The Future of Biodegradable and Compostable Packaging to 2029

Table of Contents Key Facts and Figures

The market for biodegradable and compostable packaging is forecast to grow at 8.8% CAGR to reach 1.17 million tonnes in 2029.
China is the largest consumer of biodegradable and compostable packaging in 2023, with a consumption share of 30%.

Consumption of biodegradable and compostable polymers for packaging will continue growing at a faster rate than petrochemical-based thermoplastic materials. Demand is driven by the growing desire of consumers, brand owners and governments to replace single-use fossil-based plastics with more sustainable packaging alternatives.

Definition
In this report, biodegradable means polymers that can be broken down into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass by the natural action of microorganisms to significantly biodegrade within six months, a much shorter time period than the decades or centuries it takes conventional polymers to biodegrade.

For this report, compostable denotes a material that is able to be broken down into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass within a specific timeframe under specific conditions.

Key Questions

Is there a viable future for biodegradable and compostable packaging that can match materials based on fossil fuels?
How are technical developments driving the market?
How will biodegradable and compostable packaging compete with ‘traditional’ materials when it comes to performance properties?
What does the end-of-life process look like for biodegradable and compostable packaging?

This report is essential to:

Packaging raw material suppliers
Packaging converters and manufacturers
Retailers and brand owners

About the author
David Platt has a broad range of experience in the plastics and packaging industry. He has authored over 50 market reports for Smithers on subjects including global packaging, rigid plastic packaging, PET packaging, flexible packaging, bioplastics, specialty plastics, high-performance packaging films, pouches, and caps & closures. He has participated in consultancy projects and has authored two books for Smithers.

Name The Future of Biodegradable and Compostable Packaging to 2029

Date 9/24/2024

Price $6750.00

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Executive summary
Introduction and methodology

Introduction
Objectives
Report scope
- Biodegradable and compostable polymer product types
- End use markets
- Geographic markets
Definition
Data
Methodology
List of polymer abbreviations
Exchange rates

Market drivers and trends

Introduction
Sustainable programmes of retailers and brand owners
Bioplastics’ relative price competitiveness
Massive increase in biodegradable polymer production capacities
Global packaging market growth
- Framework conditions
  - Bio-based
  - Compostable
    - EN 13432:2000 Packaging:
EU regulatory developments for bioplastics
Waste management for biodegradable and compostable packaging
Plastic bag bans and taxes

The competitive landscape

Overview
Biodegradable and compostable polymers directly extracted from biomass
- Novamont Group
- Rodenburg Biopolymers Ltd
- Biotec GmbH & Co
  - Ticinoplast launches ‘NextFilm’ line of compostable packaging film
  - Pilot plant for TPS production launched in Poland
  - Bioplastics starch plant opened in Russia
Biodegradable plastics produced directly by natural/ genetically modified organisms
- Danimer Scientific
- Yield10 Bioscience Inc.
- CJ Biomaterials
- Lummus Technology and RWDC Industries to cooperate on PHA development
- Kaneka to expand PHBH production
- MAP Group buys insolvent Bio-on
- Paques Biomaterials and Loop to jointly produce polyhydroxyalkanoate
Biodegradable plastics synthesised from bio-derived monomers
- NatureWorks LLC
- TotalEnergies Corbion
- PLA plant to be built on the Arabian Peninsula
- Futerro plans to build vertically integrated PLA plant in Europe
- New subsidiary unit for the production of flexible PLA copolymers
- Balrampur Chini Mills to enter PLA production in India
Biodegradable polymers synthesized from petrochemical feedstock
- BASF AG
- SK Chemicals invests in new Vietnamese PBAT / PBS plant
- SK Capital Partners acquires majority stake in PVOH packaging producer
- Camm Solutions to expand PVOH production

Cutting-edge technology developments

Overview
Biodegradable plastics directly extracted from biomass
- Current starch-based biodegradable and compostable technologies
- Current cellulose-based biodegradable and compostable technologies
- Technology developments for biodegradable and compostable technologies directly extracted from biomass
  - Novamont launches new Mater-Bi grade for extrusion coating
  - Development of degradable bioplastic film with tapioca starch
  - LG Chem and Gevo jointly developing a technology that creates 100% bio-based plastics from renewable sources of carbohydrates
  - Biodegradable straw developed from new type of bioplastic film
  - Gaia Biomaterials develops compostable material for drinking straws
Biodegradable plastics synthesised from bio-derived monomers
- Current polylactic acid (PLA) technologies
- PLA technology developments
  - Innovative flexible PLA film developed
  - Bio-based cups from rPLA
  - Launch of recycled PLA grades
  - PLA-based thermoformable films
Biodegradable polymers synthesized from petrochemical feedstock
- Current technology for aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters
- Current polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) technology
- Aliphatic-aromatic copolyester technology developments
  - BASF launches biomass balanced Ecoflex PBAT to expand biopolymers portfolio
Biodegradable polymers produced directly by natural/genetically-modified organisms
- Current polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) technology
- PHA technology developments
- CJ Biomaterials improvs PHA material performance properties
- Polymer chemists improve PHA thermal stability
- Paques Biomaterials produces PHA from waste streams
- PHA water bottle launched
Bio-based, non-biodegradable plastic packaging solutions
- Bio-based polyethylene
- Polyethylene furanoate (PEF)

