bioplastics packaging - combining performance with ... · materials and market development in the...
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FACT SHEETEuropean Bioplastics
Materials and market development in the packaging segment
Bioplastics packaging - combining performance with sustainability
Plastics packaging – a success story
There is no larger market segment in the plastics industry than the packaging segment. More than a third of all plastics world-wide are converted into packaging, that is approximately 100 million tons. In Europe, 40 percent of the plastics demand is used in packaging, which amounts to around 20 million tons every year.1 In Western industrial countries, 50 percent of all goods are packaged in plastics.
Without the various available packaging solutions, many per-ishable goods would go to waste or be damaged en route to the customer. Packaging is also an excellent carrier for product advertising. It conveys important information to the consumer and enables efficient distribution of goods through compac-tion. Despite its extremely light weight, plastics packaging can also be easily adapted to meet specific application demands.
However, the enormous consumption of conventional plastics in packaging means that today’s societal demands for prod-ucts with a reduced impact on the environement are not met. The question therefore arises how to turn plastics packaging solutions into more sustainable products.
Bioplastics packaging – the next step
The overarching problem of climate change and the expected future shortage of fossil resources have accelerated the search for better concepts for plastics packaging. Approaches to reu-se and recycle plastics in closed loops need to be developed, keeping the guiding principle of efficient use of resources in sight at all times.
With the corresponding demands of converters and brand owners further driving the development of new solutions, bio-plastics are expanding their reach into the packaging segment.
Bioplastics use resources as efficiently as is currently possible while keeping food safe, enduring high heat, reducing CO2, and offering new recovery options. In short, bioplastics pa-ckaging offers the same qualities as conventional packaging, while exposing much greater sustainability features.
How can plastics packaging become more sustainable?
Packaging made from bioplastic meets societal and environmental demands.
1 PlasticsEurope: Plastics – The Facts 2016
European Bioplastics e.V. Marienstr. 19/20 10117 Berlin European Bioplastics e.V.
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Bioplastics packaging – market, materials, performance
The bioplastics packaging market
In 2016, global production capacities of bioplastics amoun-ted to about 4.2 million tons with almost 40 percent of the volume destined for the packaging market – the biggest market segment within the bioplastics industry.
There is a high demand for packaging made from bioplastics to be used for wrapping organic food as well as for premium and branded products with particular requirements. Market introduction is making dynamic progress with growth rates ranging from 20 to 100 percent annually. Bioplastics produc-tion capacities have been forecasted to grow to 6.1 million tons by 2021 with most of these new volumes being conver-ted to innovative packaging solutions.
Governments can further foster this trend by promoting bio-plastics packaging in the context of their policies for innova-tion, resource-efficiency, and climate change. The transition from a fossil-based economy to a bio-economy is an impor-tant target of the EU 2020 Strategy.
Bioplastic materials in packaging
Bioplastics are a diverse family of materials with differing properties. There are three main groups:
1.bio-based,non-biodegradablematerialssuchasbio- basedPEorbio-basedPET;2.bio-basedandbiodegradablematerialssuchasPLA,PHA orstarchblends;
3.fossil-basedandbiodegradablematerials(foremost blendedwithgroup2).
Packaging from bio-based plastics has been developed over the past 10 years. New materials such as PLA, PHA, cellu-lose or starch-based materials create packaging solutions with completely new functionalities, such as biodegradabi-lity/ compostability. The bio-based versions of conventional plastics, such as bio-based PE and partly bio-based PET, are technically equivalent to their fossil counterparts. The only difference is their resource basis. As the value chain only has to be adapted at the beginning, bio-based PE, PET, PP etc. are known as ‘drop-in solutions’.
All types of bioplastics used in packaging offer one out-standing advantage over fossil-based products: The use of renewable resources and, by consequence, the intrinsic value proposition of reducing the environmental impact of packaging.
Performance and processing of bioplastics packaging
The performance and ecological profile of packaging can be improved in many ways, for example through
• bio-basedmaterials,• materialcombinations,e.g.blendingofdifferentbioplastics,• acombinationofrecyclingcomponentsfromconven- tionalplasticssuchasrPETwithbioplastics(bio-based PET),• tailor-madeadditives,colourandprocessingaids,and• continuousdevelopmentofnewbio-basedmonomers.
Bioplastics packaging - Combining performance with sustainability
Packaging made from bioplastics can be processed withallcustomaryplasticsprocessingtechnologies.Nospecialmachineryisrequired.Dependingonthetypeofbioplasticsused,onlytheprocessingparametershavetobeadjusted.
Awiderangeofproductssuitablefornumerousandvariedapplications has been developed within a short period oftime,andnowadaysthequalityofbioplasticspackagingcaneasilymatchthatoftraditionalproducts.Formoreinforma-tion on performance and processing, please see the tableonpage4.
Bioplastics packaging solutions in the market
Rigid packaging
Rigidbioplasticsapplicationsareavailable,e.g.forcosmet-icspackagingofcompactpowders,creamsandlipsticks,aswellasbeveragebottles.MaterialssuchasPLA,bio-basedPE,orbio-basedPETareusedinthissection.
Severalwell-knownbrandssuchasCoca-Cola,Vittel,VolvicorHeinzusebio-basedPETforbottlesofallsizescontain-ingsparklingdrinksandother,non-gaseousfluids.Procter&GambleandJohnson&Johnsonrelyonbio-basedPEtopackagedifferentkindsofcosmeticproducts.
