Bioplastics Production Capacities to Grow by More Than 400% by 2018

BERLIN, December 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

The results of European Bioplastics' annual market data update, presented today at the 9^th European Bioplastics Conference in Brussels, confirm the positive growth trend of the global bioplastics industry. "The market is predicted to grow by more than 400 percent in the mid-term," stated François de Bie, Chairman of European Bioplastics.  

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141203/718321 )

The data compiled in cooperation with the IfBB (Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites) and the nova-Institute shows that the bioplastics production capacity is set to increase from around 1.6 million tonnes in 2013 to approximately 6.7 million tonnes by 2018. Biobased, non-biodegradable plastics such as biobased PET are gaining the most. PLA is a major growth driver in the field of biobased and biodegradable plastics. Furthermore, renewable and compostable plastics produced locally are likely to benefit from the new EU directive on the reduction of shopping bags. Flexible and rigid packaging remains by far the leading application field for bioplastics.

With a view to regional development: About 75 percent of bioplastics will be produced in Asia by 2018. In comparison, Europe will be left with 8 percent. "We urge the EU legislators to consider and make efficient use of the immense environmental, economic growth and job creation potential of our industry. In this context, the Circular Economy Package should remain in the Commission's 2015 Work Programme and the Waste Target Review should proceed as planned," concluded de Bie.

Download market diagrams:

http://en.european-bioplastics.org/press/press-pictures/labelling-logos-charts/

European Bioplastics is the European association representing the interests of the industry along the complete bioplastics' value chain. Its members produce, refine and distribute bioplastics i.e. plastics that are biobased, biodegradable, or both. 

More information is available at http://www.european-bioplastics.org 

The IfBB - Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites (University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hannover/Germany) offers a large range of bioplastic data free of charge at http://www.downloads.ifbb-hannover.de.   

The nova-Institute (Hürth/Germany) will publish a market study in spring 2015 - the data on novel bioplastics compiled in cooperation with European Bioplastics is an excerpt of this work. More information is available at http://www.bio-based.eu/markets. 

Press contact: Kristy-Barbara Lange, Head of Communications, European Bioplastics, Marienstr. 19/20, 10117 Berlin, Tel: +49(0)30-28482-356, Fax: +49(0)30-284-82-359, press@european-bioplastics.org.