Bioplastics: Technologies and Global Markets

Sep 2010| PLS050A| BCC Publishing

Report Highlights

  • Bioplastics will grow at a significant pace over the next 5 years. The total worldwide use of bioplastics is valued at 571,712 metric tons in 2010. This usage is expected to grow at a 41.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2010 through 2015, to reach 3,230,660 metric tons in 2015.
  • By 2010, ready access to crops such as soybeans, corn, and sugarcane moved the United States strongly into bioplastics. North American usage is estimated at 258,180 metric tons in 2010 and is expected to increase at a 41.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach 1,459,040 metric tons in 2015.
  • Use of bioplastics got off to a faster start in Europe than in the United States. European usage is now reported at 175,320 metric tons in 2010 and is expected to increase at a 33.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach 753,760 metric tons in 2015. 

INTRODUCTION

Market forces, especially increasing focus on environmental threats such as global warming and disposal of products containing toxic materials, have strongly driven development and early use of bioplastics.
 
Bioplastics are plastics that are made from renewable resources, such as food crops or biomass. The terms “bioplastics” and “biodegradable plastics” have been used interchangeably, but there is a difference between the two types of polymers.
 
BCC Research defines a fully biodegradable polymer as a polymer that is completely converted by microorganisms to carbon dioxide, water, and humus. In the case of anaerobic biodegradation, carbon dioxide, methane, and humus are the degradation products. Some, but not all, bioplastics are also biodegradable.
 
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
 
Goals and objectives of this study include:
  • Identifying trends that will affect use of bioplastics and their major end-use application markets 
  • Reviewing, analyzing, and forecasting specific end markets for bioplastics by material types, with sections devoted to each type of renewable-sourced plastic 
  • Analyzing and forecasting market developments from the viewpoint of major applications for bioplastics, that is, packaging, automotive, electrical/electronic, medical, building, and construction and others
  • Profiling many of the most important suppliers of bioplastics, including resin roducers and compounders  
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY
 
The rapid emergence of bioplastics is one of the major materials stories of the period starting in 2010. Once billed as biodegradable plastics, the theme for renewably sourced plastics has shifted dramatically in recent years to sustainability. In order to maximize market impact, there is now a growing trend to compound bio-based plastics with oil-based plastics to extend their reach into markets for durable products used in cars, cell phones, and elsewhere. The focus has shifted to total carbon footprint, and away from contribution to the solid waste stream.
 
INTENDED AUDIENCE
 
Due to the growing concern about climate change and negative health impacts of many existing materials, this report will be of interest to anyone who sells, designs, or manufactures products that are, or could be, made from polymeric materials. This report will also be of value to individuals who are helping to establish public policy about issues ranging from limits on use of plastics packaging to potential limits on use of vinyl compounds in medical applications.
 
This report will be of value to technical and business personnel in the following areas, among others:
  • Personnel in end-user companies in a wide range of industries from retail bags to solar cell manufacturing
  • Marketing and management personnel in companies that produce, market, and sell any type of plastics
  • Companies involved in the design and construction of process plants that manufacture resins and products made from the resins
  • Companies that supply, or want to supply, equipment and services to plastics companies
  • Financial institutions that supply money for such facilities and systems, including banks, merchant bankers, venture capitalists, and others
  • Investors in both equity and fixed-income markets; the fate of the plastics very much weighs on the values of the publicly traded stocks of companies such as Eastman, Bayer, DSM, and DuPont
  • Personnel in government at many levels, ranging from federal to state and local authorities, many of whom are involved in trying to ensure public health and safety; the report also will be of interest to military scientists studying new packaging and equipment.
SCOPE OF REPORT
 
The focus of this report is plastics that are made from renewable resources such as biomass or food crops. There is even some potential development of bioplastics from animal resources. Plastics that may be potentially made from waste carbon dioxide are reviewed because of their potential impact on bioplastics, but their data is not included in the forecasts presented here. Bioplastics are further defined here as polymer materials that are produced by synthesizing, either chemically or biologically, materials which contain renewable organic materials. Natural organic materials that are not chemically modified, such as wood composites, are excluded. The report includes use of renewable resources to create monomers that replace petroleum-based monomers, such as polyester and polyethylene that use feedstocks made from sugarcane. Ethanol, a major product in Brazil, is one small chemical step from ethylene.
 
