The biodegradable plastics market is expected to reach US$ 185.25 billion by 2026, with a 19.3% CAGR from 2018 to 2026. In 2017, Europe led the biodegradable plastics market, and Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest-growing region between 2018 and 2026.
Biodegradation is a property of certain plastic materials, which are mainly made up of polymers. It is a process by which the decomposition of polymer materials takes place under the influence of various biotic components, which include living organisms. Fermentation of canola oil or sugar to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) or polylactic acid (PLA) is the most common process involved in the production of biodegradable plastics. It mainly finds application in packaging, and hence food companies are adopting biodegradable plastics from renewable resources in their packaging. The global market for biodegradable plastics is expected to grow at a rapid pace owing to supportive government policies followed by favorable research and development activities conducted by the key players.
Disposable plastics used in food packaging contain harmful compounds. Hence, improper disposal of these plastic products results in water pollution. In addition, plastics are non-biodegradable, and thereby they take a long time to decay. Conventional plastics also have a low melting point, and hence they cannot be used where heat levels are high. Owing to these disadvantages of plastic products, the demand for biodegradable plastics is set to rise during the forecast period, as these are recyclable, consume less energy, and also aid in carbon emission reduction. Growing demand for green packaging is mainly driving the global biodegradable plastics market. Green packaging primarily employs biodegradable materials, including plastics, to improve sustainability. Trends show that green packaging's contribution to environmental pollution is negligible, which in turn is driving health-conscious consumers to adopt biodegradable plastics. In addition, stringent government regulation with respect to the reduction of plastic usage is also expected to bolster the global biodegradable plastics market during the forecast period from 2018 to 2026. Hence, with the growing environmental pollution and the ban on plastics by government regulators, consumers are expected to shift from conventional plastics to biodegradable plastics.
For example, the environmental campaign group A Plastic Planet unveiled the world's first plastic-free supermarket in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in February 2018.This supermarket deals with various food products without plastic packaging. This establishment aims to roll out various food products in biodegradable plastic packaging with the objective of minimizing environmental pollution. In addition, several countries have banned the production and sale of single-use plastic bags. For example, the Philippines, China, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Brazil, and other African countries have banned the production of ultralight or thin plastic bags. In Europe, plastic bag taxes have been implemented in Denmark, Ireland, Germany, the UK, Austria, and the Netherlands. Britain has also imposed a plastic tax on single-use plastic items and encouraged supermarkets to ban single-use plastic packaging by 2025. All these factors clearly indicate that conventional plastic consumption is expected to decline in the near future, which in turn is expected to augment the demand for biodegradable plastics during the forecast period from 2018 to 2026.
Market Overview, Volume, and Value (Million Tons) (US Dollar Billion)
The biodegradable plastics market is being propelled forward by the starch blends segment.
Starch-based plastics, which can be combined with biopolymers to create unique composite materials, can be used in a wide range of applications, including cell phone cases, food service disposables, and kitchen and yard bags, among others. These materials can be extruded or injection molded with the help of standard processing machinery. These are cost-competitive compared to other alternative bioplastics. Starch is basically incorporated with the objective of reducing the carbon footprint of various resins as they aim to replace petroleum-based polymers with natural ones. These are also widely used in the medical industry owing to their low toxicity, biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and degradation properties. Starch-based biodegradable plastics also find application in the agricultural industry owing to their heat preservation and water permeability properties. This, in turn, aims at increasing the use of various renewable raw materials that are obtained from agro-industrial waste.
Biopolymer films that find application in agriculture and horticulture are termed "mulch films." They provide the soil with the requisite amounts of carbon, thereby preventing the loss of humus. Hence, ongoing innovation in mulch films, followed by substantial government subsidies, is expected to increase the demand for starch-based biodegradable plastics, thereby driving the global biodegradable plastics market during the forecast period from 2018 to 2026.
In May 2018, ADM and DuPont established the world's first manufacturing facility for bio-based furan dicarboxylic methyl ester (FDME) in Illinois, the US. FDM is a molecule that is used to manufacture plastics. The two companies developed a method for manufacturing FDME from fructose, which is basically derived from corn starch. This production facility will facilitate the companies' efforts to develop eco-friendly and cost-effective starch-based biodegradable plastics.
Packaging is propelling the biodegradable plastics market forward.
Biodegradable packaging products are mainly derived from various biodegradable plastics that include PLA, PHA, starch-based plastics, PBS, and PCL, among others. Growing demand for food and beverage packaging is one of the important factors that is expected to drive the global biodegradable plastics market. Increasing applications of biodegradable plastics in various types of packaging, including agricultural foils, bags for compost, toys, and nursery products, are also expected to drive this segment during the forecast period from 2018 to 2026. Other growing areas of packaging include drinking cups, possible cutlery, salad cups, overwrap, plates, lamination film, stirrers, straws, plates, lids, and containers, among others, which are also expected to propel the demand for this segment.
