5 November 2015 Business News

GLOBAL BIOPLASTICS PRODUCTION CAPACITIES CONTINUE TO GROW DESPITE LOW OIL PRICE

Infographic of the findings, plus more infomation, available to download.

 

European Bioplastics have announced the results of their annual market data research at the European Bioplastics Conference in Berlin today.

The results of European Bioplastics’ annual market data update, presented today at the 10th European Bioplastics Conference in Berlin, confirm the positive growth trend of the global bioplastics industry. “The market is predicted to grow by more than 350 percent in the mid-term,” says François de Bie, Chairman of European Bioplastics.

The data compiled in cooperation with IfBB (Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites) and nova-Institute shows that the global bioplastics production capacity will increase from around 1.7 million tonnes in 2014 to approximately 7.8 million tonnes in 2019. Biobased, non-biodegradable plastics, such as bio-PE and bio-PET, are the main drivers of this growth. Production capacities of biodegradable plastics, such as PLA, PHA, and starch blends, are also growing steadily, nearly doubling until 2019. Packaging remains the single largest field of application for bioplastics with almost 70 percent of the total bioplastics market. “The data illustrates an important trend to make packaging more resource efficient, which is driven by a growing consumer demand for products with a reduced environmental impact,” explains de Bie.

Asia will further expand its role as major production hub with more than 80 percent of bioplastics produced in Asia by 2019. Europe will be left with less then 5 percent of the production capacities. “Against this background, the implementation of a European policy framework that secures equal access to biobased resources, facilitates market entry for biobased products, and accounts for the role of compostable plastics for efficient waste stream management, is of paramount importance. We urge EU legislators to consider the immense environmental, economic growth and job creation potential of our industry in the forthcoming Circular Economy Package,” concludes de Bie.

Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com)

Use this link to download market data graphics - http://en.european-bioplastics.org/press/press-pictures/labelling-logos-charts/

 

5 November 2015