The Future of Biodegradable and Compostable Packaging to 2029

• The market for biodegradable and compostable packaging is forecast to grow at 8.8% CAGR to reach 1.17 million tonnes in 2029.
• China is the largest consumer of biodegradable and compostable packaging in 2023, with a consumption share of 30%.

Consumption of biodegradable and compostable polymers for packaging will continue growing at a faster rate than petrochemical-based thermoplastic materials. Demand is driven by the growing desire of consumers, brand owners and governments to replace single-use fossil-based plastics with more sustainable packaging alternatives.

Definition

In this report, biodegradable means polymers that can be broken down into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass by the natural action of microorganisms to significantly biodegrade within six months, a much shorter time period than the decades or centuries it takes conventional polymers to biodegrade.

For this report, compostable denotes a material that is able to be broken down into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass within a specific timeframe under specific conditions.

Key Questions

• Is there a viable future for biodegradable and compostable packaging that can match materials based on fossil fuels?
• How are technical developments driving the market?
• How will biodegradable and compostable packaging compete with ‘traditional’ materials when it comes to performance properties?
• What does the end-of-life process look like for biodegradable and compostable packaging?

This report is essential to:

• Packaging raw material suppliers
• Packaging converters and manufacturers
• Retailers and brand owners

About the author

David Platt has a broad range of experience in the plastics and packaging industry. He has authored over 50 market reports for Smithers on subjects including global packaging, rigid plastic packaging, PET packaging, flexible packaging, bioplastics, specialty plastics, high-performance packaging films, pouches, and caps & closures. He has participated in consultancy projects and has authored two books for Smithers.

Executive summary 
Introduction and methodology 

• Introduction 
• Objectives 
• Report scope 
  • Biodegradable and compostable polymer product types 
  • End use markets 
  • Geographic markets 
• Definition 
• Data 
• Methodology 
• List of polymer abbreviations 
• Exchange rates 

Market drivers and trends 

• Introduction 
• Sustainable programmes of retailers and brand owners 
• Bioplastics’ relative price competitiveness 
• Massive increase in biodegradable polymer production capacities 
• Global packaging market growth 
  • Framework conditions 
    • Bio-based 
    • Compostable 
      • EN 13432:2000 Packaging: 
• EU regulatory developments for bioplastics 
• Waste management for biodegradable and compostable packaging 
• Plastic bag bans and taxes

The competitive landscape 

• Overview 
• Biodegradable and compostable polymers directly extracted from biomass 
  • Novamont Group 
  • Rodenburg Biopolymers Ltd 
  • Biotec GmbH & Co 
    • Ticinoplast launches ‘NextFilm’ line of compostable packaging film 
    • Pilot plant for TPS production launched in Poland 
    • Bioplastics starch plant opened in Russia 
• Biodegradable plastics produced directly by natural/ genetically modified organisms 
  • Danimer Scientific 
  • Yield10 Bioscience Inc. 
  • CJ Biomaterials 
  • Lummus Technology and RWDC Industries to cooperate on PHA development 
  • Kaneka to expand PHBH production 
  • MAP Group buys insolvent Bio-on 
  • Paques Biomaterials and Loop to jointly produce polyhydroxyalkanoate 
• Biodegradable plastics synthesised from bio-derived monomers 
  • NatureWorks LLC 
  • TotalEnergies Corbion 
  • PLA plant to be built on the Arabian Peninsula 
  • Futerro plans to build vertically integrated PLA plant in Europe 
  • New subsidiary unit for the production of flexible PLA copolymers 
  • Balrampur Chini Mills to enter PLA production in India 
• Biodegradable polymers synthesized from petrochemical feedstock 
  • BASF AG 
  • SK Chemicals invests in new Vietnamese PBAT / PBS plant 
  • SK Capital Partners acquires majority stake in PVOH packaging producer 
  • Camm Solutions to expand PVOH production 

Cutting-edge technology developments 

• Overview 
• Biodegradable plastics directly extracted from biomass 
  • Current starch-based biodegradable and compostable technologies 
  • Current cellulose-based biodegradable and compostable technologies 
  • Technology developments for biodegradable and compostable technologies directly extracted from biomass 
    • Novamont launches new Mater-Bi grade for extrusion coating 
    • Development of degradable bioplastic film with tapioca starch 
    • LG Chem and Gevo jointly developing a technology that creates 100% bio-based plastics from renewable sources of carbohydrates 
    • Biodegradable straw developed from new type of bioplastic film 
    • Gaia Biomaterials develops compostable material for drinking straws 
• Biodegradable plastics synthesised from bio-derived monomers 
  • Current polylactic acid (PLA) technologies 
  • PLA technology developments 
    • Innovative flexible PLA film developed 
    • Bio-based cups from rPLA 
    • Launch of recycled PLA grades 
    • PLA-based thermoformable films 
• Biodegradable polymers synthesized from petrochemical feedstock 
  • Current technology for aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters 
  • Current polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) technology 
  • Aliphatic-aromatic copolyester technology developments 
    • BASF launches biomass balanced Ecoflex PBAT to expand biopolymers portfolio 
• Biodegradable polymers produced directly by natural/genetically-modified organisms 
  • Current polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) technology 
  • PHA technology developments 
  • CJ Biomaterials improvs PHA material performance properties 
  • Polymer chemists improve PHA thermal stability 
  • Paques Biomaterials produces PHA from waste streams 
  • PHA water bottle launched 
• Bio-based, non-biodegradable plastic packaging solutions 
  • Bio-based polyethylene 
  • Polyethylene furanoate (PEF) 

