1. Biodegradable Polymers Market in Europe
Technology and Product Landscape
Biodegradable Polymers Market
2017

2. Overview for Polylactic Acid (PLA)
PLASTICS
Conventional Plastic
(petro-based) (oxo degradable)
Bio-Based
Bio-Degradable
Bio-Based
Non-Biodegradable
Made from petrochemicals with biodegradable additives
Made from Renewable Materials
Polylactic Acid
(PLA)
Manufacturing Technology
Biomass Renewable Sources
Ring Opening Polymerization
Poly Condensation of Lactic Acid
Blending Biodegradable Polymers
First Gen
Sugar cane, Corn
Sugar beet, Cassava
Second Gen
Bagasse, Corn Stover, Wheat Straw, Wood Chips
Third Gen
Succinic Acid, Algae, Lignin
Market under focus

3. Value Chain and Major Stakeholders: Overview
Bio-based plastics and polymers are derived from agricultural produce where sugar remains the major raw material; the end products are completely biodegradable and can also be further recycled.
The feed stock goes to the chemical/biotechnology industry for further processing of sugar in to bioplastics and biopolymers
Retail stores remain the direct point of sales of products to end-users and after the consumer uses the products it is then processed for direct decomposition
Bioplastics and Biopolymers are obtained from biological sources, mostly agricultural produce, such as sugar, wood or bio-waste
Bio-plastic granules are converted into end-user products such as bottles, packaging materials, and other consumer products
Sugar/starch refineries remain the major feedstocks for bioplastics and biopolymers, as bioplastics are made by converting the sugar present in plants into plastic
OEMs use these end-user products as packaging or component for their final products. For instance, bioplastic bottles are used to package aerated drinks
The sugar is chemically processed to form plastic granules by plastic manufacturers 2 1 7 3
OEM 6 4 5

4. Overview of Technology for Polylactic Acid
Raw Materials
Dominance of first generation bio mass such as sugarcane and corn starch
Ongoing development of second generation biomass such as bagasse and wheat straw
Experimentations with third gen sources such as lignin and algae
PLA Manufacturing Processes
Ring Polymerization technology using metal catalyst
Less energy consuming
Better heat resistance
Polymerization by direct poly- condensation of lactic acid
Less raw material wastage
Improved yield
Polylactic acid modification by blending with biodegradable polymers
Improved flexibility, sturdiness and heat resistance
Enhanced composability
PLA Processing and Applications
Suitable for all the major plastic production methods such as injection moulding, blow moulding, thermoforming and extrusion
Many PLA variants can be processed on conventional plastic processing machinery
Most used in packaging and 3D printing
Emerging applications in automobile and construction by blending PLA with other polymers
Other Technological Aspects
Increased focus on improving the feedstock efficiency (ratio of feedstock weight to the final plastic polymer weight) further from the already high efficiency of 1KG polymer to 1.6KG feedstock
Negative perception around usage of GMO crops as feedstock in packaging plastic, especially in food packaging

5. 5

6. Biodegradable Polymers Market – Trends Common to Focus Countries
European companies have started recognizing the importance of standardization, labels, and certification in driving the development of the biodegradability of packaging. Labelling in the bio-plastics industry is crucial to enable consumers to differentiate between bio-plastic products and conventional plastics
Robust and unambiguous standards are expected to foster collaboration, innovation and competition in the bio-plastics industry, in addition to easing consumers’ lives and increasing awareness
Robust labelling standards for bio-plastics in Europe
Additives to make conventional plastics biodegradable
Research and Development is being undertaken by manufacturers to develop several bio-based polymers and additives, that make conventional plastics biodegradable
These additives are blended with conventional polymers such as PET, making them biodegradable
Development of alternative sources of biomass
Few manufacturers are looking at developing alternative sources of biomass such as algae to improve the cost effectiveness of bioplastics
Increasing use of PLA in medical applications
PLA’s are often used in the manufacture of plastic films, bottles, and biodegradable medical devices such as screws, pins, rods, and plates
It is often used for medical implants that biodegrade within the body. The biodegradability of PLA allows these implants to biodegrade within 6-12 months, which makes PLA suitable for these applications

7. Biodegradable Polymers Market – Drivers Common to Focus Countries
Conducive policy framework and awareness reforms undertaken by regulatory bodies and private organizations across Europe are expected to have a positive effect on the market for biodegradable polymers
Examples include the ban on conventional plastic bags that give out an exception to biodegradable bags, and a bioeconomy vision that envisions a bio-based economy for the whole of Europe
Conducive policy frameworks
Widening spectrum of applications
Several variants of bioplastics are now providing mechanical properties similar to conventional plastics, widening the end user segments from beyond packaging to the construction industry, and industries with high heat requirements
Examples include BioPBS from MCCP, Biograde from FKuR, and BIOPLAST 900 from BIOTEC amongst others
Drop-in solutions for processing bioplastics
Several variants of drop-in solutions of bioplastics exist, wherein bioplastics can be processed on standard plastic processing equipment and no new processing machinery is required. This provides for easy switching to bioplastic processing for existing conventional plastic processing firms
Bio-Flex from FKuR in Germany is one such example of a drop-in solution
Increased use of PLA in 3D printing
PLA and ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) are the major polymers used as 3D printer filaments
PLA melts at a much lower point compared to ABS, which greatly reduces the energy consumption. PLA is also preferred due to it being odourless
Hence, with the growth in demand for 3D printers in Europe, there has been an increasing use of PLA as 3D printing filaments due to their superior capabilities

8. Biodegradable Polymers Market – Challenges Common to Focus Countries
Biodegradable raw material is at least 3 times costlier than conventional plastics. Considering the higher raw material cost and double the volume of raw material needed for production, biodegradable bags end up being 3–6 times more expensive than conventional bags
Lowering oil prices have rendered conventional oil based plastic manufacturing cheaper. Brent crude has fallen from over US$100 a barrel to just over US$50 a barrel making the raw materials for oxo degradable plastic cheaper. This is further pressuring the bioplastics, which are already expensive to produce, and do not yet enjoy economies of scale
Expensive compared to alternatives
Biodegradable bags need to be up to twice as thick as conventional bags to offer the same performance and durability. For example, the minimum required thickness for a biodegradable produce bag is 16 microns. Conventional produce bags generally need to be only 7 microns thick
Less durable than conventional bags
Questionable biodegradability
Biodegradable bags do not degrade under ocean marine conditions. Biodegradable plastic are too dense to float on the surface of water and sink to the bottom of the ocean where conditions are not conducive to degradation
Biodegradable plastics not seen as a solution to littering
The policy frameworks are focused on recycling and reducing landfills, by reduction in all kinds of plastic usage, thus reducing the littering. The use and disposal of bioplastics is not seen as a potential solution to the problem of littering and are more often seen as slightly cleaner alternatives to conventional plastics
The biodegradable bag’s ‘biodegradability’ perception encourages littering. Consumers are less concerned with the disposal of biodegradable bags into the surrounding environment
Shifting of manufacturing to the USA
New manufacturing of bioplastics are slowly shifting to the USA due to favorable procurement policies and relatively higher preference given to bio-based materials