Market development

Initial research into bioplastics was undertaken several decades ago. Biodegradable bioplastics materials and products have been on the European market for more than two decades. These products are largely compostable biowaste bags and loose fill. The market for packaging film has developed dynamically since around 2002, initially for organic food products, and subsequently for many other products.

The current market is characterized by high growth and strong diversification. There is a multitude of applications ranging from beverage bottles in the packaging segment to keyboards in the consumer electronics segment. Depending on the application different types of bioplastics are processed in these products:

• biodegradable polymers such as starch-based plastics or PHA.
• biobased, non-biodegradable commodity plastics such as biobased PE and PET.

With a growing numbers of materials, applications and products, the number of manufacturers, converters and end-users increases steadily. Significant financial investments have been made into production and marketing to guide and accompany this development. Legal framework conditions provide incentives for the use of bioplastics in several countries worldwide, providing stimulus to the market.