Thehighpercentageofbio-basedmaterialintheseproductsand theability tocombine themwith recyclates fromcon-ventionalPEandPEThasresultedinadecisiveincreaseinresourceefficiencyandareductionofCO2emissions.
Asapotentiallymechanicallyrecyclablematerial,PLAisalsogainingmarketshareintherigidpackagingsegment.Withgrowingvolumes,aseparaterecyclingstreamwillbecomeeconomicallyfeasible,andthebeneficialenvironmentalpo-tentialofPLAwillbefurtherincreased.
Flexible packaging
Many different bioplastics are used for flexible packagingsolutions. Biodegradability is a feature often sought whenitcomestofoodpackagingproductsforperishables.Biode-gradablefoodpackagingcertifiedasindustriallycomposta-ble was the first successfully commercialised bioplasticproduct. Films and trays are particularly suitable for freshproducesuchasfruitandvegetablesastheyenablelongershelflife.Inaddition,confectionary,suchaschocolateandbiscuits,ordryfoodsuchasteaormuesliarenowincreas-inglybeingpackagedwithbioplastics.
Productexamples in themarket range fromOntex-Mayen,whohasbeenusingstarch-basedpackagingfor theirMol-tex-ecobabynappies,totheItaliancoffeebrandBeanarella,whichintroducedcompostablecoffeecapsulesin2012,andGermanicecreammakerZandonella,whoservestheirgour-metbioicecreaminacompostableboxsince2014.
Service packaging
Food service packaging is another large growth segment.Whetherit iscups,plates,cutleryorcarrierbags–theen-tireproductspectrumcanbemadefrombioplastics.Theseproducts are used at sports events, street festivals, onplanes or on trains. They can be made of bio-based non-biodegradableplasticsorofbio-basedbiodegradableplas-tics,dependingontheend-of-lifesolutionenvisagedfortheindividualproduct.
Thebiodegradabilityofcertaintypesofbioplasticsenablesthe jointrecoverywith foodresidueviacompostingoran-aerobic digestion, provided that conventional plastics donotcontaminatethisrecyclingstream.
RetailersacrossEuropesuchasRossmann,Aldi,Coop,andCarrefourusesingleormulti-usecarrierbagsmadefrombi-oplastics-somewiththeadd-onbonusofbiodegradability.Certifiedbiodegradable/compostablecupsarealsousedatbigeventsorinmajorfootballstadiumsthroughoutEurope.
IfCarrefour,Coca-Cola,Procter&Gambleand the likeareanythingtojudgeby,allpackagingmaterialsinthefuturewillbebio-basedandeasily(mechanicallyororganically)re-cyclable2.Thisisalsothedesiredoutcomeforconsumers,asismanifestedintheirshoppingbehaviour.
You might also be interested in the following publications: • Factsheetrigidpackaging• EnvironmentalCommunicationsGuide
http://en.european-bioplastics.org/news/publications
Bioplastics are suitable for all standard processing technologies.
From a niche product in organic trade to premium packaging for branded goods – bioplastics are conquering all packaging segments.
About 80 percent of European consumers want to buy products with a minimal impact on the environment (eurobarometer survey, European Commission, 2013).
1 Organic recycling means industrial composting in this context.
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FACT SHEET | European Bioplastics
Phone: +49 .30 28 48 23 50Email: [email protected]: [email protected]
European BioplasticsMarienstraße 19-2010117 Berlin
For more information please visit:www.european-bioplastics.orgtwitter.com/EUBioplastics
January 2017
PLA
o
++
+
+
+
++
+
++
+
+
++
o
o
+
o
o
+
+
++
+
+
o
+
++
++
+
+
Process and typical applications for bioplastics in packaging
Process
Blow film extrusion
Cast film extrusion
Co-extrusion
Lamination
Paper lamination
Thermoforming
Injection moulding
Blow moulding
Injection blow moulding
Flexibles
Pouch
Clear film
Outer packaging
Strech film
Shrink film
Shopping/waste bags
Nets
Labels
Rigid Packaging
Bottles
Clear Trays
Other Trays
Container (larger)
Tubes
Caps
Cups
Blister packaging
Moulded foam
Cutlery
PHA
o
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
+
+
o
+
++
o
+
+
+
+
+
PBS
+
+
+
+
+
o
+
+
o
+
o
+
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Cellulosic materials
o
+
o
++
o
o
+
o
o
+
++
++
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
++
Starch
+
+
+
+
++
+
+
+
o
++
o
++
o
o
++
+
+
o
o
+
+
+
o
+
++
++
PBS
+
+
++
++
+
+
++
++
o
+
+
+
o
o
++
++
+
+
o
+
++
++
++
++
+
+
++
PHA
+
+
++
+
+
+
++
+
o
+
o
+
o
+
++
+
+
+
o
+
+
+
+
++
+
+
+
PLA
++
++
++
+
+
++
++
++
+
++
++
++
o
+
++
++
+
+
+
+
+
++
++
+
+
+
+
PBAT
++
+
++
++
+
o
+
+
o
++
o
+
+
++
++
+
++
o
o
+
+
+
+
+
+
o
+
Bio-PE
++
++
++
+
++
o
+
+
o
++
++
++
++
+
++
++
++
+
o
++
++
++
++
+
o
+
+
Bio-PET
o
+
++
+
o
++
+
++
++
+
++
o
+
o
o
+
++
++
++
+
o
+
+
++
o
o
Notes
as a component
preforms
beverages, yogurt
incl. loose fill
service packaging
Legend: ++ very suitable; + partly/mostly suitable; o not suitable
FACT SHEET | European Bioplastics
Blends made from