Global bio-based plastics production capacity

Total global production capacities of biobased plastics reached 2Mt in 2023 which is less than 1 % of global plastics production.

Global bio-based plastics production capacity has more than doubled since 2010, although it only experienced a slight increase of 10 % during the past 5 years. Today, about 2 Mt or 0.5 % of plastics on the global market are bio-based, i.e., produced from a bio-based feedstock. The share of bio-based in total plastics production is quite stable due to the fact that the production of fossil-based plastics is increasing as well. So, although the capacity for bioplastics production is rising, the share of biobased plastics of the total plastics production volume remains quite stable.

Packaging remains the largest market segment for bioplastics with 45 % (1.12 million tonnes) of the total bioplastics market in 2023.

Bio-based plastics is a way to switch to alternative feedstocks, thereby reducing dependence of fossil fuels and GHG emissions. Bio-based plastics are produced from renewable biomass sources. The biomass mainly originates from plants such as sugarcane, cereal crops, oil crops or non-food sources like wood, organic waste and by-products, such as used cooking oil, bagasse and tall oil. The benefit of bio-based plastics is that they potentially have a lower climate impact (GHG emissions along the life span) than plastics made from fossil sources. This depends on the raw material and production process. They help reduce dependence on (foreign) fossil fuels. However, they may have higher environmental impacts (on land use, water use, biodiversity loss etc.)

Some bio-based plastics are chemically identical to fossil-based polymers, but just made from a different (bio-based) feedstock. These are referred to as drop-in bio-based plastics and include bio-PET and bio-PE. They can be collected and recycled together with their fossil-based counterparts. Other bio-based polymers such as PLA, PHA, starch blends are bio-based and biodegradable. Biodegradable plastics are designed to decompose at the end of their life under suitable conditions. However, they are typically not compatible with waste management systems for conventional plastics, but instead need their own systems such as industrial composting facilities.

Definition

Global production capacities of biobased plastics (t/a)

Methodology

Market data on production capacities for biobased, non-biodegradable: PET, PE, PA, PP, PTT and others, as well as biobased and biodegradable polymers PBAS, PBS, PLA; PHA, starch blends and cellulose films of the market segments flexible packaging, rigid packaging, fibres (incl. woven & non-woven), consumer goods, automotive & transport, agriculture & horticulture, electrics & electronics, coatings & adhesives, building & construction, others.

Data originates from annually updated data reports by European Bioplastics. However, the data originates from several reports and there is a clear break in series for the years 2015 and 2016, and a discrepancy in 2021. The data and methodology is not always fully transparent.

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