Plastics, one of the most widely used materials in the world, are primarily produced from crude oil derivatives such as propylene, polyethylene, etc. With increasing volatility in oil prices and growing pressure on plastic manufacturers for minimizing environmental impact, the onus on the industry is to develop and commercialize sustainable plastic solutions for various applications.

European Bioplastics (A European branch association representing industrial manufacturers, processors, and users of bioplastics and biodegradable polymers (BDP) and their derivative products) defines biodegradable plastics as a plastic that undergoes biodegradation (a process in which the degradation results from the action of naturally-occurring micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and algae as per accepted industry standards). As of 2008, accepted industry standard specifications are: ASTM D6400, ASTM D6868, ASTM D7081 or EN 13432.

For the plastic industry, the term “biodegradable” is synonymously used with the term “compostable”. This is due to the fact that degradation of plastics is carried out in an industrial composting environment and for a product to be certified “compostable”; it must meet the criteria of biodegradability mentioned above. For the purpose of this study, the term “biodegradable” refers to the term “compostable” Biodegradable plastics, which are also sometimes referred to as bioplastics, are expected to witness a significant surge in demand in the next few years. Popular biodegradable plastics include starch, PLA, PHA, and PBS. Most of these, in addition to being biodegradable are also produced from renewable resources and thus are considered critical to the industry with respect to sustainability.
This report discusses in detail, key biodegradable plastics with respect to raw materials, pricing trends, production volumes, historical, and forecasted market size. In addition to this, the report focuses on the competitive scenario, providing market share analysis by company.

The global biodegradable plastics market has been broadly segmented into bio-based biodegradable plastics and petrochemical-based biodegradable plastics. Bio-based biodegradable plastics are essentially plastics which are made from renewable sources such as biomass and also meet the standards for egradation/composting. Bio-based biodegradable plastics account for the major share in the global biodegradable plastics market owing to increased demand of sustainable and renewable made plastics in application/end-user industries. Although biodegradable plastics are mostly manufactured using bio-based polymers, petrochemical/fossil-based raw materials are also used to manufacture bio-degradable plastics.

The use of renewable resources such as biomass-and bio-based raw materials such as starch, vegetable crop derivatives in manufacturing of plastics is driving the market for biodegradable plastics. As of 2009, bio-based plastics accounted for about 93% of the overall biodegradable plastics market. The use of biodegradable plastics in various applications such as packaging, domestic goods has enabled the plastic manufacturers to lessen the dependence on petroleum-based plastics. Biomass, a key raw material used in the manufacturing of biodegradable plastics is organic in nature which means that the plastic is absorbed back into the earth as the components and avoids tons of plastic laying in the landfills, taking decades or longer to break down.

As in the case of traditional plastics, packaging is the largest application segment in the overall biodegradable plastics and accounts for 55%-60% of the overall market. Packaging applications have been further segmented into rigid packaging, loose fill packaging, compost bags, and others. Loose fill packaging is the largest segment in packaging application for biodegradable plastics. Increasing consumer awareness for sustainable products and manufacturers concern for developing eco-friendly packaging is shifting the trend towards biodegradable plastics from their petrochemical counterparts. Also the increased manufacturer’s recognition of marketing value of sustainable product will further drive the market especially in North America and Europe.

The overall scenario for biodegradable plastics is significantly positive with a critical need to expand production capacities and increase consumer awareness.

