Market and cost

Because of the fragmentation in the market and ambiguous definitions it is difficult to describe the total market size for bioplastics, but estimates put global production capacity at 327,000 tonnes[9]. In contrast, global consumption of all flexible packaging is estimated at around 12.3 million tonnes.

COPA (Committee of Agricultural Organisation in the European Union) and COGEGA (General Committee for the Agricultural Cooperation in the European Union) have made an assessment of the potential of bioplastics in different sectors of the European economy:

In the years 2000 to 2008, worldwide consumption of biodegradable plastics based on starch, sugar, and cellulose – so far the three most important raw materials – has increased by 600%. The NNFCC predicted global annual capacity would grow more than six-fold to 2.1 million tonnes by 2013[13]. BCC Research forecasts the global market for biodegradable polymers to grow at a compound average growth rate of more than 17 percent through 2012. Even so, bioplastics will encompass a small niche of the overall plastic market, which is forecast to reach 500 billion pounds (220 million tonnes) globally by 2010.

At one time bioplastics were too expensive for consideration as a replacement for petroleum-based plastics. The lower temperatures needed to process bioplastics and the more stable supply of biomass combined with the increasing cost of crude oil make bioplastics' prices [14] more competitive with regular plastics.

Research and development

In the early 1950s, amylomaize (>50% amylose content corn) was successfully bred and commercial bioplastics applications started to be explored.

In 2004, NEC developed a flame retardant plastic, polylactic acid, without using toxic chemicals such as halogens and phosphorus compounds.

In 2005, Fujitsu became one of the first technology companies to make personal computer cases from bioplastics, which are featured in their FMV-BIBLO NB80K line. Later, the French company Ashelvea (also listed on EU Energy Star registered partners), launched its fully recyclable PC with biodegradable plastic case "Evolutis", reported in "People Inspiring Philips", a series of 3 mini-documentaries to inspire Philips employees with some examples from the civil society.

In 2007 Braskem of Brazil announced it had developed a route to manufacture high density polyethylene (HDPE) using ethylene derived from sugar cane.

In 2008, a University of Warwick team created a soap-free emulsion polymerization process which makes colloid particles of polymer dispersed in water, and in a one step process adds nanometre sized silica-based particles to the mix. The newly developed technology might be most applicable to multi-layered biodegradable packaging, which could gain more robustness and water barrier characteristics through the addition of a nano-particle coating[15].

References

1. "Development of a pea starch film with trigger biodegradation properties for agricultural applications". CORDIS services. 2008-11-30. Retrieved 2009-11-24.

2. Hong Chua1, Peter H. F. Yu, and Chee K. Ma (March 1999). "Accumulation of biopolymers in activated sludge biomass". Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Humana Press Inc.) 78: 389–399. doi:10.1385/ABAB:78:1-3:389. ISSN 0273-2289. Retrieved 2009-11-24.

3. Chen, G., & Patel, M. (2012). Plastics derived from biological sources: Present and future: P technical and environmental review. Chemical Reviews, 112(4), 2082-2099.

4. Suszkiw, Jan (December 2005). "Electroactive Bioplastics Flex Their Industrial Muscle". News & Events. USDA Agricultural Research Service. Retrieved 2011-11-28.

5. Ceresana Research. "Ceresana Research – Market Study Bioplastics". Ceresana.com. Retrieved 2011-08-14

6. “Starch based Bioplastic Manufacturers and Suppliers”

7. "Enhancing biopolymers: additives are needed for toughness, heat resistance & processability.(biopolymers)(Cover story)"

8. "BASF announces major bioplastics production expansion"

9. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/plastic.html

10."Bioplastics Life cycle". Pitt.edu. Retrieved 2012-09-14.

11."Bioplastic creates Nitrous Oxide". American Carbon Registry. Retrieved 2013-01-10

12.EOS magazine, oktober 2009

13.NNFCC Renewable Polymers Factsheet: Bioplastics — NNFCC. Nnfcc.co.uk (2010-02-19). Retrieved on 2011-08-14.

14. Reid, Toby. "Plastics vs. Bioplastics". Awareness Into Action. Retrieved 16 May 2013.

15. Bioplastics enhancement with nanofillers «Bio-Pol Blog. Biopol.free.fr (2008-11-25). Retrieved on 2011-08-14.

Поиск по сайту: