BIOPLASTICS | MATERIALS
With bioplastic investments and production capacities set to keep rising, we look at recent applications, including developments in PHA, cellulose and – especially – PLA-based grades
Growing market: latest advances in bioplastics
Production of bioplastics – materials derived from sustainable resources, but which can replace conventional plastics – continues to increase. However, bioplastics production still lags a long way behind that of petroleum-based materials. A new report from Nova Institute says that demand for bio-based polymers will rise by 17% every year between now and 2028. It says that demand from Asia and the US will drive growth, while that from Europe lags behind. In 2023, polylactic acid (PLA) capacities rose by
50%. There were also increases for bio-based PE, and growing volumes for polyethylene (PE) and
polypropylene (PP) made from bio-based naphtha. Expansions of PHA capacity are planned, though bio-based PET production fell by 50% in 2023.
Total production of bio-based polymers was 4.4 million tonnes last year – around 1% of the volume
of fossil-based polymers. Of this total, more than half (around 54%) was accounted for by cellulose acetate (with a bio-based content of 50%) and
www.filmandsheet.com
epoxy resins (with a bio-based content of 45%). This was followed by 100% bio-based PLA with 11%, 60% bio-based polyamides (PA), with 8%, and 30% bio-based polyurethanes with 7%. PE (with 100% and 30 % bio-based content) and
PTT (31% bio-based content) had shares of 6% and 5%, respectively. The share of PBAT, PET, PHA and starch-containing polymer compounds (SCPCs) was below 5%. Asia has the largest installed bio-based produc- tion capacity with 55%, including the largest capacities for PLA and PA. North America has 19%, with large installed capacities for PLA and PTT, while South America has 13%, mainly based on PE. Since 2022, Europe’s share of bio-based polymer capacities fell to 13%. With an expected CAGR of 35% to 2028, Asia will see the highest growth in bio-based polymer capacities, due mainly to extended capacities for PA, PHA and PLA. “There is a lack of political support in Europe, which still only promotes biofuels and bioenergy,”
Main image: Sugar maker Balrampur Chini Mills is spending US$225m to build India’s first PLA plant
July/August 2024 | FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION 13
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
