The future will be the world of biodegradable plastics
The “restriction or cessation of 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. Will it be the world of biodegradable plastics in the future?
A recent analysis by the world-renowned consulting firm IHS Markit pointed out that the "restriction or cessation of 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.
9% average annual growth rate, expected to reach $ 1.7 billion by 2023
In 2018, the global market value of biodegradable plastics exceeded 1.1 billion US dollars. IHS Markit predicts that by 2023, the global market value of biodegradable plastics is expected to reach 1.7 billion US dollars.
In 2018, the global demand for biodegradable polymers was 360,000 metric tons, but IHS predicts that by 2023, the global consumption of biodegradable polymers can increase by more than 50% to 550,000 metric tons, which means that from 2018 to In the five years from 2023, the average annual growth rate of global biodegradable polymer consumption can reach 9%.
Biodegradable or compostable polymers refer to bio-based or fossil fuel-based polymers that can be decomposed into carbon dioxide and water by microorganisms in industrial or municipal composting bases. Even some polymers can be biodegraded directly in the backyard compost bins of individual homes and in soil, freshwater or saline environments.
The fastest growing food packaging sector
Food packaging, disposable tableware (including cups, plates, cutlery, etc.) and plastic bags are the largest end-user markets for biodegradable products and the most important growth engines. These areas will benefit from the "plastic limit order" or "plastic ban order" of government departments in various countries and regions, and are 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 growing interest in organic waste such as leaves, grass, food waste, etc. in landfills.
Foam packaging, including starch-based loose-filled packaging (such as nut packaging), is an important end user of biodegradable polymers in Western Europe and North America. Plastic mulch and other agricultural applications are important end users of biodegradable polymers in Western Europe and Asia.
Small volume markets include paper coatings for cups and cartons, woven and 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. This is where biodegradable polymers come in.
Legislation is the driving force, composting facilities are the catalysts, Western Europe has the most demand
Among them, in Western Europe, where the most stringent regulations are imposed on the use of disposable plastic products, its degradable biopolymer consumption accounted for about 55% of global consumption. Consumption in Asia and Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) accounts for about 25% of global consumption, in North America, 19%, and less than 1% in other countries and regions.
"Biodegradable plastics, mainly starch-based compounds or polylactic acid-based materials, are becoming more cost-competitive compared to petroleum-based plastics, and the market demand is also increasing significantly. Especially in Western Europe, where environmental regulations are most stringent, The demand for biodegradable plastics is huge, "said Marifaith Hackett, director of research for specialty chemicals at HS Markit." However, the market demand for biodegradable plastics is still small compared to the market demand for traditional plastics such as polyethylene. "
According to IHS MARKIT, in the past 20 years, the demand for polyethylene, the world's largest plastic, has almost doubled. IHS MARIT estimates that global polyethylene demand will exceed 100 million tons in 2018. However, new market pressures, including rising consumer expectations for sustainability, and tightening environmental regulations in mature markets such as Europe and major growth markets such as China may affect future demand for polyethylene.
"The performance and processability of biodegradable polymers have been improved, and their scope of application will be further expanded. But legislation is the most important demand driver for biodegradable polymers," said Marifaith Hackett, "such as Italy and France prohibiting the use of Non-biodegradable plastic bags, which will drive the market demand for biodegradable polymers in these countries. We expect more and more European countries to strengthen legislative restrictions. "
According to Marifaith Hackett, biodegradable polymers have developed slowly or even stagnated where they lack the necessary infrastructure. "Consumers' environmental awareness and enthusiasm will definitely drive the market for biodegradable plastics," Marifaith Hackett said. "In order to truly realize the benefits of biodegradable polymers, you need to have collection and composting infrastructure to support it. Currently very little There are large cities or municipal governments building 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 domestic composting. "Only a small percentage of biodegradable polymers can be composted in compost bins in the home's backyard, and very few can be composted directly in the soil or marine environment," emphasizes Marifaith Hackett.
