NanoMarkets
has published an in-depth analysis of worldwide markets for
bio-plastics, covering all major bio-plastics including starch-based
bio-plastics, bio-polyesters, cellulose-based bio-plastics and
bio-polymers.
Glen
Allen, Virginia - December 11, 2012 -- Industry analyst firm
NanoMarkets
has published an in-depth analysis of worldwide markets for
bio-plastics, covering all major bio-plastics including starch-based
bio-plastics, bio-polyesters, cellulose-based bio-plastics and
bio-polymers. The report titled "Bio-Plastics Markets - 2013,"
claims that revenues from bio-plastics will reach $6.1 billion by
2018, with 8.6 million tons of bio-plastics shipped.
The
report also discusses new feedstocks such as seaweed, and carbon
dioxide. Applications analyzed include food and pharma packaging,
waste bags, medical implants, diapers, mulch foils, electronics, and
tires/automotive. Eight-year forecasts with breakouts by materials
type, applications and region are included.
The
report discusses the activities of many firms pioneering the use of
bio-plastics including Arkema, Avantium, BASF, Braskem, Bridgestone,
Cargill, Casda, Coca Cola, Cooper Tire, Danone, Dow Chemical,
Faurecia, FKuR, Gevo, Green Dot, Heinz, Hisun Biomaterials, Innovia
Films (UK), Invista, LanzaTech, M & G, Metabolix, Mitsubishi
Chemical, Mitsui, Nike, Novamont, P&G, PTT, Purac, Showa Denko,
Solvay, Teijin, Toray and Uhde Inventa-Fischer.
Additional
details about the report are available at:
http://nanomarkets.net/market_reports/report/bio_plastics_markets.
More
from the report:
While
bio-plastics represent only 1% of the total plastics market today,
NanoMarkets' report projects that amount will grow to 7% by 2020.
Market drivers include recyclability of bio-based PA, PE and PET and
the bio-degradability/compostability of other bio-plastics. The
sector will benefit from European and Japanese mandates favoring
compostable/recyclable materials, also the involvement of big name
firms such as BASF and Dow Chemical which are investing billions of
dollars into bio-plastics.
To
reach full potential, bio-plastics must come down in price; today
they are two-to-three times the price of fossil-based plastics. This
sector is also highly capital intensive. For every one million tons
of bio-plastics production capacity, at least $1.25 billion is
invested.
Cost
reductions will be achieved through economies of scale and by using
less expensive feedstocks; switching to cassava for bio-PLA will
reduce feedstock cost by 70%. Another factor that will help
bio-plastics will be ongoing technical improvements such as better
barrier coatings.
The
consumption of bio-plastics by the packaging industry will amount to
1.3 billion tons in 2013; almost 75 percent of bio-plastics shipped.
Packaging will still hold a 65 share of the bio-plastics market as
late as 2020. For plastic bottles, bio-PET is expected to replace
fossil-based plastics entirely and PLA foamed structures are expected
to take a noticeable share of the food container segment.
The
other big bio-plastics opportunity lies in the automotive segment,
which is expected to consume just 75 million tons of bio-plastics in
2013 but more than 10 times that amount in 2018. Bridgestone and
Cooper Tire are developing bio-plastic tires and bio-based butadiene
tires will be retailing by 2014. Mitsubishi is doing R&D work on
bio-plastics for automotive interior parts. Bio-plastics that are
expected to be used in the automotive segment include PLA blends,
bio-PA, bio-PE, and bio-PET.
Bio-plastics
product is shifting to Asia and South America, closer to where
feedstocks are grown. By 2020 nearly 80% of bio-plastics will be
produced in these regions. Chinese companies are already making
bio-plastics and firms such as Arkema and BASF are investing in the
Chinese bio-plastic sector. Chinese domestic consumption for
bio-plastics will also grow rapidly, but will be constrained by
Chinese government concerns with using food crops for feedstocks.
About
NanoMarkets:
NanoMarkets
tracks and analyzes emerging markets in advanced materials. The firm
is the recognized leader in industry analysis and forecasts for a
variety of functional plastics-related markets.
Visit
http://www.nanomarkets.net
for a full listing of NanoMarkets' reports and other services.
Media
Contact:
Robert
Nolan
NanoMarkets,
LC
PO
BOX 3840
Glen
Allen, VA 23058
(804)
938-0030
