Supply is well ensured to meet the growing demand in the short and medium term. However, it is difficult to make long-term forecasts due to the dynamic and innovative nature of the bioplastic market. A reliable legislative framework in the EU would be beneficial to further attract investment and ensure supply in the long run.
In recent years, numerous joint ventures have been established and planned investments in bioplastic production capacities have been made. Initial facilities producing various types of bioplastics are operating in Europe, the Americas and Asia. Additional facilities and biorefineries are currently being set up or already started to operate in different regions from Italy to Thailand to produce bioplastics, including starch compounds, PLA, biobased PBS, biobased PE, biobased PET, or PEF. E.g. in response to the great demand for PLA, several bioplastic producers are planning or already expanding its production capacities for this biopolymer. These investments and scale-ups are reflected in European Bioplastics’ market data, which show growth in capacity from around 2.47 million tonnes in 2024 to approximately 5.73 million tonnes in 2029.
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