The focal point is on the following resin chemistries, including:
  • Polylactic acid
  • Thermoplastic starch
  • Bio-polyamides (nylons)
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)
  • Bio-polyols
  • Cellulosics
  • Bio- polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT)
  • Bio-polyethylene
  • Bio-bottle-grade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) 
Biodegradable and photodegradable polymers made from petrochemical feedstocks are not included.
 
Other renewable resin chemistries are also covered but in less detail because their roles are not as well developed. They include collagen and chitosan.
 
METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES
 
Both primary and secondary research methodologies were used in preparing this report. Extensive searches were made of the literature and the Internet, including many of the leading trade publications, as well as technical compendia, government publications, and information from trade and other associations. Many background sources were used to develop chemical and property descriptions, but all forecasts are solely attributable to BCC Research.
 
AUTHOR’S CREDENTIALS
 
Douglas A. Smock was the chief editor of Plastics World Magazine from 1986 to 1994 at Cahners Publishing Co. He also served as a senior editor of Modern Plastics at McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., associate publisher and editorial director of Modern Mold & Tooling at the McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., and chief editor of Purchasing Magazine at Reed Business Information from 2000 to 2004. Smock has been a contributing editor at Design News since 2006 in addition to serving as a materials’ analyst at BCC Research. .
At RBI-US, Smock also served as co-chairman of the corporate editorial board. He is the coauthor of Straight to the Bottom Line and On-Demand Supply Management, two leading books in the field of supply management. He is the former editor of BCC Research’s newsletter, High Tech Ceramic News. Smock received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
 
BCC ONLINE SERVICES
 
BCC offers an online information retrieval service. BCC’s home page, located at www.bccresearch.com, enables readers to:
  • Examine BCC’s complete catalog of Market Research Reports and place direct orders
  • Subscribe to any of BCC’s many industry newsletters
  • Read announcements of recently published reports and newly launched newsletters
  • Register for BCC’s well-known conferences
  • Request additional information on any BCC product
  • Take advantage of special offers.
DISCLAIMER
 
The information developed in this report, is intended to be as reliable as possible at the time of publication and of a professional nature. This information does not constitute managerial, legal, or accounting advice; nor should it serve as a corporate policy guide, laboratory manual, or an endorsement of any product, as much of the information is of a speculative in nature. The author assumes no responsibility for any loss or damage that might result from reliance on the reported information or from its use.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Table of Contents

All reports provided in PDF format. For shared licensing options (5+ Users), please call a representative at (+1) 781-489-7301 or contact us at info@bccresearch.com
Title/Chapter NamePagesMember Price
Full Report: Bioplastics: Technologies and Global Markets191Free
Chapter- 1: INTRODUCTION4Free
Chapter- 2: SUMMARY3Free
Chapter- 3: THE BIOPLASTICS INDUSTRY3Free
Chapter- 4: PROS AND CONS OF BIOPLASTICS6Free
Chapter- 5: BIOPLASTICS BY RESIN TYPE90Free
Chapter- 6: BIOPLASTIC PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES8Free
Chapter- 7: MARKET ESTIMATES AND FORECASTS5Free
Chapter- 8: APPLICATIONS30Free
Chapter- 9: ISSUES FACING BIOPLASTICS6Free
Chapter- 10: STANDARDS AND CERTFICATIONS2Free
Chapter- 11: PATENTS9Free
Chapter- 12: C. CRAMER & CO. GMBH18Free
Chapter- 13: APPENDIX A: LEADING BIOPLASTICS TRADE GROUPS2Free
Chapter- 14: APPENDIX B: IMPORTANT ACRONYMS RELATED TO BIOPLASTICS2Free
Chapter- 15: APPENDIX C: SELECTED GLOSSARY OF TERMS3Free
Bioplastics: Technologies and Global Markets

Single User License: $2750

Become a Member

Already a member? Login to access this report free.

Have a Question? Ask Us.

Why BCC Research.?

Every purchase provides access to:

  • Thousands of recently published reports from select publishers
  • Member Discounts of up to 50% on over 20,000 additional reports from all publishers
  • Our analysts and research concierge for all inquiries
RELATED REPORTS