Biodegradable and compostable packaging by material type 

• Overview 
• Biodegradable plastics directly extracted from biomass 
• Starch 
• Cellulose acetate (CA) 
• Biodegradable plastics produced directly by natural/genetically-modified organisms 
• Polyhydroxy-alkanoates (PHA) 
• Biodegradable plastics synthesised from bio-derived monomers 
• Polylactic acid (PLA) 
• Biodegradable polymers synthesised from petrochemical feedstock 
• Aliphatic-aromatic polyesters

Biodegradable and compostable packaging by end-use market 

• Overview 
• Food packaging 
• Beverages packaging 
• Foodservice packaging 
• Non-food packaging 

Biodegradable and compostable packaging by region 

• Overview 
• Europe 
• North America 
• South & Central America 
• China 
• Rest of Asia-Pacific 
• Middle East & Africa 

Biodegradable and compostable packaging – challenges and opportunities 

• Overview 
• High relative cost of biodegradable and compostable polymers compared with petro-plastics 
• Management of feedstock availability 
• Performance properties of biodegradable and compostable polymers 
• Product quality/consistency 
• Higher density of biodegradable and compostable polymers compared to petro-based polymers 
• Labeling and end-of-life management 
• Competing pack types for bioplastics in the food and beverages market 
• Flexible food packaging 
• Rigid plastic food packaging 
• Plastic beverage packaging

List of Figures

• Global biodegradable and compostable packaging by product type, percentage share of consumption, 2023
• Global biodegradable and compostable packaging by end-use sector, percentage share of consumption, 2023
• Global biodegradable and compostable packaging by region, percentage share of consumption, 2023
• Price comparison: LDPE film versus PLA, 2019–24 (€/tonne)
• Average annual prices by type, 2024 ($ per kg)

List of Tables

• Global biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption and sales, 2024 and 2029
• Biodegradable and compostable packaging – summary of key challenges and unmet needs to 2029
• Meaning of biopolymer technology
• Market drives and trends to 2029
• Current producers of biodegradable and compostable polymers directly extracted from biomass, 2024
• Current producers of biodegradable and compostable polymers directly by naturally/genetically modified organisms, 2024
• Current producers of biodegradable and compostable polymers synthesised from bio-derived monomers, 2024
• Current producers of biodegradable and compostable polymers synthesized from petrochemical feedstock, 2024
• Biodegradable and compostable packaging technology developments to 2029
• Starch blends – summary of key features
• Novamont Mater-Bi for film extrusion: average physical and mechanical
• Cellulose acetate – summary of key features
• Selected NatureFlex packaging film grades, summary of water vapour and oxygen barrier properties
• PLA – summary of key features
• NatureWorks Ingeo PLA 7001D biopolymers for blow moulding – typical material
• NatureWorks Ingeo PLA biopolymers for film extrusion – typical material
• NatureWorks Ingeo PLA biopolymers for heat seal biaxially oriented film –
• Polybutylene succinate – summary of key features
• Typical material properties of Ecoflex F blend compared with LDPE film
• PHB – summary of key features
• Global biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption and value by material type, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes/$ million)
• Global consumption and value of biodegradable and compostable packaging from starch by region, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes/$ million)
• Global consumption and value of biodegradable and compostable packaging from cellulose acetate by region, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes/$ million)
• Global consumption and value of biodegradable and compostable packaging from PHA by region, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes/$ million)
• Global consumption and value of biodegradable and compostable packaging from PLA by region, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes/$ million)
• Global consumption and value of biodegradable and compostable packaging from aliphatic aromatic polyesters by region, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes/$ million)
• Global biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by end use market, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
• Biodegradable plastics for food packaging applications: examples of major food companies that have successfully used biodegradable plastics

For each end use:

• Global consumption of biodegradable and compostable packaging by region, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)

List of end uses:

• Food packaging
• Beverages
• Foodservice
• Non-food
• Global biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption and market value by region, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes/$ million)
• European biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by product type, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
• European biodegradable and compostable packaging market value by product type, 2019–29 ($ million)
• European biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by end use sector, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
• North American biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption and market value by product type, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes/$ million)
• North American biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by end use sector, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
• South & Central American biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by product type, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
• South & Central American biodegradable and compostable packaging market value by product type, 2019–29 ($ million)
• South & Central American biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by end use sector, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
• China: biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by product type, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
• China: biodegradable and compostable packaging market value by product type, 2019–29 ($ million)
• China: biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by end use sector, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
• Rest of Asia-Pacific biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by product type, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
• Rest of Asia-Pacific biodegradable and compostable packaging market value by product type, 2019–29 ($ million)
• Rest of Asia-Pacific biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by end use sector, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
• Middle East & African biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by product type, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
• Middle East & African biodegradable and compostable packaging market value by product type, 2019–29 ($ million)
• Middle East & African biodegradable and compostable packaging consumption by end use sector, 2019–29 (‘000 tonnes)
• Flexible food packaging: examples of typical pack types by barrier type and product category
• Bioplastic market and technology developments for flexible fresh food packaging, 2024–29
• Rigid plastic food packaging – examples of typical pack types by category
• Bioplastic market and technology developments for trays and containers, 2024–29
• Beverage packaging – examples of typical pack types by category
• Bioplastic market and technology developments for soft drinks, 2024–29