Market Fivefold growth
Market Fivefold growth by 2016 An above-average positive development in bioplastics production capacity has made past projections obsolete. The market of around 1.2 million tonnes in 2011 will see a fivefold increase in production volumes by 2016 – to an anticipated almost 6 million tonnes. This is the result of the current market forecast, which the industry association European Bioplastics published in mid October in cooperation with the IfBB Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites from the University of Hannover. The worldwide production capacity for bioplastics will increase from around 1.2 million tonnes in 2011 to approximately 5.8 million tonnes by 2016. By far the strongest growth will be in the biobased, non-biodegradable bioplastics group. Especially the so-called ‘drop-in’ solutions, i.e. biobased versions of bulk plastics like PE and PET, that merely differ from their conventional counterparts in terms of their renewable raw material base, are building up large capacities. Leading the field is partially biobased PET, which is already accounting for approximately 40 % of the global bioplastics production capacity. Partially biobased PET will continue to extend this lead to more than 4.6 million tonnes by 2016. That would correspond to 80% of the total bioplastics production capacity. Following PET is biobased PE with 250,000 tonnes, constituting more than 4 % of the total production capacity. “But also biodegradable plastics are demonstrating impressive growth rates. Their production capacity will increase by two-thirds by 2016,”states Hasso von Pogrell, Managing Director of European Bioplastics. Leading contributors to this growth will be PLA and PHA, each of them accounting for 298,000 tonnes (+60 %) and 142,000 tonnes (+700 %) respectively. “The enormous growth makes allowance for the constantly increasing demand for sustainable solutions in the plastics market. Eventually, bioplastics have achieved an established position in numerous application areas, from the packaging market to the electronics sector and the automotive industry”, says von Pogrell. A disturbing trend to be observed is the geographic distribution of production capacities. Europe and North America remain interesting as locations for research and development and also important as sales markets. However, establishment of new production capacities is favoured in South America and Asia. “European Bioplastics invites European policy makers to convert their declared interest into concrete measures. “We are seeing many general supportive statements at EU level and in the Member States”, says Andy Sweetman, Chairman of European Bioplastics. “There is, however, a lack of concrete measures. If Europe wants to profit from growth at all levels of the value chain in our industry, it is high time the correspon- ding decisions are made.” www.european-bioplastics.org Info: Download market data charts in English and German from www.bioplasticsmagazine.de/201206 Global production capacity of bioplastics 5.000 5,779 776 1.000 metric t 4.000 3.000 2.000 5,003 1.000 0 23 1,016 1,161 342 486 249 226 674 675 2009 2010 2011 2016 Biodegradable Forecast Biobased/non-biodegradable Total capacity Source: European Bioplastics / Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites (October 2012) 14 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/12] Vol. 7
Cover Story The Eco-baby doll For its hundredth birthday the PETITCOLLIN doll is again biobased and more eco-friendly (Photo: Michael Thielen) Petitcollin is the oldest and ultimate French doll maker. One hundred years ago a new type of toy was born at Petitcollin. It would progressively revolutionize the doll market. Strong, washable, unbreakable and above all affordable, the Petit Colin doll was born using celluloïd (regarded to be the first plastic on the market) as the basic material until 1960. Over the course of time it has become the symbol of many generations of little girls and the icon of the Petitcollin brand. It is still manufactured today and certainly holds the record of longevity for toys on the market. To celebrate its hundredth birthday, as indeed it should, Petitcollin has decided to break new ground by introducing its new Petit Colin Eco-baby from a new bio-based plastic instead of fossil-based HDPE. The Eco-baby doll, like its predecessors is fully manufactured in France by blow moulding, followed by assembling and decoration. Its body is made from GAÏALENE ® , a starchbased plastic industrially produced by Roquette in France. Petitcollin chose this plastic because it comes from a non- GMO plant-based resource, widely available and produced locally. In addition, this plant-based plastic is eco-friendly, presents certified environmental benefits, – in particular a 65% lower carbon footprint than fossil-based HDPE - and is 100% recyclable at the end of its life cycle. The Eco-baby doll wears clothes made from organic cotton grown without pesticides. Very soft to touch and with a silky appearance, the Petit Colin Eco-baby is the first doll to be mainly made from a natural, fully recyclable material. This doll combines sustainable development and local production with environmental protection - values which the brand holds dear. Jouets Petitcollin is today a subsidiary of Vilac S.A.S., a manufacturer of wooden toys established in 1911. The Petitcollin factory in Etain has been open to the public since 1998 and the company shares its long tradition of know-how and its unrivalled history in a musicological space devoted to the brand that has been receiving visitors since September 2009. www.petitcollin.com www.vilac.com www.gaialene.com bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/12] Vol. 7 15