Scope of the report

This research report categorizes the global market for biodegradable plastics market on the basis of product types, applications, and geography; forecasting revenues and analyzing trends in each of the following submarkets

On the basis of product types

• Starch
• PLA
• PHA
• PCL
• PBS

On the basis of applications

• Packaging
• Agriculture
• Transport
• Electronics
• Textiles
• Medical

On basis of geography

• North America
• Europe
• Asia
• ROW

TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
1 Introduction
  1.1 Key Take-Aways
  1.2 Report Description
  1.3 Stakeholders
  1.4 Research Methodology
      1.4.1 Market size
      1.4.2 Key data points taken from secondary sources
      1.4.3 Key data points taken from primary sources
      1.4.4 Assumptions made for this report
      1.4.5 List of companies covered during primaries
      1.4.6 Key questions answered

2 Executive Summary
 
3 Market Overview
  3.1 Introduction
  3.2 Burning Issues
      3.2.1 Non-standardization of terminologies
      3.2.2 Composting infrastructure bottlenecks
  3.3 Market Drivers
      3.3.1 Use of renewable & bio-based raw materials
      3.3.2 Increasing environmental awareness
      3.3.3 Positive attitude of governments towards green procurement policies
      3.3.4 Shift in consumer preferences towards eco friendly packaging
  3.4 Market Restraints
      3.4.1 Cost competitiveness over conventional petroleum based plastics
      3.4.2 Durablity of biodegradable plastics
  3.5 Opportunities
      3.5.1 Increasing scope in end-user segments
      3.5.2 New raw materials
      3.5.3 Brazil & Mexico emeriging markets for biodegradable plastics
  3.6 RAW Material Trends
      3.6.1 Raw materials for biobased - biodegradable plastics
            3.6.1.1 Cassava
            3.6.1.2 Maize
            3.6.1.3 Wheat
            3.6.1.4 Cotton Lint
      3.6.2 Degree of competition
      3.6.3 Supplier power
      3.6.4 Bargaining power of buyers
      3.6.5 Threat from substitutes
      3.6.6 Threat from new entrants
  3.7 Cost Analysis
  3.8 Patent Analysis
 
4 Global Biodegradable Plastics Market by Types
  4.1 Snapshot of Global Biodegradable Plastics Market Snapshot
  4.2 Global Biobased Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Polymer Type
      4.2.1 Starch-based plastics
      4.2.2 PLA (poly lactic acid)
      4.2.3 PHA (poly hydroxyalkanoates)
  4.3 Synthetic/ Petrochemical Biodegradable Plastics
      4.3.1 Polycaprolactone (PCL)
      4.3.2 Polybutylene succinate (PBS)
 
5 Global Biodegradable Plastics Market – by Applications
  5.1 Introduction
      5.1.1 Starch-based plastics application
      5.1.2 PLA-based plastics market by applications
      5.1.3 PHA-based plastics market by applications
      5.1.4 PCL-based plastics market applications
  5.2 PBS-Based Plastics Market Applications
 
6 Global Biodegradable Plastics Market – by Geography
  6.1 Introduction
  6.2 North America
      6.2.1 Composting & infrastructure
      6.2.2 U.S.
  6.3 Europe
      6.3.1 Composting & infrastructure
      6.3.2 Germany: biodegradable plastics market
      6.3.3 UK: biodegradable plastics market
      6.3.4 France
  6.4 Asia Pacific
      6.4.1 Composting & infrastructure
      6.4.2 China: biodegradable plastics market
      6.4.3 Japan
      6.4.4 Brazil
 
7 Competitive Landscape
  7.1 Agreement and Collaboration Accounted for 46% of Overall Strategic Developments
 
8 Regulations
  8.1 Introduction
      8.1.1 ISO standard
      8.1.2 ISO labeling standards for biodegradable plastics
      8.1.3 Ultimate aerobic biodegradation:
  8.2 ASTM Standards (American Standards)
      8.2.1 ASTM D6400
  8.3 European Standards
      8.3.1 EN: 13432
      8.3.2 Europe: 'ok compost' certification and logo
            8.3.2.1 Compost toxicity tests
            8.3.2.2 Plant phytotoxicity testing
            8.3.2.3 Animal toxicity test
  8.4 Japan Standard
  8.5 Australian Standard
  8.5.1 Standards & test methods
  8.6 Indian Standards
 
