Biodegradable packaging consumption set to rise

Biodegradable packaging consumption will reach nearly 116,000 tonnes by 2011 Pira International has quantified and analysed the biodegradable packaging market in a new study.

The Future of Global Markets for Biodegradable Packaging provides a thorough breakdown of the world market, including market sizes and analysis by region, biodegradable polymer type and end-use.

Key findings include: Quantified at more than 42,000 tonnes in 2006, consumption of biodegradable packaging is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 22% to reach nearly 116,000 tonnes in 2011.

Cutting-edge technologies include the introduction of lower cost PHA biodegradable polymers that could compete with standard thermoplastics and other biodegradable polymers by 2011.

These would fit more demanding rigid and flexible packaging applications requiring high barrier protection.

The majority of biodegradable packaging consumption in 2006 was in the fresh food sector at 41%, followed by food service and other food.

Food service is expected to be the highest growth sector for biodegradable packaging at 24% CAGR, followed by non-food and fresh food.

Fresh food is the biggest end-use sector for biodegradable packaging, accounting for nearly 18,000 tonnes in 2006.

Polylactic acid is the most widely used biodegradable polymer for fresh-food applications with 39% of total consumption in 2006.

Starch-based polymers account for 36% of market volumes.

Polylactic acid currently holds approximately 43% of the market.

This share is expected to grow, with consumption forecast at over 50,000 tonnes in 2011.

Western Europe is the leading consumer of biodegradable packaging.

The markets in Asia-Pacific and eastern Europe have been growing but are relatively underdeveloped at present.

The US is the largest single market for biodegradable packaging and this is expected to continue to 2011, where the market is estimated at over 44,000 tonnes.

The Future Global Markets for Biodegradable Packaging provides market estimates for the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Russia, Turkey, US, Japan, China and India.

Starch blends and starch-based polymers are quantified along with polylactic acid, synthetic polyesters and biodegradable cellulose materials.

The markets for fresh food, food service, non-food and other are quantified and analysed.

The Future Global Markets for Biodegradable Packaging, published November 2006, is available now in hard copy or searchable PDF file.

The cost is GBP3,500 (euro5,200, $6,500).

Other packaging titles published by Pira International in 2006 include: The Future of Global Markets for PET Packaging to 2011.

The Future of Cosmetics Packaging to 2011 The Future of Retail Ready Packaging The Future of Holograms for Packaging to 2011 The Future of Transparent Barrier Films to 2011 The Future of Packaging in Asia - strategic market forecasts to 2011 The Future of Flexible Packaging in Europe Flexible Packaging in China - strategic five-year forecasts and top 50 flexible packaging converters.

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