BIOPLASTICS

facts and figures

B I O P L A S T I C S A ND T HE EU S B I O ECO N O M Y

Today, the European bioeconomy sectors

are worth
and account for

2 TRILLION EUROS in annual turnover

in the EU.
22
MILLION
JOBS
That is

9 % of the EUs workforce.*

300 %

Global production capacities of bioplastics

7,000

a LEAD MARKET by the

European Commission.
The bioplastic markets immense
growth will help drive the

further evolution of
a bioeconomy in Europe.

6,731

Global production capacities of bioplastics

6,000
5,000

by 2018.

BIOPLASTICS have been designated

*Source: European Bioplastics 2012; EC-Communication

Innovating for Sustainable Growth: A Bioeconomy for
Europe 13.02.2012

4,000
3,000

in metric kTon

BIOPLASTICS are (partly or fully)

biobased, biodegradable, or both.
The global bioplastics production
capacity is set to grow

in metric kTon

approx.

2,000
1,000

1,126

7,000

6,731
1,126

6,000

3,613

5,000

1,060

4,000

1,492
3,000
571

1,622

1,670

610

643

1,936

2,039

759

862

1,936
1,177
2,000
1,011 1,6221,028 1,6701,177
921
1,492
0
759
643 2015
2016
2012 571 2013 610 2014
1,000
921
Biodegradable
0

1,011
1,028
Biobased/non-biodegradable

2012
Biodegradable

2013

2014

2,553

862

2017

1,177

2015

2016

Biobased/non-biodegradable

1,060

5,605

2,039

1,177

Forecast

5,605
3,613

2,553

2018

Total capacity

Forecast

Source: European Bioplastics, Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites, nova-Institute (2014)
More information: www.bio-based.eu/markets and www.downloads.ifbb-hannover.de

2017
Total capacity

2018

POLICY SUPPORT DECISIVE FOR MARKET SUCCESS

BIOPLASTIC production capacities are growing

fastest outside of Europe. In order to attract investments and to secure
its place amongst the top-players in the bioplastics market, the EU needs to
implement favorable framework conditions.

Global production capacities of bioplastics in 2013 (by region)

Global production capacities of bioplastics in 2018 (by region)

Global production capacities of bioplastics

in %

17.3

7,000

51.4

6,731

75.8

7.6

18.4

in %

4.3
6,000

1,126

5,000

12.3

0.6
a/Oceania

Asia
South America
North America
Europe
Australia/Oceania

Total: 1.62 million tonnes

a/Oceania

in metric kTon

4,000

12.2

3,613

0.1

3,000
2,000
1,000

1,492

1,936

2,039

Total:
million tonnes
1,622 6.731,670
610

643

759

862

571
921

1,011

1,028

1,177

1,177

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

1,060

5,605

2,553

Biodegradable

Biobased/non-biodegradable

Forecast

Source: European Bioplastics, Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites, nova-Institute (2014)
More information: www.bio-based.eu/markets and www.downloads.ifbb-hannover.de

2017
Total capacity

2018

ALL BIOPLASTIC MATERIAL TYPES DEMONSTRATE HIGH

GROWTH RATES THROUGHOUT ALL MARKET SEGMENTS

BIOPLASTICS are a broad family

with widely varying properties.

of materials
Biodegradable BIOPLASTICS
are a GROWING

NICHE MARKET.

Ultimately, BIOPLASTICS can find a place

in all market segments where conventional
plastics are used. In many of these market segments,
bioplastic alternatives are already available today.
Global production capacities of bioplastics 2013 (by material)

They are often used in short-lived

applications such as biowaste bags
or packaging of fresh produce.

Global production capacities of bioplastics 2013 (by market segment)

800

PTT

6.8%

Bio-PE

12.3%

11.3% Biodegradable
grada
starch blends
grada
10.8% Biodegradable
polyesters3
2.1% PHA

Bio-PET30 2 37%

Total:
1.62 million
tonnes

1.7% Regenerated
cellulose
0.3% Other4

Global production capacities of bioplastics

600

7,000
6,000

400

329
5,000

(biodegradable)

200

16

Biodegradable
Biobased/non-biodegradable

64

85

89

103

3,000

Au
to
m
tra oti
ns ve
po &
rts
Ag
ric
ho ul
rti tur
cu e
ltu &
re
Co
ns
um
er
go
od
s

Contains durable starch blends, Bio-PC, Bio-TPE, Bio-PUR (except thermosets) 2 Biobased content amounts to 30 % 3 Contains PBAT, PBS,
PCL 4 Biodegradable cellulose ester