9 Company Profiles
  9.1 BASF AG
      9.1.1 Overview
      9.1.2 Financials
      9.1.3 Products & Services
      9.1.4 Strategy
      9.1.5 Developments
  9.2 BIOME TECHNOLOGIES PLC
      9.2.1 Overview
      9.2.2 Financials
      9.2.3 Products & Services
      9.2.4 Strategy
      9.2.5 Developments
  9.3 BIOCOR LLC
      9.3.1 Overview
      9.3.2 Financials
      9.3.3 Products & Services
      9.3.4 Strategy
      9.3.5 Developments
  9.4 BIOP BIOPOLYMER TECHNOLOGIES AG
      9.4.1 Overview
      9.4.2 Financials
      9.4.3 Products & Services
      9.4.4 Strategy
      9.4.5 Developments
  9.5 BRASKEM
      9.5.1 Overview
      9.5.2 Financials
      9.5.3 Products & Services
      9.5.4 Strategy
      9.5.5 Developments
  9.6 CARDIA BIOPLASTICS (AUSTRALIA) LTD
      9.6.1 Overview
      9.6.2 Financials
      9.6.3 Products & Services
      9.6.4 Strategy
      9.6.5 Developments
  9.7 CEREPLAST INC.
      9.7.1 Overview
      9.7.2 Financials
      9.7.3 Products & Services
      9.7.4 Strategy
      9.7.5 Developments
  9.8 DANIMER SCIENTIFIC LLC
      9.8.1 Overview
      9.8.2 Financials
      9.8.3 Products & Services
      9.8.4 Strategy
      9.8.5 Developments
  9.9 FKUR KUNSTSTOFF GMBH
      9.9.1 Overview
      9.9.2 Financials
      9.9.3 Products & Services
      9.9.4 Strategy
      9.9.5 Developments
  9.10 FUTERRO SA
      9.10.1 Overview
      9.10.2 Financials
      9.10.3 Products & Services
      9.10.4 Strategy
      9.10.5 Developments
  9.11 KANEKA CORP
      9.11.1 Overview
      9.11.2 Financials
      9.11.3 Products & Services
      9.11.4 Strategy
      9.11.5 Developments
  9.12 MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORP
      9.12.1 Overview
      9.12.2 Financials
      9.12.3 Products & Services
      9.12.4 Strategy
      9.12.5 Developments
  9.13 NATURESWORKS LLC
      9.13.1 Overview
      9.13.2 Financials
      9.13.3 Products & Services
      9.13.4 Strategy
      9.13.5 Developments
  9.14 NOVAMONT SPA
      9.14.1 Overview
      9.14.2 Financials
      9.14.3 Products & Services
      9.14.4 Strategy
      9.14.5 Developments
  9.15 NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORP
      9.15.1 Overview
      9.15.2 Financials
      9.15.3 Products & Services
      9.15.4 Strategy
      9.15.5 Developments
  9.16 NATIONAL STARCH
      9.16.1 Overview
      9.16.2 Financials
      9.16.3 Products & Services
      9.16.4 Strategy
      9.16.5 Developments
  9.17 PLANTIC TECHNOLOGIES LTD
      9.17.1 Overview
      9.17.2 Financials
      9.17.3 Products & Services
      9.17.4 Strategy
      9.17.5 Developments
  9.18 PURAC
      9.18.1 Overview
      9.18.2 Financials
      9.18.3 Products & Services
      9.18.4 Strategy
      9.18.5 Developments
  9.19 PYRAMID BIOPLASTICS GUBEN GMBH
      9.19.1 Overview
      9.19.2 Financials
      9.19.3 Products & Services
      9.19.4 Strategy
      9.19.5 Developments
  9.20 SOLEGEAR BIOPLASTICS INC.
      9.20.1 Overview
      9.20.2 Financials
      9.20.3 Products & Services
      9.20.4 Strategy
      9.20.5 Developments
  9.21 SYNBRA TECHNOLOGY BV
      9.21.1 Overview
      9.21.2 Financials
      9.21.3 Products & Services
      9.21.4 Strategy
      9.21.5 Developments
  9.22 SHOWA HIGHPOLYMER
      9.22.1 Overview
      9.22.2 Financials
      9.22.3 Products & Services
      9.22.4 Strategy
      9.22.5 Developments
  9.23 TEIJIN LTD
      9.23.1 Overview
      9.23.2 Financials
      9.23.3 Products & Services
      9.23.4 Strategy
      9.23.5 Developments
  9.24 TELLES
      9.24.1 Overview
      9.24.2 Financials
      9.24.3 Products & Services
      9.24.4 Strategy
      9.24.5 Developments
  9.25 TOYOBO
      9.25.1 Overview
      9.25.2 Financials
      9.25.3 Products & Services
      9.25.4 Strategy
      9.25.5 Developments
  9.26 VEGEPLAST SAS
      9.26.1 Overview
      9.26.2 Financials
      9.26.3 Products & Services
      9.26.4 Strategy
      9.26.5 Developments
  9.27 WILKINSON INDUSTRIES INC
      9.27.1 Overview
      9.27.2 Financials
      9.27.3 Products & Services
      9.27.4 Strategy
      9.27.5 Developments
  9.28 WUHAN HUALI ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.
      9.28.1 Overview
      9.28.2 Financials
      9.28.3 Products & Services
      9.28.4 Strategy
  9.29 ZHEJIANG HISUN BIOMATERIALS CO. LTD.
      9.29.1 Overview
      9.29.2 Financials
      9.29.3 Products & Services
      9.29.4 Strategy
      9.29.5 Developments
  9.30 ZHEJIANG HANGZHOU XINFU PHARMACEUTICAL CO. LTD.
      9.30.1 Overview
      9.30.2 Financials
      9.30.3 Products & Services
      9.30.4 Strategy
      9.30.5 Developments
 
