In 2023, the non-biodegradable bioplastics market was more than 1 million tonnes, Bio-PE is the largest non-biodegradable bioplastic in the world accounting for 14% of the overall bioplastics market followed by PTT and PA accounting for 15% and 10% respectively. Bioplastics are a type of plastic that are derived from renewable biomass sources such as corn starch, sugarcane, or cellulose. Not all bioplastics are biodegradable, and some may even be considered non-biodegradable. These types of bioplastics are often made from bio-based materials such as plant-based polymers or biodegradable additives, but they may not fully break down in the environment due to their chemical composition.
The major non-biodegradable bioplastics are bio-polyethylene (bio-PE), bio-polyethylene-terephthalate (bio-PET), bio-polypropylene (bio-PP), bio-polytrimethylene terephthalate (Bio-PTT), and bio-polyamide (bio-PA). Bio-PET holds the largest share of the market owing to its extensive use in the packaging industry.
There have been several capacity additions due to the growing demand for Bio-PET. For instance, Japan’s Mitsui Chemicals plans on building a new Bio-PET plant in the US which will be the largest production site in the world for bio-packaging material. The proposed plant is set to have a capacity of 40 kilotons and is expected to start operations by 2025.
Based on applications, the market is segmented into Packaging, Consumer Goods, Automotive, Building & Construction, Textile, and Electrical & Electronics. The packaging sector dominates the market. Non-biodegradable bioplastics are widely used in applications such as disposables, bottles, food packaging, carry bags, shopping bags, films, automotive interiors, consumer goods, and electronics. The growing demand for sustainable products owing to rising demand from customers and the rising awareness to reduce dependency on petroleum-based products are anticipated to drive the demand for packaging which will positively impact the non-biodegradable bioplastics market.
Europe accounts for the largest share in the non-biodegradable bioplastics market owing to the rising demand from various end-use industries like packaging, consumer goods, textiles, and agriculture. The stringent environmental regulations imposed in the region and increasing environmental concerns are driving the market. There have been several capacity additions in the region to cater to the growing demand for bioplastics. Consumers are turning towards the consumption of sustainable products along with increasing purchasing power will positively impact the overall market.
DSM Engineering Materials has recently debuted a more sustainable version of its polyamide (PA) product StanylB-MB which will halve the carbon footprint emissions.
In January 2023, Braskem announced that they are assessing an investment in producing carbon-negative bio-PP in the US. This project would be the world’s first plant-producing bio-PP on an industrial scale.
Non-biodegradable bioplastics account for around 45% percent (more than 1 million tonnes) of the global bioplastics production capacities. Bio-PE is the largest non-biodegradable bioplastic in the world accounting for 14% of the overall bioplastics market followed by PTT and PA accounting for 15% and 10% respectively.
The increasing demand for biodegradable plastics in the packaging of consumer goods and food and beverages boosts industry growth. Several well-known brands, such as Coca-Cola, Heinz, and Volvic, have started using Bio-PET for manufacturing bottles that contain sparkling drinks and other non-gaseous fluids.
In 2022, Carbios and Indorama Ventures announced a collaboration for setting up a new manufacturing plant at Indorama’s PET production site in France which will use Carbios enzymatic PET recycling technology. The production is set to start by 2025 and the company will help to meet the growing demand of large consumer goods companies such as L’Oréal, Michelin, Nestle, PepsiCo, etc for more sustainable packaging.
Bio-PET is commonly used to manufacture water bottles because they don’t attract harmful bacteria or leach chemicals back into the environment, making them practical, eco-friendly options such as food and drink packaging.
The rise in environmental concerns, greater awareness regarding the use of sustainable materials, and the launch of innovative products by leading industry players further boost the non-biodegradable bioplastics market growth. Improvement in consumer lifestyles, rising disposable income, and growing demand from emerging economies are factors expected to offer growth opportunities during the forecast period.
Non-biodegradable bioplastics are relatively expensive; however, prices are coming down as companies are developing more efficient and eco-friendly strategies for producing bioplastics.
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