Ot
he
rs
in metric kTon

Biodegradable 37.6%

Ele
c
ele tric
ctr al &
on
ic
co Buil
ns din
tru g
cti &
on

Biobased/non-biodegradable 62.4%

167

4,000

2,000

1,000

1,492

1,622

571

610

921

1,011

1,670
643

1,028

1,936

2,039

759

862

1,177

1,177

Ri
gid
pa
ck
ag
ing

4.9%

pa
ck
ag
ing

Bio-PA

(biobased/
non-biodegradable)

763

Te
xti
les

11.4% PLA

Fle
xib
le

1.4%

in metric kTon

Other1

PLA & PLA-blends

Starch blends Other1 (biodegradables)
0
3
Bio-PE
Bio-PET30 2
2016
2012
2013 Other (biobased/non-biodegradable)
2014
2015

Contains regenerated cellulose and biodegradable cellulose ester 2Biobased content amounts to 30% 3Contains durable starch blends, Bio-PC, Bio-TPE, Bio-PUR (except
thermosets), Bio-PA, PTT

Biodegradable

DROP-IN SOLUTIONS represent the single largest sector

of the global bioplastics production. They are (partly) biobased,

non-biodegradable commodity plastics such as PE, PET, or PP,

and can be easily recycled along their conventional counterparts.

Biobased/non-biodegradable

Forecast

Source: European Bioplastics, Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites, nova-Institute (2014)
More information: www.bio-based.eu/markets and www.downloads.ifbb-hannover.de

Tot

BI OMA S S FOR B IOPL ASTICS EF F ICIENT U S E OF

FE E DS T OCK & GOOD AG R ICU LTU R A L PR A CTICE

0.01%

A glance at the global agricultural area

makes it abundantly clear:
The area used to grow crops for

BIOPLASTICS rely on about

of the global agricultural area of 5 billion ha.
This compares to the size of an average

BIOPLASTICS is nowhere
near being in competition

CHERRY TOMATO
vis--vis the Eiffel Tower.

TO FOOD AND FEED.

Landuseuse
for bioplastics
and
2018
Land
use
bioplastics
Land
for bioplastics
2013
and2013
2018for

2013 and 2018

Global production capacities of bioplastics

7,000

6,731

GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL AREA

GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL AREA

6,000

1,126

Pasture
3.5 billion ha = 70%*

Pasture
3.5 billion ha = 70%*

5,000

in metric kTon

4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000

1,936

1,622

1,670

571

610

643

759

921

1,011

1,028

1,177

2012

2013

2014

2015

1,492

Biodegradable

Biobased/non-biodegradable

Food & Feed3,613

Food & Feed
1.24 billion ha = 26%*
1.24 billion ha = 26%*
1,060
Material use***
Material
use***
5,605
1062,039
million ha = 2%*
106 million
= 2%*
Arableha
land**
Biofuels
Biofuels
1.4 billion ha = 30%*
862
53 million
ha2,553
= 1%*
53 million ha = 1%*
Bioplastics***
Bioplastics***
1,177
2013: 0.6 million ha 0.01%*
2013: 0.6 million ha 0.01%*
2018:
0.02%*
2018: 1.3 million ha 0.02%*
20161.3 million
2017 ha 2018
Forecast

Arable land**
1.4 billion ha = 30%*

Total capacity

* In relation to global agricultural area

* In relation to global agricultural area
Source: European Bioplastics, Institute
forEuropean
Bioplastics
and Biocomposites,
(2014)
Source:
Bioplastics,
Institute fornova-Institute
Bioplastics and
Biocomposites, nova-Institute
(2014)
** Also includes approx. 1% fallow land
** Also includes approx. 1% fallow land
Source: European Bioplastics, Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites, nova-Institute (2014)
*** Land-use for bioplastics is part of the 2% material
useLand-use for bioplastics is part of the 2% material use
***
More
information:
www.bio-based.eu/markets
andwww.bio-based.eu/markets
www.downloads.ifbb-hannover.de
More
information:
and www.downloads.ifbb-hannover.de
More information:
www.bio-based.eu/markets
and www.downloads.ifbb-hannover.de

Increasing the efficiency of feedstock and agricultural technology is continuously enhancing

good agricultural practice. Whats more: Today, such best practise is also ensured through the
emergence of reliable and independent sustainability certification schemes
such as ISCC, WLC or BonSucro.

CO N TAC T
You want to learn more about the
advantages and applications of bioplastics?
European Bioplastics
Marienstrae 19-20
10117 Berlin

Phone: +49 30 28 48 23 50
Email: info@european-bioplastics.org
Email: press@european-bioplastics.org

For more information please visit our website:

www.european-bioplastics.org
Or follow us on twitter:
twitter.com/EUBioplastics
Or subscribe to our channel on youtube:
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