Compostable disposable tableware, mulch films that rot on the field, or fishing nets that simply disintegrate over time: are bioplastics the solution to waste problems? High hopes are being placed in plastics made from sugar cane, potato starch or other renewable raw materials. Biopolymers are conquering an increasing number of application areas and achieve significantly higher growth rates than conventional standard plastics. Ceresana has analyzed the dynamically growing global market for "green" polymers for the sixth time: Analysts expect revenues from bioplastics to rise to approx. USD 8.1 billion by 2030.
Biobased and Biodegradable Plastics
In this study, two groups of materials are considered to be “bioplastics”. These two groups can overlap but don’t have to be identical:
- biodegradable plastics, which decompose in the wild or can at least be composted in industrial facilities,
- biobased plastics, which are produced from renewable raw materials.
Some bioplastics meet both conditions: for instance, PLA made from polylactic acid, PHA from sugar and TPS from starch are biobased and biodegradable. However, there are also plastic made from biogenic raw materials that are not compostable (e.g. PEF from fructose or bio-PE based on sugar cane). In contrast, some petrochemical plastics, i.e. plastics produced from crude oil or natural gas, may well be biodegradable (e.g. PCL, PBAT, PBS). As long as biobased plastics have the same chemical structure as their fossil counterparts, they can be recycled.
Fossil-based fiber-reinforced plastics, elastomers, thermosets, and wood-plastic composites (WPC) are not considered in this study.
Key Role for the EU Circular Economy
Plastics and packaging are central product groups for the "Circular Economy Action Plan" published by the EU Commission in spring 2020 as part of the "Green Deal". In order to overcome the throwaway society and reduce the amount of waste, the EU Commission has plans for, among other things, a plastic tax, restrictions on microplastics and the promotion of plastic recycling. By the end of 2021, a new "framework legislation for bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics" should clearly regulate and define what is meant by these terms and how bioplastics should be disposed of. Greenwashing is to be avoided by means of a life cycle analysis: Biobased plastics should only be used if they offer real ecological advantages over fossil plastics and should not compete with food production, for example.
Greatest Growth in Polylactic Acids and Starch
Biodegradable plastics, for example polylactic acids (PLA) and starch polymers, reached a market share of 65% of the total bioplastics market in 2020. For this product group, Ceresana expects further growth of 10.2% per year until 2030. For biobased plastics, such as polyethylene, PET or polyamide (PA), which are not biodegradable, growth is expected to be lower with 7.5% per year. Ceresana's latest market report analyzes how the use of bioplastics is developing in different sales markets. The most important sales market for bioplastics in 2020 was the packaging industry - more than 58% of all bioplastics were processed here. Ceresana expects the highest growth in the market for bags and sacks with 11.1% per year.
The Study in Brief:
Chapter 1 of the study provides a comprehensive presentation and analysis of the global bioplastics market - including forecasts up to 2030: for each region, the development of demand (tonnes), sales (USD and EUR) and production (tonnes) is presented. In addition, the application areas of bioplastics are examined individually:
For the regions Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific and "Rest of the World", the production of bioplastics is divided into the product groups: PLA, starch, other biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastics. The demand for bioplastics per region is broken down into:
- Polylactic acid (PLA)
- Starch
- Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)
- Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT)
- Other biodegradable plastics
- Bio-polyethylene (PE)
- Other non-biodegradable plastics
In Chapter 2, the 8 most important sales countries are considered individually: Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, the USA, China and Japan. The following categories are shown in each case: Demand and revenues, demand for the individual application areas and demand by product type:
- PLA
- Starch-based
- Other biodegradable plastics
- Non-biodegradable biobased plastics
Chapter 3 provides useful company profiles covering the most important bioplastics manufacturers, clearly arranged by contact details, revenues, profit, product range, production sites and brief profile. Detailed profiles are provided by 91 manufacturers, e.g. 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, and Vegeplast S.A.S.
