Technical innovations that improve bioplastics and lower their price -- along with increased production
capacity -- will make bioplastics more cost-competitive with conventional polymers.
US demand to rise 20%
annually through 2016
US demand for bioplastics is forecast to
climb at a 20 percent annual pace
through 2016 to 550 million pounds,
valued at $680 million. Although they
have achieved a considerable degree of
commercial success, bioplastics remain
in an early stage of development,
representing only a small niche within
the overall plastics industry. Going
forward, technical innovations that
enhance the properties of bioplastics
and lower their price will drive growth.
Increased production capacity will boost
the availability and further reduce the
price of bioplastics, thus making these
materials more cost-competitive with
conventional polymers.
In addition, many bio-based polymers
benefit from relative price stability when
compared with their petroleum-based
counterparts. Moreover, the desire to
decrease dependence on foreign oil will
further fuel the expansion of bio-based
resins, as will efforts by US manufacturers
to enhance sustainability and
improve the corporate image they project
to an increasingly eco-conscious consumer
base.
PLA to remain most extensively
used bioplastic
Polylactic acid (PLA) is expected to
remain the most extensively used resin
in the bioplastics market through the
forecast period, despite issues regarding
the inability of biodegradable products
such as PLA to decompose in landfills
and their potential to contaminate the
recycling stream. Advances will be
promoted by a widening composting
network and greater processor familiarity,
as well as ongoing efforts to diversify
PLA feedstocks, as critics cite the food
versus fuel debate and the energy- and
pesticide-intensive nature of corn
production as a key drawback of biopolymers.
Furthermore, PLA is being blended
with other resins and additives to
create new grades that offer improved
product performance, allowing for use in
an extended range of applications,
including durable and semi-durable
goods.
Bio-based polyethylene -- which entered
the market in 2010 -- is expected to offer
the best opportunities for growth through
2016, increasing rapidly from a small
base. These exceptionally strong gains
are predicated on the expansion of
production capacity, which will reduce
prices and enable this resin to compete
more effectively with its petroleum-based
counterpart. Although bio-based polyethylene
will continue to command a price
premium that will restrict demand in
price-sensitive non-consumer markets
through 2016, the fact that bio-based
polyethylene is chemically identical to,
and can serve as a drop-in replacement
for, conventional polyethylene will remain
a key factor driving its adoption.
Study Scope
This study analyzes the 220 million pound US bioplastic industry. It presents historical demand data for the years 2001, 2006 and 2011, with forecasts for 2016 and 2021 by resin (e.g., polylactic acid, starch-based plastics, cellulose films, bio-based polyethylene, bio-based polyamides, degradable polyesters), product (e.g., film, molded goods) and market (e.g., packaging, nonpackaging).
The study also considers market environment factors, details industry structure, evaluates company market share and profiles 44 industry players, including NatureWorks, Innovia Films and Arkema.
