of a rising wave of plastic in the smartphone market - and in the overall electronics business. Apple’s decision to use plastic for the 5c’s enclosure was partly driven by a desire to offer a lower-priced smartphone that cost less to manufacture than previous members of the iPhone line. Plastic also allowed Apple to offer iPhones in a greater variety of colors than ever before. This push toward reduced cost and greater product differentiation reflects a larger trend in the cellphone market.