During the EBC24 taking place in Berlin, Germany, European Bioplastics (EUBP) presented its 2024 edition of the market development update report which confirms the continuous growth of the global production capacities of bioplastics.

The market data update 2024 has been compiled in cooperation with the market experts of the nova-Institute (Hürth, Germany).

EBC24 in Berlin, Germany.

Overall global plastics production continues to rise steadily, driven by rising demand combined with the emergence of ever more sophisticated applications and products

In line, the report states that global bioplastics production capacity is set to increase significantly from around 2.47 million tons in 2024 to approximately 5.73 million tons in 2029.

Global bioplastics production capacities are expected to increase.

“The growth in bioplastics production capacity should be seen against the backdrop of increasing consumer awareness of the environmental impact associated with the overall plastic consumption,” said Hasso von Pogrell, Managing Director of EUBP.

Due to a strong development of biobased and biodegradable polymers, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), biobased polyethylene (PE) as well as a steady growth of biobased polypropylene (PP), the data shows that production capacities will continue to increase significantly within the next 5 years.

The comparison between production capacities and actual production in 2024 shows that the bioplastics industry is producing at almost 60% capacity. Although varying in some polymers quite significantly, ranging from 35% to 100%, the average utilization rate in 2024 is 58% (1.44 million tons production vs. 2.47 million tons production capacities).

In addition, bioplastics are used for an increasing variety of applications, ranging from packaging and fibers to consumer goods, automotive, and agricultural products. Packaging remains the largest market segment for bioplastics with 45% (1.12 million tons) of the total bioplastics market in 2024.

“A potential further approximation of actual production to existing production capacities largely depends on the specific interpretation of recent regulations – keyword PPWR – and other future European legislation relating to the plastics market,” von Pogrell concluded.

During the EBC24 taking place in Berlin, Germany, European Bioplastics (EUBP) presented its 2024 edition of the market development update report which confirms the continuous growth of the global production capacities of bioplastics.

The market data update 2024 has been compiled in cooperation with the market experts of the nova-Institute (Hürth, Germany).

EBC24 in Berlin, Germany.

Overall global plastics production continues to rise steadily, driven by rising demand combined with the emergence of ever more sophisticated applications and products

In line, the report states that global bioplastics production capacity is set to increase significantly from around 2.47 million tons in 2024 to approximately 5.73 million tons in 2029.

Global bioplastics production capacities are expected to increase.

“The growth in bioplastics production capacity should be seen against the backdrop of increasing consumer awareness of the environmental impact associated with the overall plastic consumption,” said Hasso von Pogrell, Managing Director of EUBP.

Due to a strong development of biobased and biodegradable polymers, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), biobased polyethylene (PE) as well as a steady growth of biobased polypropylene (PP), the data shows that production capacities will continue to increase significantly within the next 5 years.

The comparison between production capacities and actual production in 2024 shows that the bioplastics industry is producing at almost 60% capacity. Although varying in some polymers quite significantly, ranging from 35% to 100%, the average utilization rate in 2024 is 58% (1.44 million tons production vs. 2.47 million tons production capacities).

In addition, bioplastics are used for an increasing variety of applications, ranging from packaging and fibers to consumer goods, automotive, and agricultural products. Packaging remains the largest market segment for bioplastics with 45% (1.12 million tons) of the total bioplastics market in 2024.

“A potential further approximation of actual production to existing production capacities largely depends on the specific interpretation of recent regulations – keyword PPWR – and other future European legislation relating to the plastics market,” von Pogrell concluded.