Introduction
Increasing Demand for Bioplastics
There are two material groups that are called bioplastics that do not necessarily have to be identical:
- biodegradable plastics that are compostable,
- biobased plastics that are made from renewable resources.
Biodegradable plastics can be made from renewable resources but also from fossil raw materials or compounds. Examples are cellulose ester, PLA, PHA, PCL, starch derivatives, and special copolyesters like PBAT and PBS. Biodegradable polyesters and polyvinyl alcohols are examples for bioplastics produced from crude oil. While biodegradable plastics account for the smaller share on global demand for bioplastics with 42%, they register the more dynamical volume growth of over 11% p.a.
However, biobased plastics are not always biodegradable. The market for this group is dominated by counterparts of fossil products with similar characteristics, such as bio-PET and bio-polyethylene based on sugar cane.
The utilization of biobased materials creates a positive image for consumers and reduces CO2 emissions and environmental impact at the same time. Protection of the environment and of resources is increasingly often a decisive sales argument for producers. The present study analyzes how bioplastics consumption will develop on the individual sales markets. Demand is split by the applications packaging and films, bottles, loose fill materials, bags and sacks, automotive and electronics, and other applications. The most important sales sector for bioplastics is the packaging industry - from demand for bottles to the production of films up to bags and sacks.
Besides a positive image, there are more advantages that explain the positive development of bioplastics compared to standard plastics. Especially for fresh products and perishable foodstuffs, packaging made of bioplastics is profitable: Fruit and vegetables remain fresh for a longer time due to the higher degree of breathability of biodegradable plastics. This ability is also an advantage in the production of hygiene films, e.g. in diapers. Legal framework, especially in packaging, supports an increase of global consumption of bioplastics. For instance, non-biodegradable plastic bags have already been forbidden in China, France, and a range of other countries.
Market Study in Brief:
With this market study, you receive the most comprehensive and up-to-date analysis on the global bioplastics market. Thereby, Ceresana evaluates the market size, market share and market trends of this industry. The market study is divided into following chapters:
Chapter 1 provides a presentation and analysis of the bioplastics market – including forecasts up to 2023: Demand and production for each product type as well as revenues are given for the regions Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World.
Chapter 2 examines the 7 largest countries of the market in more detail. Data on demand for and revenues generated with bioplastics as well as current and future production capacities are provided. Demand for bioplastics is analyzed in detail, split by the applications packaging and films, bottles, loose fill materials, bags and sacks, automotive and electronics, and other applications. Also, this chapter includes an analysis of demand split by types of plastics.
Chapter 3 thoroughly examines the application areas of bioplastics, for example the segment bags and sacks: This part provides data on development in Europe (Western and Eastern Europe), North America, Asia-Pacific, and the rest of the world (South America, the Middle East, Africa).
In chapter 4, demand and production of individual types of bioplastics are analyzed. Products covered include polylactic acid (PLA), starch-based bioplastics, other biodegradable plastics, bio-PE, bio-PET, and other non-biodegradable bioplastics.
Chapter 5 is a useful directory of producers of bioplastics, clearly arranged according to contact details, turnover, profit, product range, production sites, profile summary, product-specific information as well as existing and future capacities at individual production sites. In-depth profiles of 90 producers are given, including Anhui Wanwei Group Co., Ltd., BASF SE, Braskem S.A., Far Eastern New Century Corporation (FENC), NatureWorks LLC, Novamont S.p.A., Rodenburg Biopolymers B.V., Solvay SA, Teijin Limited, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Vegeplast S.A.S., and Wuhan Huali Environmental Technologies Co., Ltd.