This month saw the publication of the fourth report from German market research company Ceresana analysing the global market for bioplastics. According to the authors of the study, revenues of over USD 2.6 billion are currently generated with these 'green' plastics.

With growth rates that are considerably higher than those of conventional plastics due to rising demand and an increasingly broader range of applications, the bioplastics trend looks to be here to stay.

The Ceresana report distinguishes two main material groups of bioplastics, and discusses both. In this report, the first group consists of biodegradable plastics that are compostable, and refers to plastics that can – but do not have to be - derived from renewable resources. Some biodegradable, compostable materials are, in fact, based on fossil raw materials or compounds. Materials that fall into this first group include cellulose ester, PLA, PHA, PCL, starch derivatives, and special copolyesters, such as PBAT and PBS. There are biodegradable polyesters that are produced from petroleum, as are polyvinyl alcohols.
Although biodegradable plastics account for only 42% of the global demand for bioplastics, the growth figures for this group - an 11% rise in volume per year - are impressive.

The second group of materials, according to this report, consists of materials that are biobased, but not biodegradable. Example are the so-called drop-ins, such as bio-PET and bio-polyethylene based on sugar cane, but also high-heat PLA comes under this heading.

Using biobased materials creates a positive image for consumers, while at the same time reducing CO2 emissions and environmental impact. Protection of the environment and of resources is increasingly often a decisive sales argument for producers. The present study analyses how bioplastics consumption will develop in the individual sales markets. Demand is broken down according to the following 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.

Yet next to to projecting a positive image, the use of bioplastics offers additional advantages, which explains the positive development of bioplastics compared to standard plastics. Packaging made of bioplastics provides special benefits for fresh products and perishable foodstuffs. 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.
In addition, more and more legal frameworks, especially in packaging, support an increase in the global consumption of bioplastics. Bag bans, prohibiting the use of non-biodegradable thin-walled shopping bags, for example, have been enacted in China, France and a host of other countries.

Briefly, the study is structured as follows:
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 analysed 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 analysed. 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.

http://www.ceresana.com/en/market-studies/plastics/bioplastics/market-study-bioplastics.html