MUNDOMATERIAL

The bioplastics market evolves quickly, going from pilot plants to industrial production in merely 10 years. Today I venture into pointing some current trends that will define its future in the next 5-10 years. Product improvement Bioplastics have entered the market, have been tested in several applications and are produced at industrial level. In following years bioplastics producers already established will have to focused on improving their products performance. In order to do this, they can focus on one of the following factors: Increasing the renewable content of the final product by using additives, paints and adhesives that are also renewable. Achieving certifications related to renewable content or compostability. Improving properties by blending with oil-based plastics. Penetrating the durable goods market, for example in electronic products or automotive sector. For more information, do check the following presentation by Jim Lunt & Associates, with information regarding... 
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In 2006 I conducted a market study about the European Bioplastics market. I recently got the chance of taking part in a consultancy project that, amongst other things, took a look at bioplastics. Thanks to it I have been able to check the big changes that have taken place in the market in just 5 years, taking bioplastics from having a reduced market penetration to becoming one of the most important trends within the polymer market. Source: Darwin Bell An increasing number of competitors In 2006 the number of “real” producers was reduced. There were several producers of starch based blends and Novamont was (and still is) the European market leader when considering production capacity. However, in the field of PLA production there have been important changes. In 2006 the sole producer was NatureWorks. It was the only company with an industrial production and there were only projects from other companies that were studying the possibility of using lactic acid to produce PLA. Nowadays... 
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Before I start, I would like to say that this post intends to be a brief introduction to the wide field of bioplastics, which I intend to discuss in more detail in the future. Let’s say that it’s a guide for those of you who are not familiar with this family of products. When talking about bioplastics, we usually refer to polymers sourced partial or totally from natural and renewable resources. Some of them have a different chemistry from already existing plastics while others are as common in their oil based form as polyolefins or polyurethane. Today I’m going to talk about the “new” ones; soon I’ll discuss how old plastics are renewing themselves thanks to plants. There are two main rivals at the moment in the bioplastics market: PLA, or polylactic acid, and starch based blends. Both are mainly sourced from corn, although any plant rich in starch or sugar can potentially be a viable source. They also share their capacity to biodegrade, a quality that... 
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