Bioplastics Market To Reach 1.2 B lbs By 2012, But Improvements Needed

November 24, 2008

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

According to John Kalkowski, editorial director at Packaging Digest, “bioplastics’ time has not yet come, but it can’t be far off.” According BCC research, the market for biodegradable plastics reached 541 million pounds in 2007, and is expected to reach 1.2 billion pounds by 2012.

Bioplastics are made from biopolymers which are living green cells. Unlike hydrocarbon polymers, biopolymers can be broken down by microorganisms and composted.

Kalkowski says bioplastics need improvements to cost, performance, moisture-barrier properties, recycling-stream contamination and use of food crops, before their use becomes more common.

However, Kalkowski says volatile oil prices; energy security concerns; environmental benefits; favorable regulator initiatives; and the improving performance and competitiveness of bioplastics will help drive the growth of the material.

Millipore and Cannon both recently unveiled bioplastic products.

In February, EL reported that bioplastics start ups were becoming the darlings in the clean tech industry.

Although bioplastics are seen as a way to boost recycling and reduce the 10 percent share of U.S. petroleum consumption that goes into plastic, manufacturing bioplastics still produces CO2, and the crops needed to make it still require land and water.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Make sustainability part of your strategy.

Get equipped at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Best Practices: Product Environmental Compliance

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Reader Comments

For more information about the report mentioned in the article check out: http://www.bccresearch.com/report/PLS025C.html

Stuart Foster | November 25th, 2008

The latest informations said :

-the bioplastics aren’t competitifs : too much expensiv / oil

-not efficient (water, energy …)

But the time and the price for oil will be expensive soon. The company need to continie to promote the bioplastics.

http://www.ecolo-trader.fr/Analyse-du-Cycle-de-Vie-definition-et-exemples-vtptc-186.php

raoul | November 25th, 2008

The links below detail additional information on the challenges facing today’s bioplastics. We should make them better before promoting them as “The Answer” to the plastic problem. They should decrease pollution, use less water, not use food sources people need, etc.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/04/bioplastics-problem.php
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10539185
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/apr/26/waste.pollution

paxhag | December 5th, 2008

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader