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Bioplastics at a Glance

Bioplastics represent a relatively new class of materials which have much in common with conventional plastics. What differentiates them is

• the use of renewable resources in their manufacture
• the biodegradability and compostability of many bioplastics products.

Their development follows nature’s example: 100 billion tonnes of biomass are annually produced from plants, using sunlight and photosynthesis. The same amount biodegrades back into the source materials, carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water, together with small amounts of biomass and minerals. This occurs primarily through biological degradation via numerous microbes.  The bioplastics industry’s aim is to imitate this closed loop, as it represents the means by which environmentally-damaging CO₂ emissions can be reduced and fossil resources conserved for future generations.  

 

Idealised closed loop life cycle of BPDs

The crucial point is the utilisation of renewable resources. Bioplastics’ great advantage – the conservation of fossil resources and reduction in CO₂ emissions – make them one of the most important innovations for sustainable development. Plastics, with their current global consumption of more than 250 million tonnes and annual growth of approx. 5%, represent the largest field of application for crude oil outside the energy and transport sectors.  This 5% crude oil consumption may appear comparatively small, however it does emphasise how dependent the plastics industry is on oil. Price increases in crude oil and natural gas caused by strong demand and political conflict also have a marked effect on the plastics market. It is becoming increasingly important and pressing for this significant industry branch (worth EUR 200 billion in all sectors of Europe) to utilise alternative raw materials.

Currently available bioplastics types cover approx. 5-10% of the current plastics market. In addition there are completely new applications such as compostable film products.  This technical potential is nowhere near fully utilised. Bioplastics development is just beginning. Their market share is currently well under one percent. The market is growing and in many application areas e.g. packaging or agricultural films, the number and quantity are increasing dramatically. Successful marketing strategies are based on clever utilisation of the materials’ functionality and appealing to the consumer through the highly positive image.  Labelling has been developed to assist the consumer in recognising the products and distinguishing them from conventional plastics. The labelling is based on scientific criteria for biodegradability and compostability.

The competitiveness of bioplastics has greatly improved in the past few years. This is not only due to the fact that conventional plastics have become expensive. The technical properties or simplified recovery following consumption can also represent an economic advantage. Most products remain more expensive than crude oil based plastics which have been on the market for many years. Bioplastics are currently produced mainly in small production plants (total production capacity over 400,000 t worldwide). Their development costs are high and they do not yet have the benefit of "economies of scale".

Framework conditions – both legal and market – play a significant role in this market introduction phase. Unlike the areas of renewable energy and biofuels, there is no positive framework conditions. In individual EU countries the first initiatives are emerging to facilitate the introduction of bioplastics. The fact that the risk of climate change is becoming increasingly apparent, the difficulty of guaranteeing supply, together with price developments in fossil raw materials all represent serious reasons to promote sustainable technologies. For the EU, with its limited crude oil and natural gas resources, the increased utilisation of biomass as both an energy source and a raw material will be indispensable in the long term. Bioplastics have a great future ahead of them. The sooner it begins, the better.