Biodegradable and compostable packaging by material type

Overview
Biodegradable plastics directly extracted from biomass
Starch
Cellulose acetate (CA)
Biodegradable plastics produced directly by natural/genetically-modified organisms
Polyhydroxy-alkanoates (PHA)
Biodegradable plastics synthesised from bio-derived monomers
Polylactic acid (PLA)
Biodegradable polymers synthesised from petrochemical feedstock
Aliphatic-aromatic polyesters

Biodegradable and compostable packaging by end-use market

Overview
Food packaging
Beverages packaging
Foodservice packaging
Non-food packaging

Biodegradable and compostable packaging by region

Overview
Europe
North America
South & Central America
China
Rest of Asia-Pacific
Middle East & Africa

Biodegradable and compostable packaging – challenges and opportunities

Overview
High relative cost of biodegradable and compostable polymers compared with petro-plastics
Management of feedstock availability
Performance properties of biodegradable and compostable polymers
Product quality/consistency
Higher density of biodegradable and compostable polymers compared to petro-based polymers
Labeling and end-of-life management
Competing pack types for bioplastics in the food and beverages market
Flexible food packaging
Rigid plastic food packaging
Plastic beverage packaging

List of Figures

Global biodegradable and compostable packaging by product type, percentage share of consumption, 2023
Global biodegradable and compostable packaging by end-use sector, percentage share of consumption, 2023
Global biodegradable and compostable packaging by region, percentage share of consumption, 2023
Price comparison: LDPE film versus PLA, 2019–24 (€/tonne)
Average annual prices by type, 2024 ($ per kg)

List of Tables

Global biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption and sales, 2024 and 2029
Biodegradable and compostable packaging – summary of key challenges and unmet needs to 2029
Meaning of biopolymer technology
Market drives and trends to 2029
Current producers of biodegradable and compostable polymers directly extracted from biomass, 2024
Current producers of biodegradable and compostable polymers directly by naturally/genetically modified organisms, 2024
Current producers of biodegradable and compostable polymers synthesised from bio-derived monomers, 2024
Current producers of biodegradable and compostable polymers synthesized from petrochemical feedstock, 2024
Biodegradable and compostable packaging technology developments to 2029
Starch blends – summary of key features
Novamont Mater-Bi for film extrusion: average physical and mechanical
Cellulose acetate – summary of key features
Selected NatureFlex packaging film grades, summary of water vapour and oxygen barrier properties
PLA – summary of key features
NatureWorks Ingeo PLA 7001D biopolymers for blow moulding – typical material
NatureWorks Ingeo PLA biopolymers for film extrusion – typical material
NatureWorks Ingeo PLA biopolymers for heat seal biaxially oriented film –
Polybutylene succinate – summary of key features
Typical material properties of Ecoflex F blend compared with LDPE film
PHB – summary of key features
Global biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption and value by material type, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes/$ million)
Global consumption and value of biodegradable and compostable packaging from starch by region, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes/$ million)
Global consumption and value of biodegradable and compostable packaging from cellulose acetate by region, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes/$ million)
Global consumption and value of biodegradable and compostable packaging from PHA by region, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes/$ million)
Global consumption and value of biodegradable and compostable packaging from PLA by region, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes/$ million)
Global consumption and value of biodegradable and compostable packaging from aliphatic aromatic polyesters by region, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes/$ million)
Global biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by end use market, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
Biodegradable plastics for food packaging applications: examples of major food companies that have successfully used biodegradable plastics

For each end use:

Global consumption of biodegradable and compostable packaging by region, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)

List of end uses:

Food packaging
Beverages
Foodservice
Non-food
Global biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption and market value by region, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes/$ million)
European biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by product type, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
European biodegradable and compostable packaging market value by product type, 2019–29 ($ million)
European biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by end use sector, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
North American biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption and market value by product type, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes/$ million)
North American biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by end use sector, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
South & Central American biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by product type, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
South & Central American biodegradable and compostable packaging market value by product type, 2019–29 ($ million)
South & Central American biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by end use sector, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
China: biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by product type, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
China: biodegradable and compostable packaging market value by product type, 2019–29 ($ million)
China: biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by end use sector, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
Rest of Asia-Pacific biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by product type, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
Rest of Asia-Pacific biodegradable and compostable packaging market value by product type, 2019–29 ($ million)
Rest of Asia-Pacific biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by end use sector, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
Middle East & African biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by product type, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
Middle East & African biodegradable and compostable packaging market value by product type, 2019–29 ($ million)
Middle East & African biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by end use sector, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
Flexible food packaging: examples of typical pack types by barrier type and product category
Bioplastic market and technology developments for flexible fresh food packaging, 2024–29
Rigid plastic food packaging – examples of typical pack types by category
Bioplastic market and technology developments for trays and containers, 2024–29
Beverage packaging – examples of typical pack types by category
Bioplastic market and technology developments for soft drinks, 2024–29