Recently, IHS Markit, a world-renowned consulting firm, pointed out that the actions of “restricting or stopping the use of plastic bags and other disposable plastic products such as straws” initiated by Western European countries will further promote the market demand for biodegradable plastics.
The average annual growth rate is 9%, which is expected to reach $1.7 billion in 2023.
The global market value of biodegradable plastics exceeds $1.1 billion in 2018
In 2018, the global market for biodegradable plastics exceeds $1.1 billion. IHS Markit and by 2023, the global market for biodegradable plastics is expected to reach $1.7 billion.
In 2018, the global demand for biodegradable polymers is 360,000 metric tons, but IHS expects global biodegradable polymer consumption to grow by more than 50% to 550,000 metric tons by 2023, which means from 2018 to 2018 In the five years of 2023, the annual average growth rate of global biodegradable polymer consumption can reach 9%.
Biodegradable or compostable polymers are biobased or fossil fuel-based polymers that can be broken down into carbon dioxide and water by microbes in industrial or municipal composting sites. Even some of the polymers can be directly used in the backyard compost bins of individual households. Biodegradation in soil, fresh water or salt water.
The fastest growing food packaging sector
Food packaging, disposable tableware (including cups, plates and cutlery, etc.) and plastic bags are the largest end-user market for biodegradable goods and the most important growth engine. These areas will benefit from government departments in various countries and regions. 'Limiting plastic order' or 'no plastic order' and is expected to achieve double-digit growth.
Compost bags are the second most important end market for biodegradable polymers. This market will grow strongly with the expansion of composting facilities and the market's growing interest in organic waste such as leaves, grass clippings and food waste in landfills.
Foam packaging, including starch-based loose packing (such as nut packaging), is an important end user of biodegradable polymers in Western Europe and North America. Film and other agricultural applications are important terminals for biodegradable polymers in Western Europe and Asia. user.
Small-volume markets include paper coatings for cups and cartons, textiles, non-woven fabrics and absorbable medical devices such as sutures and implants, downhole tools for oil and gas fields and natural gas fields, and 3D printed wire drawing, etc. It is a place for biodegradable polymers.
Legislation is the driving force, composting facilities are the catalyst, and demand is the largest in Western Europe.
In Western Europe, where the most stringent regulations were applied to disposable plastics in 2018, the biodegradable biopolymer consumption accounted for approximately 55% of global consumption. Consumption in Asia and Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) was approximately It accounts for 25% of global consumption, 19% in North America, and less than 1% in other countries and regions.
'Biodegradable plastics, mainly starch-based compounds or polylactic acid-based materials, are increasingly cost-competitive compared to petroleum-based plastics, and market demand is also growing significantly. Especially in Western Europe where environmental regulations are the most stringent. The demand for biodegradable plastics is huge,' said Marifaith Hackett, director of research for specialty chemicals at HS Markit. 'But the market demand for biodegradable plastics is still small compared to the market demand for traditional plastics such as polyethylene.'
According to IHS MARKIT, the demand for polyethylene, the world's most consumed plastic, has almost doubled in the past 20 years. IHS MARIT expects global demand for polyethylene to exceed 100 million tons by 2018. However, new Market pressures, including rising consumer expectations for sustainability, and tightening of environmental regulations in mature markets such as Europe and major growth markets such as China, may affect demand for future polyethylene.
'The performance and processability of biodegradable polymers have improved and their range of applications will be further expanded. But legislation is the most important demand driver for biodegradable polymers,' said Marifaith Hackett, 'Italy and France banned Non-biodegradable plastic bags, which will drive market demand for biodegradable polymers in these countries. We expect that more and more European countries will strengthen legislative restrictions.'
According to Marifaith Hackett, biodegradable polymers are slow or even stagnant in the absence of the necessary infrastructure. 'Consumer environmental awareness and enthusiasm will definitely drive the market for biodegradable plastics,' said Marifaith Hackett, 'in order to truly play The benefits of degradable polymers, you need to have a collection and composting infrastructure to support. Currently there are very few major cities or municipalities to build the necessary collection and composting facilities.'
Marifaith Hackett also pointed out that one must also correctly recognize that many biodegradable polymers are only biodegradable in specific industrial composting facilities. These composting facilities require higher temperatures than household composting. 'Only a small fraction of biodegradable polymerization The material can be composted in the compost bins of the home backyard, and very few can be composted directly in the soil or marine environment. ' Marifaith Hackett stressed.
