Plastic materials have made entry in every sphere of human life because of its superior characteristics such as durability, strengths, shape and moldable property, since these plastics have high molecular weight & tightly bonded together these are non-degradable, rendering their disposal difficult, which inversely leads to negative impact on the environment.
Thus the concept of biodegradable plastic came as a solution which could be produced and degraded by microorganism in the environment when proper condition such as sunlight, moisture, oxygen etc. are available.
Biodegradable plastics are the type of plastics that undergo decomposition over a period of time under composting conditions. The global biodegradable plastics market accounts for less than 1% of the overall plastics market, however, it is expected to grow at a fast pace over the next 5 years. The market growth is driven by continuous R&D activities, increased environmental awareness, and implementation of stringent environmental regulations.
Bio based biodegradable plastics find their application in a variety of sectors, including fibres, medical, packaging, and agriculture. The demand for bio based biodegradable plastics is massive in the packaging sector, and it is anticipated that status quo will be maintained in the next five years as well. Other prominent sectors which will create robust demand for bio based biodegradable market include agriculture and medical.
Biodegradable plastics have found their end-use in a variety of commercial applications. It is estimated that packaging and disposable house wares drive the biodegradable market. Foam packaging continues to represent significant market share for biodegradable plastics. Compostable bags, as well as single-use carrier plastic bags, follow foam packaging in terms of volume. Another developing use for biodegradable plastics is in the shale gas industry, where they are used during hydrofracking as more environmentally friendly proppants to “prop open” fractures in rock layers so oil and gas can be released.