bioplastics24.com

Because of their positive characteristics and benefits, bioplastics are often a viable alternative to conventional plastics made out of fossil resources. Since many conventional plastics can be substituted with bioplastics, features of and predictions within the conventional plastic market are also relevant for the bioplastic market. In the following articles we want to provide an overview of the structure and the characteristics of these two markets. Furthermore, we will examine detailed market, production and sales figures in Germany, Europe and worldwide.

 The potential of bioplastics largely depends on the development of the cost of fossil resources and on whether it is possible to promote the use of bioplastic with a supporting regulatory and policy framework.

Of the 14 million tons of packaging material that are produced in Germany every year, about 40% consist of plastic. Around 1.8 million tons of that are perishable or single-use plastic packaging materials like foils, bags, containers, cutlery and crockery. These products could easily be substituted by starch or polylactide plastics. The production of about 500,000 tons of bioplastics in Germany is therefore realistic. Similarly, half of the six million tons of disposable plastic packaging in the European Union could be substituted by bioplastics. However, because of the strong price competition in the plastic market, bioplastics have struggled to compete with the market typical cost-performance-ratio. Nevertheless, the rising cost of oil means that bioplastics are increasingly being viewed as a viable and cost-competitive share of the market.

Half of the six million tons of disposable plastic packaging in the European Union could be substituted by bioplastics.

The horticultural sector is another area where the use of bioplastics offers great advantages. There is a potential for a consumption of 12,000-20,000 tons of degradable plant pots and 1,500 tons of mulch foil per year. COPA (Committee of Agricultural Organisation in the European Union) and COGEGA (General Committee for the Agricultural Cooperation in the European Union) have made an assessment of the potential of bioplastics in different sectors of the European economy:

(Sources: COPA, COPEGA, European Bioplastics) 

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