APPENDIX 
  U.S. Patents
  Europe patents
  Japan patents
  
List of Tables   
 
1 Biodegradable Plastics Market Volume, by Types, By Geography 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons) 
2 Impact of Global Biodegradable Plastics Market Drivers (2010 – 2016)
3 Packaging Laws in Europe
4 Impact of Global Biodegradable Plastics Market Restraints (2010 – 2016)
5 PLA – Based Plastics Application Growth (2011 – 2016)
6 RAW Materials for Major Biodegradable Polymers
7 Industry Landscape
8 Global Biobased Biodegradable Plastics Market Volume, By Types 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tonnes) 
9 Global Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market Revenues, by Types, 2009 – 2016 ($Million)
10 Classification of Starch Based Plastics
11 Substitution Potential of Starch-Based Plastics
12 Major Starch Based Producers
13 Starch Based Plastics Market Volumes, by Geography 2009 – 2016 (‘000, Metric Tonnes)  14 Major PLA Producers
15 Pla Plastics Market Volumes, by Geography, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tonnes) 
16 Major PHA Producers
17 PHA Plastics Market Volumes, by Geography 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tonnes) 
18 Global Synthetic Biodegradable Plastics Market Volumes, By Types 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tonnes) 
19 PCL Plastics Market Volumes, by Geography, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tonnes) 
20 PBS Plastics Market Volumes, by Geography 2009 – 2016 (000 Metric Tonnes) 
21 Global Starch-Based Plastics Market by Volumes & Revenues in Overall Packaging, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million) 
22 Global Starch-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Rigid Packaging, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
23 Global Starch Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Loose Fill Packaging, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million) 
24 Global Starch-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Compost Bags, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
25 Global Starch-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Others, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
26 Global Starch-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Agriculture, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tonnes & $Million)
27 Global Starch-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Transport, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tonnes & $Million)
28 Global Starch-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Others, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tonnes & $Million)
29 Global PLA Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Overall Packaging, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tonnes & $Million) 
30 Global PLA-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Rigid Packaging, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
31 Global PLA-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Loose Fill Packaging, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million) 
32 Global PLA Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Compost Bags, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
33 Global PLA-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Other Applications, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
34 Global PLA-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Agriculture, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
35 Global PLA-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Transport, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
36 Global Pla-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Electronics, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
37 Global PLA-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Textiles, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
38 Global Pla-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Others, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
39 Global PHA Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Overall Packaging, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
40 Global PHA-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Rigid Packaging, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
41 Global PHA Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Loose Fill Packaging, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million) 
42 Global PHA-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Compost Bags, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
43 Global PHA-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Other Packaging, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
44 Global PHA Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Agriculture, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
45 Global PHA Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Transport, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
46 Global PHA Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Electronics, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
47 Global PHA Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Textiles, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
48 Global PHA-Based Plastics Market Volumes & Revenues in Others, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons & $Million)
49 Global PCL-Based Plastics End-Use Market Volumes & Revenues, by Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons)
50 Global PCL Based Application Market Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million)
51 Global PCL Based Packaging Applications Market Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons)
52 Global Pcl-Based Plastics in Packaging Applications Market Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million)
53 Global PBS-Based Plastics Applications Market Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons) 