The adoption of new regulatory requirements, followed by increasing consumer awareness related to environmental issues, is another factor expected to drive this segment during the forecast period from 2018 to 2026. For example, Sulapac, based in Finland, collaborated with Fazer to develop and research biodegradable packaging solutions for various food applications. This collaboration will facilitate Fazer's efforts to reduce the use of conventional plastics in packaging, thereby reducing the environmental pollution. In addition, Fazer will also assist Sulapac in its research and development of biodegradable packaging for food applications.
Europe is the largest region in the global biodegradable plastics market.
Globally, Europe accounted for the largest value and volume share of the biodegradable plastics market. The growth is mainly attributed to the growing research and development activities in the bioplastics sector by private and public firms, increasing environmental awareness among consumers, and strict implementation of environmentally friendly laws. The European Union's decision to curb the overall consumption of thin plastic bags by around 80% by 2019 is expected to create new opportunities for the biodegradable plastics market. Hence, the reduction in consumption of conventional plastic bags is expected to increase the demand for biodegradable plastics in retail outlets, malls, and loose packaging applications.
In addition, increasing pressure on various government organizations to reduce landfills, mounting plastic waste, and carbon emissions is also expected to augment the demand for biodegradable plastics during the forecast period from 2018 to 2026. The governments of Germany, Denmark, and Ireland have imposed taxes on conventional plastic bags, whereas the government of Italy has outright prohibited the distribution of non-biodegradable plastic bags. In 2017, Unilever Europe also developed a new technology, the CreaSolv® Process, with the objective of tackling the issue of plastic sachet waste. With the launch of this new technology, the company aims to make 100% of its packaging reusable and recyclable by 2025. In 2017, Asia-Pacific was estimated to be the fastest-growing region.
Manufacturers' primary strategies include product expansion followed by packaging product recycling.
Key players operating in the global biodegradable plastics market include BASF SE, Archer Daniels Midland, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Mondi Group, Biome Technologies PLC, Stora Enso, Amcor, Rocktenn, Unilever, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Corbion, and Natureworks LLC, among others. In January 2018, Amcor announced plans to make all its packaging reusable or recyclable by 2025. This move will facilitate the company's efforts to reduce the environmental implications of food and other product waste. The company also claims to be the world's first global packaging company to increase the use of recycled materials with the objective of driving the recycling of various packaging products across the globe. In April 2017, BASF also launched a new courier bag in China that is made up of biodegradable eco via material. This product launch aims to reduce the impact of the white pollution threat resulting from an increase in parcel deliveries in China.
Periods of History and Forecast
This research considers 2017 as the base year and presents an analysis of segments from 2016 to 2026. In addition, the forecast period from 2018 to 2026 is considered for the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) calculation for each respective segment.
Report Scope by Segments
The biodegradable plastics market report represents an understanding of the current market dynamics and strategies. It also focuses on a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the overall market. The report covers the global biodegradable plastics market by categorizing it in terms of type, application, and geography. Publishing this broad research report aims to aid biodegradable plastics market stakeholders and professionals in making strategic initiatives and decisions in the biodegradable plastics market.
This research report describes leading continents and their major countries, along with profiles of key players operating in the overall market and their planned developments. Our report further defines the overall market dynamics, such as drivers, challenges, and opportunities prevalent in the market, to understand the global elastomers market more explicitly. Our in-depth quantitative and qualitative analysis of each segment up to the country level highlights revenue pockets and investment opportunities in the market.
Key questions are answered in this report.
Who are the distributors, traders, and dealers in the biodegradable plastics market?
What are expected to be the largest type and application segments in the market during the forecast period from 2018 to 2026?
What are the fastest-growing segments in the market for the forecast period?
What are the current market trends in the biodegradable plastics market, and what opportunities exist for players?
How does the regulatory framework affect global as well as regional markets?
Which are the key players operating in the global market, and what are the strategies they have adopted?
What are the sales, revenue, business strategy, and product portfolio of the top manufacturers in the biodegradable plastics market?
What are the market size and trends in emerging and developed markets?
Frequently Asked Questions:
The market for Biodegradable Plastics Market is expected to reach US$ 185.25 Bn by 2026.
The Biodegradable Plastics Market is expected to see significant CAGR growth over the coming years, at 19.3%.
The report is forecasted from 2018-2026.
The base year of this report is 2017.
BASF SE, Archer Daniels Midland, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Mondi Group, Biome Technologies PLC, Stora Enso, Amcor, Rocktenn, Unilever, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Corbion, and Natureworks LLC are some of the major players in the global market.
