Biodegradable Polymers Market

Market Overview

Biodegradable polymers or biopolymers are material made from renewable resources such as animal, plants and micro-organism, with the help of degradation activities such as microbial and enzymatic degradation they are able to break naturally in the environment and leaving harmless byproducts such as water, carbon-dioxide and biomass. Biodegradable polymer has various advantages over non-biodegradable polymers such as are harmless, with less side effects and encourage patients to follow treatment better and helps drugs stay effective. The demand for biodegradable polymers is rising over the synthetic polymers as, synthetic polymers are most commonly used in packaging industry which is causing substantial environment issues. These polymers are made from sustainable sources such as corn starch, sugarcane, cellulose which provides solution and aids to minimize the worldwide increased plastic pollution problem. Non-bio-gradable plastic has high impact on environment as well as on human health, government are initiating regulation on the adoption of biodegradable materials which is driving the growth of this market. Biodegradable polymers are useful in rigid and flexible packaging, which is highly adopted in cosmetics, food and beverages industry. Additionally, the use of biodegradable plastics in packing and the surge in package industry are further rising the market growth. Furthermore, the use of biodegradable plastics in agriculture industry like plants pots, bags of fertilizers, containers is expected to boost the market growth.

Biodegradable Polymers Market Size

Report	Details
Market Size Value	USD 7.9 Billion in 2023
Market Size Value	USD 54.48 Billion by 2030
CAGR	21.3%
Forecast Period	2024-2032
Base Year	2023
Historic Data	2020
Segments Covered	Offering, Component, End User and Region
Geographics Covered	North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and RoW

Major vendors in the global Biodegradable polymers market are Treofan, Purac, Mitsui Chem, Nature Works LLC, BASF SE, Galactic, Shimadzu, Dainippon Ink Chem, Chronopol, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Biomer, Novamont, Rodenburg Biopolymers, National Starch, Végémat, Limagrainand Others.

Increasing adoption of biodegradable polymer among various sectors

The increasing adoption of biodegradable polymers across various sectors is driven by growing environmental awareness, regulatory pressures and advancements in material science. In the packaging industry such as cosmetics, food and beverages companies are shifting towards biodegradable polymers to reduce plastic waste and meet sustainability goals. These materials give a viable alternative to conventional plastics which decomposes naturally without leaving harmful residues.  In agriculture, biodegradable polymers are widely used in applications such as mulch films and controlled-release fertilizers which minimize soil pollution and improve crop yields. The advantages of biodegradable polymer are also seen in healthcare sector such as utilization in drug delivery systems, surgical sutures, and tissue engineering which provides safe and eco-friendly options that naturally break down in the body. Consumer goods which include textiles and disposable products like cutlery and plates, are highly being made from biodegradable polymers to meet the needs of eco-conscious consumers. Governments worldwide are implementing stringent regulations to curb plastic pollution which is further accelerating the shift towards biodegradable alternatives. Technological advancements have improved the properties and cost-effectiveness of biodegradable polymers and making them more competitive with traditional plastics. As companies seek to enhance their brand image and fulfill corporate social responsibility commitments, the adoption of biodegradable polymers continues to rise which is contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

Market Dynamics

Drivers:

• Increasing adoption of biodegradable polymers among various sectors
• Easily Biodegradable and Non-Toxic Materials
• Strict government regulations promoting biodegradable materials

Opportunities:

• Rising demand for renewable packaging
• Upsurge in the demand of packaging industry
• Reduction of Carbon Footprint

Rising demand for renewable packaging

The rising demand for renewable packaging in the biodegradable polymer market is driven by increasing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable alternatives to traditional plastics. As awareness of plastic pollution grows, consumers, businesses, and governments are seeking eco-friendly solutions to reduce the environmental impact of packaging materials. As biodegradable polymers offer renewable option to synthetic plastics for single-use- packaging application such as disposable cutlery, shopping bags and food containers. As companies and retailers aiming to strengthen their sustainability credentials is increasing the demand for renewable packaging which is further boosting the market expansion.

For instance, Europe prioritized renewable packaging in 2023 with the European parliament’s new position on packaging and packaging waster regulation, which addresses on reduction of unnecessary packaging and waste, banning “forever chemicals” in food packaging and boosting reuse and recycling. The European Environment Committee voted on the regulation’s revisions on October 24,2023 and the parliament approved the updated regulation on November 22,2023. Similarly, In June 2022, Corona India, a beer brand owned by Anheuser Busch InBev launched a six-pack crafted from 100% biodegradable and compostable barley straw. This initiative focused on circularity where Corona collaboration with Indian barley farmers to use excess straw which is often burned and causes significant pollution in North India to creating eco-friendly six-packs.

The market for biodegradable polymers market is dominated by Europe.

