Biodegradable plastic is plastic that decomposes naturally in the environment. This is achieved when microorganisms in the environment metabolize and break down the structure of biodegradable plastic. The end result is one which is less harmful to the environment than traditional plastics.
Corn starch is blended with suitable plasticizer, lubricants and other chemical additives and processed in a twin screw extruder to produce thermoplastic starch pellets or granules. These pellets are further processed to manufacture cast or blown films.
If disposed of correctly, packaging material made from cornstarch will break down into carbon dioxide and water within several months. However, if the material is not disposed of correctly cornstarch-based material will take longer to decompose, especially if there is no oxygen or light available.
The global biodegradable plastic packaging market was valued at USD 4.65 billion in 2019, and is expected to reach a market value of USD 12.06 billion by 2025, registering a CAGR of 17.04% during the forecast period of 2020-2025.Growing environmental concerns regarding plastic usage that consists of toxic pollutants which are harming plants, animals, and people are driving the use of biodegradable plastic.
Stringent regulations by various government and federal agencies with an objective to reduce plastic waste and promote biodegradable plastics usage in packaging is boosting the demand of this market. Regulations related to green packaging is increasing and various FMCG companies are required to adopt biodegradable packaging to comply with the standards which in turn is propelling the growth of this market.
Biodegradable plastic is plastic that decomposes naturally in the environment by the action of microorganisms in the environment that metabolize and break down the structure of biodegradable plastic. The end result is one which is relatively less harmful to the environment than the traditional plastics. Non-decomposable plastics are a global environmental problem. Governments around the world are dealing with this problem by banning single-use plastics and promoting biodegradable plastics. Moreover, consumers are willing to pay more for biodegradable plastics owing to their eco-friendly nature. Moreover increasing use of biodegradable plastics in packaging and agriculture sectors is projected to drive the global biodegradable plastics market.
Based on end-use industry, the biodegradable plastics market has been segmented into packaging & bags, consumer goods, agriculture & horticulture, textile, and others (automotive, medical, and building & construction). Packaging & bags is the largest and the fastest-growing end-use industry of biodegradable plastics. The new applications of biodegradable plastics in the packaging industry are diaper banking, adult incontinence products, and landfill covers. With several innovative products coming up, the use of biodegradable plastics in packaging is expected to increase further.