54 Global PBS-Based Plastics Applications Market Revenues 2009 – 2016, ($Million) 
55 Global PBS-Based Plastics in Packaging Applications Volumes, 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons)
56 Global PBS Based Plastics in Packaging Applications Market Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million)
57 North America: Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, By Types, by Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons) 
58 North America: Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, By Types, by Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million) 
59 North America: Synthetic-Based Bio-Degradable Plastics Market, by Types, by Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons)
60 North America: Synthetic-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Types, by Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million)
61 U.S.: Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Types, By Volumes 2009 – 2016 (’000 Metric Tons) 
62 U.S.: Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Types, By Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million) 
63 U.S.: Synthetic Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Types, By Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons) 
64 U.S.: Synthetic Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Types, By Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million) 
65 Europe: Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Types, by Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons)
66 Europe: Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Types, by Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million)
67 Europe: Synthetic-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, By Types, by Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons) 
68 Europe: Synthetic-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, By Types, by Revenue 2009 – 2016 ($Million) 
69 Germany: Bio-Based Biodegradadable Plastics Market, By Types, by Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons) 
70 Germany: Bio-Based Biodegradadable Plastics Market, By Types, by Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million) 
71 Germany: Synthetic Biodegradadable Plastics Market, By Types, by Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons) 
72 Germany: Synthetic Biodegradadable Plastics Market, By Types, by Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million) 
73 Uk: Bio-Based Biodegradadable Plastics Market, by Types, By Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons) 
74 Uk: Bio-Based Biodegradadable Plastics Market, by Types, By Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million) 
75 Uk: Synthetic Biodegradadable Plastics Market, by Types, By Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons) 
76 Uk: Synthetic Biodegradadable Plastics Market, by Types, By Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million) 
77 France: Bio-Based Biodegradadable Plastics Market, By Types, by Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons) 
78 France: Bio-Based Biodegradadable Plastics Market, By Types, by Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million) 
79 France: Synthetic Biodegradadable Plastics Market, By Types, by Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons) 
80 France: Synthetic Biodegradadable Plastics Market, By Types, by Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million) 
81 Asia Pacific: Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, By Types, by Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons) 
82 Asia Pacific: Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, By Types, by Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million) 
83 Asia Pacific: Synthetic-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Types, by Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Tons)
84 Asia Pacific: Synthetic-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Types, by Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million)
85 China: Biobased Bio-Degradable Plastics Market, by Types, By Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Tons) 
86 China: Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Types, By Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million) 
87 China: Synthetic-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, By Types, by Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons) 
88 China: Synthetic-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, By Types, by Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million) 
89 Japan: Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Types, By Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons) 
90 Japan: Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Types, By Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million) 
91 Japan: Synthetic-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, By Types, by Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons) 
92 Japan: Synthetic-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, By Types, by Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million) 
93 Brazil: Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Types, by Volumes 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons)
94 Brazil: Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Types, by Revenues 2009 – 2016 ($Million)
95 Brazil: Synthetic-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market Volumes, by Types 2009 – 2016 (‘000 Metric Tons)
96 Brazil: Synthetic-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market Revenues, by Types  2009 – 2016 ($Million)
97 Mergers & Acquisitions (August 2008 – February 2010)
98 New Product Development (April 2008 – March 2011)
99 Agreements & Collaborations (April 2011 – May 2008)
100 Operational/Geographic Expansion (March 2008 – March 2011)
 

LIST OF FIGURES 
  
1 Market Definition
2 U.K.: Plastics Household Waste
3 Porter’s Five Force Analysis
4 Patent Analysis: by Companies (2005 – 2010)
5 Patent Analysis Trends (2005 – 2010)
6 Patent Analysis: by Geography (2005 – 2010)
7 Traditional Versus. Biodegradable Plastics: Global Market Trends
8 Global Biobased-Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Types, by Volume (‘000 Metric Tonnes) 
9 Value Chain Analysis of Starch Based Plastics
10 Competitive Scenario in Starch Based Plastics (Based on Capacity) 
11 Value Chain of Polylactic Acid
12 Competitive Scenario of Pla Market 2010 (Based on Capacity)
13 Value Chain Analysis for PHA
14 Competitive Scenario in PHA Based Plastics Market 2010 (Based On Capacity)
15 Global Synthetic Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Types 
16 Global Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Application, Volumes (‘000 Metric Tons) 
17 Global Synthetic-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Application 
18 Global Biodegradable Plastics Market, by Geography
19 Growth Strategies in Global Biodegradable Plastic Market (2008 – 2016)
20 Global Trends in Growth Strategies (2008 – 2010)
21 Most Dynamic Companies (2008 – 2011)

Biodegradable Plastics Market: by Types (Starch, PLA, PHA, PCL, and PBS), Applications, Regulations, Prices, Trends & Forecast (2011 - 2016)

The increasing demand for renewable and bio-based materials and shift in consumer preference for eco-friendly packaging is driving the market for global biodegradable plastics. The global biodegradable plastics market in terms of volume (thousand metric tons) is expected to grow from 664 thousand metric tons in 2010 to 2330 thousand metric tons by 2016, at an estimated CAGR of 20.24% from 2011 to 2016.

Global Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics Market, By Applications, 2016

Source: MarketsandMarkets

Biodegradable plastics offer tremendous potential in various applications including packaging, electronics, transport, textiles, and medical. Amongst all market segments, the starch-based plastics market commands the largest share in terms of volume, while PLA-based plastics lead the market in terms of value. Packaging forms the largest application market due to increased consumer awareness for sustainable packaging. The packaging application contributed over 50% of the global biodegradable plastics market in 2010. In PLA-based plastics, textiles applications are expected to have the highest CAGR of 23.16% from 2011 to 2016.

Europe accounted for the major share for the global biodegradable plastics market estimated to be 40.6% in 2010. This was primarily due to the fact that focus on sustainability is significant in Europe, especially in the European Union. Due to this, Europe is the most regulated market especially when it comes to certifying and commercializing new plastic products. North America forms the second largest market for biodegradable plastics in the world. The market players are focusing in agreement and collaboration in order to share technical expertise in the production of biodegradable polymers, which therefore accounted for the highest share of the total competitive developments in the global biodegradable plastics market from May 2008 to April 2011.

Industry participants with the most agreement and collaboration and significant product developments include Cardia Bioplastics limited, Cereplast, Purac, and Telles. In 2011, Cereplast Inc. has concluded a multi-million dollar distribution agreement with BioWorks Pl for the distribution of Cereplast bioplastic resins in the Poland market.