1 Market Data: World and Regions
1.1 World
1.1.1 Demand
1.1.2 Revenues
1.1.3 Production
1.1.4 Application Areas
1.1.4.1 Rigid Packaging
1.1.4.2 Flexible Packaging – Bags
1.1.4.3 Flexible Packaging – Others
1.1.4.4 Consumer Goods
1.1.4.5 Automotive and Electronics
1.1.4.6 Other Applications
1.1.5 Product Types
1.1.5.1 Polylactic Acid (PLA)
1.1.5.2 Starch-based
1.1.5.3 Polyhydroxy-alkanoates (PHA)
1.1.5.4 Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT)
1.1.5.5 Other Biodegradable Plastics
1.1.5.6 Bio-polyethylene (PE)
1.1.5.7 Other nonbio-degradable plastics
1.2 Europe
1.2.1 Demand
1.2.2 Revenues
1.2.3 Production
1.2.4 Applications and Product Types
1.3 North America
1.3.1 Demand
1.3.2 Revenues
1.3.3 Production
1.3.4 Applications and Product Types
1.4 Asia-Pacific
1.4.1 Demand
1.4.2 Revenues
1.4.3 Production
1.4.4 Applications and Product Types
1.5 Rest of World
1.5.1 Demand
1.5.2 Revenues
1.5.3 Production
1.5.4 Applications and Product Types
2 Market Data: Country Profiles
(For each country: revenues, production, demand split by applications and product types)
2.1 Europe
2.1.1 France
2.1.2 Germany
2.1.3 Italy
2.1.4 Spain
2.1.5 United Kingdom
2.1.6 Other Europe
2.2 North America
2.2.1 Canada & Mexico
2.2.2 USA
2.3 Asia-Pacific
2.3.1 China
2.3.2 Japan
2.3.3 Other Asia-Pacific
3 Company Profiles*
3.1 Europe
Belgium (3 Producers)
Finland (2)
France (4)
Germany (6)
Italy (7)
Spain (2)
Sweden (2)
Switzerland (2)
The Netherlands (6)
United Kingdom (1)
3.2 North America
Canada (1)
Mexico (1)
USA (13)
3.3 South America
Brazil (1)
3.4 Asia-Pacific
Australia (2)
China (22)
Japan (8)
South Korea (3)
Taiwan (4)
Thailand (1)
*Note: The profiles are assigned to the country in which the company or holding is headquartered. Profiles also include JVs and subsidiaries.
Graph 1: Global demand for bioplastics from 2018 to 2030
Graph 2: Global demand for bioplastics from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Graph 3: Global revenues generated with bioplastics from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Graph 4: Global revenues generated with bioplastics from 2018 to 2030 in million USD – split by regions
Graph 5: Global revenues generated with bioplastics from 2018 to 2030 in million EUR – split by regions
Graph 6: Global production of bioplastics from 2018 to 2030
Graph 7: Global production of bioplastics from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Graph 8: Global demand for bioplastics from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Graph 9: Global demand for bioplastics in the segment rigid packaging from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Graph 10: Global demand for bioplastics in the segment flexible packaging (bags) from 2018 to 2030 - split by regions
Graph 11: Global demand for bioplastics in the segment flexible packaging (others) from 2018 to 2030 - split by regions
Graph 12: Global demand for bioplastics in the segment consumer goods from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Graph 13: Global demand for bioplastics in the segment automotive & electronics from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Graph 14: Global demand for bioplastics in the segment other applications from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Graph 15: Global demand for PLA from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Graph 16: Global demand for starch-based plastics from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Graph 17: Global demand for PHA from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Graph 18: Global demand for PBAT from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Graph 19: Global demand for other biodegradable plastics from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Graph 20: Global demand for bio-PE from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Graph 21: Global demand for other non-biodegradable plastics from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Graph 22: Demand for bioplastics in Europe from 2018 to 2030
Graph 23: Revenues generated with bioplastics in Europe from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Graph 24: Production of bioplastics in Europe from 2018 to 2030
Graph 25: Demand for bioplastics in Europe from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Graph 26: Demand for bioplastics in North America from 2018 to 2030
Graph 27: Revenues generated with bioplastics in North America from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Graph 28: Production of bioplastics in North America from 2018 to 2030
Graph 29: Demand for bioplastics in North America from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Graph 30: Demand for bioplastics in Asia-Pacific from 2018 to 2030
Graph 31: Revenues generated with bioplastics in Asia-Pacific from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Graph 32: Production of bioplastics in Asia-Pacific from 2018 to 2030
Graph 33: Demand for bioplastics in Asia-Pacific from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Graph 34: Demand for bioplastics in the rest of the world from 2018 to 2030
Graph 35: Revenues generated with bioplastics in the rest of the world from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Graph 36: Production of bioplastics in the rest of the world from 2018 to 2030
Graph 37: Demand for bioplastics in the rest of the world from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Graph 38: Demand for bioplastics in Germany from 2018 to 2030
Graph 39: Demand for bioplastics in France from 2018 to 2030
Graph 40: Demand for bioplastics in the United Kingdom from 2018 to 2030
Graph 41: Demand for bioplastics in Italy from 2018 to 2030
Graph 42: Demand for bioplastics in Spain from 2018 to 2030
Graph 43: Demand for bioplastics in the remaining European countries from 2018 to 2030
Graph 44: Demand for bioplastics in Canada and Mexico from 2018 to 2030
Graph 45: Demand for bioplastics in the USA from 2018 to 2030
Graph 46: Demand for bioplastics in China from 2018 to 2030
Graph 47: Demand for bioplastics in Japan from 2018 to 2030
Graph 48: Demand for bioplastics in the remaining countries of Asia-Pacific from 2018 to 2030
Table 1: Global demand for bioplastics from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Table 2: Global revenues generated with bioplastics from 2018 to 2030 in million USD – split by regions
Table 3: Global revenues generated with bioplastics from 2018 to 2030 in million EUR – split by regions
Table 4: Global production of bioplastics from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Table 5: Global demand for bioplastics from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Table 6: Global demand for bioplastics in the segment rigid packaging from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Table 7: Global demand for bioplastics in the segment flexible packaging (bags) from 2018 to 2030 - split by regions