By analysing the biodegradable polymers market globally across various country like North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA in which Europe dominated the global market of biodegradable polymer. The growth in this region is driven by regulation and policies are limiting the use of single-use plastics and encouraging the adoption of biodegradable plastics. Due to rising demand for these eco-friendly alternatives, Europe is expected to continue leading the market in the future.

Asia-Pacific is expecting significant growth in the global market with a significant CAGR. China and India have the highest CAGR in Asia-Pacific region during the forecast period. The easy access to raw materials and the growing awareness of biodegradable polymer benefits are driving this market growth.  Chinese plastic producers are aiming in to develop biodegradable plastics from corn, sugar and other crops. This shift is in response to Beijing’s environmental pollution issues and the potential introduction of ban on single-use, non-biodegradable plastics such as cutlery, packaging and plastic bags. The increase in the packaging companies is fueled by robust economic development, rapid urbanization and advances in quality of life. Consumers are increasingly seeking packaging which is safe, convenient, creative and environmentally sustainable.

The packaging segment is anticipated to hold the largest market share during the forecast period

The global market is categorized by end-user into agriculture, consumer goods, healthcare, packaging, textile and others in which packaging segment held the largest market share. Packaging plays a crucial role in biodegradable plastics. Biodegradable plastics plays important role in food packaging such as container, wraps, bags, trays and bottles. The demand for biodegradable packaging is increasing due to environmental concerns and to reduce waste.

The agriculture segment is anticipated with the second-largest and fastest- growing sector during the forecast period. This growth is primarily fueled by increase use in agriculture sector for wide array of purpose like greenhouse films, mulch films, soil erosion control, crop packaging, plant pots this material provide benefit to environment over traditional plastics.

Segmentations analysis of biodegradable polymers market: -

• By Type:
  • Polylactic Acid
  • Polyhydroxy Alkanoates
  • Polyesters
  • Starch-Based Plastics
  • Cellulose Derivatives
  • Others
• By End-User:
  • Agriculture
  • Consumer Goods
  • Healthcare
  • Packaging
  • Textile
  • Other
• By Origin:
  • Synthetic
  • Natural  
  • Modified Natural
  • Others
• By Region
  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Mexico
    • Argentina
    • Colombia
    • Chile
    • Peru
    • Rest of Latin America
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • U.K.
    • BENELUX
    • CIS & Russia
    • Nordics
    • Austria
    • Poland
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia Pacific

• • China
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • India
  • Thailand
  • Indonesia
  • Malaysia
  • Vietnam
  • Australia & New Zealand
  • Rest of Asia Pacific

• • Middle East & Africa

• • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE
  • South Africa
  • Nigeria
  • Egypt
  • Israel
  • Turkey
  • Rest of MEA

 Recent Developments

• November 2023, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) collaborated with X, Alphabet's innovation lab, to develop an environmentally friendly recycling method. Their new "one-pot" technique uses natural salts and specific microbes to break down a mix of petroleum-based and bio-based plastics into monomers. These monomers are then fermented by the microbes to create a new biodegradable polymer which is suitable for various products.
• September 2023, AIMPLAS, part of the BioICEP project funded by Horizon 2020, worked on developing eco-friendly alternatives to traditional plastics. They used a new "cascade process" that mixed chemical and biological techniques to convert fossil-based plastic waste into biodegradable materials suitable for the packaging and pharmaceutical sectors. The process involved pretreating plastics with microwave-assisted thermochemical degradation to break down non-biodegradable plastics like low-density polyethylene into materials that can decompose within 28 days. They also broke down polyamides into their monomers which microbes then used to produce bioplastics.
• September 2023, Mitsubishi chemical group launched an advanced and innovative bio-based compostable polymer.

Answers to Following Key Questions:

• What will be the biodegradable polymers market’s trends & growth rate? What analysis has been done of the prices, sales, and volume of the top producers in the biodegradable polymers market?
• What are the main forces behind worldwide biodegradable polymers market? Which companies dominate biodegradable polymers market?
• Which companies dominate biodegradable polymers market? Which business possibilities, dangers, and tactics did they embrace in the market?
• What are the global Insight Engines industry's suppliers' opportunities and dangers in biodegradable polymers market?
• What is the Insight Engines industry's regional sales, income, and pricing analysis? In the biodegradable polymers market, who are the distributors, traders, and resellers?
• What are the main geographic areas for various trades that are anticipated to have astounding expansion over the biodegradable polymers market?
• What are the main geographical areas for various industries that are anticipated to observe astounding expansion for biodegradable polymers market?
• What are the dominant revenue-generating regions for biodegradable polymers market, as well as regional growth trends?
• By the end of the forecast period, what will the market size and growth rate be?
• What are the main biodegradable polymers market trends that are influencing the market's expansion?
• Which key product categories dominate biodegradable polymers market? What is biodegradable polymers market’s main applications?
• In the coming years, which biodegradable polymers market technology will dominate the market?