Bioplastics could take 10% of European plastics market

Berlin-based IBAW, which represents the bioplastics sector, welcomed a record number of new members last year as brand owners and agricultural feedstock companies joined makers and users in signing up. The association highlighted the rising cost of conventional fossil fuel feedstocks and climate change issues, as well as improved performance by bioplastics, for the increased popularity of the body. The association said establishing a renewable feedstock is imperative given the current dependence of society and modern industry on fossil fuels.

IBAW estimates that today’s bioplastics remain niche markets with the technological potential to account for 10% of the current 40 million tonne European plastics market. Investments of “several billion euros” will be required, especially to build larger units, said chairman Dr Harald Kaeb.

Renewable raw material can be grown in countries without oil, yielding 2-3 tonnes per hectare; millions of tonnes of plastics could be produced on farmland avoiding set aside programmes in Europe. “What we need right now is a larger avenue for our products and more start-up support so that the opportunities can be fully exploited as soon as possible,” he said.