Table 8: Global demand for bioplastics in the segment flexible packaging (others) from 2018 to 2030 - split by regions
Table 9: Global demand for bioplastics in the segment consumer goods from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Table 10: Global demand for bioplastics in the segment automotive & electronics from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Table 11: Global demand for bioplastics in the segment other applications from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Table 12: Global demand for bioplastics from 2018 to 2030 – split by products
Table 13: Global demand for PLA from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Table 14: Global demand for starch-based plastics from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Table 15: Global demand for PHA from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Table 16: Global demand for PBAT from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Table 17: Global demand for other biodegradable plastics from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Table 18: Global demand for bio-PE from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Table 19: Global demand for other non-biodegradable plastics from 2018 to 2030 – split by regions
Table 20: Demand for bioplastics in Europe from 2018 to 2030 – split by major countries
Table 21: Revenues generated with bioplastics in Europe from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Table 22: Production of bioplastics in Europe from 2018 to 2030 - split by products
Table 23: Demand for bioplastics in Europe from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Table 24: Demand for bioplastics in Europe from 2018 to 2030 – split by products
Table 25: Demand for bioplastics in North America from 2018 to 2030 – split by major countries
Table 26: Revenues generated with bioplastics in North America from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Table 27: Production of bioplastics in North America from 2018 to 2030 - split by products
Table 28: Demand for bioplastics in North America from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Table 29: Demand for bioplastics in North America from 2018 to 2030 – split by products
Table 30: Demand for bioplastics in Asia-Pacific from 2018 to 2030 – split by major countries
Table 31: Revenues generated with bioplastics in Asia-Pacific from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Table 32: Production of bioplastics in Asia-Pacific from 2018 to 2030 - split by products
Table 33: Demand for bioplastics in Asia-Pacific from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Table 34: Demand for bioplastics in Asia-Pacific from 2018 to 2030 – split by products
Table 35: Revenues generated with bioplastics in the rest of the world from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Table 36: Production of bioplastics in the rest of the world from 2018 to 2030 - split by products
Table 37: Demand for bioplastics in the rest of the world from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Table 38: Demand for bioplastics in the rest of the world from 2018 to 2030 – split by products
Table 39: Revenues generated with bioplastics in Germany from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Table 40: Demand for bioplastics in Germany from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Table 41: Demand for bioplastics in Germany from 2010 to 2026 – split by products
Table 42: Revenues generated with bioplastics in France from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Table 43: Demand for bioplastics in France from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Table 44: Demand for bioplastics in France from 2018 to 2030 – split by products
Table 45: Revenues generated with bioplastics in the United Kingdom from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Table 46: Demand for bioplastics in the United Kingdom from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Table 47: Demand for bioplastics in the United Kingdom from 2018 to 2030 — split by products
Table 48: Revenues generated with bioplastics in Italy from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Table 49: Demand for bioplastics in Italy from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Table 50: Demand for bioplastics in Italy from 2018 to 2030 — split by products
Table 51: Revenues generated with bioplastics in Spain from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Table 52: Demand for bioplastics in Spain from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Table 53: Demand for bioplastics in Spain from 2018 to 2030 — split by products
Table 54: Revenues generated with bioplastics in the remaining European countries from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Table 55: Demand for bioplastics in the remaining European countries from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Table 56: Demand for bioplastics in the remaining European countries from 2018 to 2030 – split by products
Table 57: Revenues generated with bioplastics in Canada and Mexico from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Table 58: Demand for bioplastics in Canada and Mexico from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Table 59: Demand for bioplastics in Canada and Mexico from 2018 to 2030 – split by products
Table 60: Revenues generated with bioplastics in the USA from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Table 61: Demand for bioplastics in the USA from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Table 62: Demand for bioplastics in the USA from 2018 to 2030 — split by products
Table 63: Revenues generated with bioplastics in China from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Table 64: Demand for bioplastics in China from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Table 65: Demand for bioplastics in China from 2018 to 2030 — split by products
Table 66: Revenues generated with bioplastics in Japan from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Table 67: Demand for bioplastics in Japan from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Table 68: Demand for bioplastics in Japan from 2018 to 2030 – split by products
Table 69: Revenues generated with bioplastics in the remaining countries of Asia-Pacific from 2018 to 2030 in million USD and million EUR
Table 70: Demand for bioplastics in the remaining countries of Asia-Pacific from 2018 to 2030 – split by applications
Table 71: Demand for bioplastics in the remaining countries of Asia-Pacific from 2018 to 2030 – split by products