Despite the great potential of biodegradable polymers, we still need to reduce plastic consumption and strengthen plastic recycling. "Consumers may confuse bio-based plastics with biodegradable polymers for a variety of reasons, and despite growing public awareness of the problem of plastic waste, the market is demanding more environmentally friendly plastics than expected," said Marifaith Hackett "In people's daily lives, there is still a lack of proper solutions for the disposal of products made from biodegradable polymers. The cost of establishing infrastructure to support collection and composting remains a barrier to the rapid growth of biodegradable polymers.
The IHS MARKIT report states that compulsory composting projects help drive demand for biodegradable polymers. These projects divert organic waste from landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfills. The expansion of the composting project can stimulate demand for compostable garbage bags and food utensils, both of which are important end markets for biodegradable polymers. The shortage of composting facilities capable of handling biodegradable polymers limits the positive impact of mandatory composting projects on the demand for biodegradable polymers.
"Europe and the European Union will push for more legislation. If these legislations are rolled out, the plastics industry will usher in major changes. Traditional plastics producers may shrink," said Marifaith Hackett. "When we previously assessed the global demand for biodegradable polymers at IHS MARIT, we noticed that the United States was the biggest driver of demand growth in this area, but now because of the advancement of legislation, Europe is currently the leading demand center. Because Europe People especially want to reduce marine debris. "
The development of the biodegradable polymer industry is closely related to several factors, such as solid waste disposal models, existing and future legislation, and consumer attitudes and behaviors. The evolution of these factors and their impact on the biodegradable polymer industry varies around the world.
Landfill is still the main method for treating urban waste in the United States, with only 9% of compost disposal
In the United States, landfill is the most commonly used method for municipal solid waste. According to statistics from the US Environmental Protection Agency, in 2014, about 53% of municipal solid waste in the United States was disposed of in landfills. An additional 26% is used for material recycling and 13% is treated by energy recovery combustion. Only 9% of municipal solid waste is treated with compost.
The potential for compost to become an important method of waste disposal is still huge, especially in food waste and the potential to become a more important means of waste treatment, especially in the treatment of food waste and garden decorative waste. According to IHS MARIT analysis, in 2014, food waste and garden decoration waste accounted for 28% of the total US municipal waste! Of the garden decoration waste, 31% was treated by landfill, 61% was treated by compost, and the remaining 8% was burned And energy recovery.
In 2014, the amount of plastic waste processed through composting in the United States was negligible, and landfilling remained the main method of disposal. 75% of American plastic waste is treated by landfill, 15% of plastic waste is treated by energy recovery, and the remaining 9% is treated by recycling.
"Biodegradable or compostable polymers can transfer waste from landfills. For example, coffee capsules made of biodegradable materials simplify the recycling of coffee capsules after use. Compostable waste Bags can control odor, reduce clutter, reduce pest buildup, and reduce 'nausea' factors associated with residential composting projects, "said Marifaith Hackett." Transferring organic waste from landfills can reduce methane emissions, which is an effective IHS MARIT expects that biodegradable or compostable plastics will increasingly become an important part of sustainable development solutions, but their promotion and adoption will largely depend on legislation, as well as consumer attitudes and behavior.
China and India have issued plastic bans to promote the development of biodegradable polymers
The focus on plastic waste in the environment is driving demand for biodegradable polymers in the global market. In 2015, China's Jilin Province promulgated a ban on non-biodegradable plastic bags and food service projects, which promoted the development of China's bioplastics manufacturing industry. In addition to local policies, preferential policies are also provided at the national level for biodegradable polymers.
In India, the biodegradable polymer market is still in its infancy, with few players in the field. Despite flaws in India's law enforcement efficiency, India has still issued a ban on the use of plastic bags, a practice that is still leading in Asia. In 2012, the Delhi government issued a ban prohibiting the use, storage, sale and manufacture of this single-use plastic bag (shopping bag) in the city. In other parts of India, the use of such plastic bags will also be punished. Nonetheless, the ban has brought almost no change to India. India still faces major challenges from plastic pollution and improper management of municipal waste.
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