Despite the huge potential of biodegradable polymers, we still need to reduce the consumption of plastics and enhance the recycling of plastics. 'For various reasons, consumers may confuse bio-based plastics with biodegradable polymers, despite public exposure to plastic waste. The problem is growing, and the market demand for environmentally friendly plastics is still not as much as expected,' said Marifaith Hackett. 'In daily life, people still lack proper solutions for the disposal of biodegradable polymers. Establishing infrastructure costs to support collection and composting remains a barrier to the rapid growth of biodegradable polymers.
The IHS MARKIT report states that mandatory composting projects can help drive demand for biodegradable polymer markets. These projects shift organic waste from landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfills. The expansion of composting projects can stimulate The need for compostable garbage bags and food containers, both of which are important end markets for biodegradable polymers. The shortage of composting facilities capable of handling biodegradable polymers limits the biodegradable polymerization of mandatory composting projects Positive impact of demand for goods.
'Europe and the EU will push for more legislation. If these legislations are introduced, then the plastics industry will see major changes. Traditional plastics producers are likely to shrink,' said Marifaith Hackett. 'We were at IHS MARIT As we assess the global demand for biodegradable polymers, we note that the United States is the biggest driver of demand growth in this sector, but now due to legislation, Europe is currently the leading demand center. Because Europeans particularly want to reduce marine debris. . '
The development of the biodegradable polymer industry is closely related to several factors, such as solid waste disposal patterns, existing and future legislation, and consumer attitudes and behaviors. The evolution of these factors and their impact on the biodegradable polymer industry is It varies from place to place around the world.
Landfill is still the main means of treating municipal waste in the United States, and composting accounts for only 9%.
In the United States, landfill is the most common method of treating municipal solid waste. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, in 2014, about 53% of municipal solid waste in the United States was disposed of by landfill. Another 26% of materials were recycled. Utilization, 13% is treated by energy recovery. Only 9% of municipal solid waste is treated by composting.
The potential for composting to become an important means of waste disposal remains enormous, especially in food waste and potential as a more important means of waste disposal, especially in the treatment of food waste and yard decoration waste. According to IHS MARIT analysis, 2014, food waste And garden decoration garbage accounts for 28% of the total amount of urban waste in the United States! In the courtyard decoration waste, 31% is disposed of by landfill, 61% by composting, and the remaining 8% is burned and recovered by energy.
In 2014, the amount of plastic waste processed by composting in the United States was negligible, and landfill was still the main disposal method. 75% of US plastic waste was disposed of by landfill, and 15% of plastic waste was recycled by energy. Combustion treatment, the remaining 9% is treated by recycling.
'Biodegradable or compostable polymers can act to transfer waste from landfills. For example, coffee capsules made from biodegradable materials simplify the recycling of coffee capsules. Compostable waste Bags can control odors, reduce clutter, reduce pest aggregation, and reduce 'disgusting' factors associated with residential composting projects,' said Marifaith Hackett, 'Transferring organic waste from landfills can reduce methane emissions, methane is an effective Greenhouse gases. Our IHS MARIT anticipates that biodegradable or compostable plastics will increasingly become an important part of sustainable solutions, but their promotion and adoption will largely depend on legislation, as well as consumer attitudes and behaviors.
China, India has introduced a ban on plastics to promote the development of biodegradable polymers
Concerns about plastic waste in the environment have driven the demand for biodegradable polymers in the global market. In 2015, Jilin Province of China promulgated a ban on non-biodegradable plastic bags and food service projects, which promoted the development of China's bio-plastics manufacturing industry. In addition to local policies, biodegradable polymers are also offered preferential policies at the national level.
In India, the biodegradable polymer market is still in its infancy, with few participants in the field. Although India's law enforcement efficiency is flawed, India still issued a ban on the use of plastic bags, which is still leading in Asia. In 2012, the Delhi government issued a ban on the use, storage, sale and manufacture of the disposable plastic bags (shopping bags) in the city. In other parts of India, the use of such plastic bags will also be punished. The ban has brought little change to India. India still faces major challenges in plastic pollution and improper urban waste management.