"Traditional packaging materials contain a range of oil-based polymers, which are largely non-biodegradable," notes Technical Insights Research Analyst W.F. Kee. "Packaging waste forms a significant part of municipal solid waste and has caused increasing environmental concerns, resulting in strengthening of legislation in order to reduce packaging waste."
With the ramping up of the attraction quotient in recent years, green products are clearly gaining advocates. It has become increasingly fashionable for the public to support green products. The popularity of hybrid cars and reusable bags is a good example. Eco-friendly products have been unleashed in various sectors including food, appliances, and cars.
Consumer interest in bio-based packaging is on the rise. Public support for green products is partially responsible for the biodegradable plastics market growth, and this global trend is expected to continue gathering steam in the future.
Although the overall prospects look bright, some issues have been reining in market progression. Cost competitiveness is foremost among the challenges confronting the market. To circumvent this obstacle, proposed solutions include the use of cheaper feedstock, for instance, biomass-based feedstock as well as an integrated process. Utilization of feedstock is very limited right now, and the adoption of biomass-based feedstock will mostly be influenced by the development of improved biocatalysts.
Other concerns associated with biodegradable plastics are poor processability characteristics, low barrier properties toward air, water, and oxygen, low resistance to heat, and in some cases, low shelf life.
"The properties of traditional biodegradable polymers do not offer the essential mechanical properties and fail to match up to the needs of end user application compared with conventional plastics," says Kee. "This acts as a barrier for the penetration of biodegradable packaging in high-end applications."
It is imperative that these impediments are addressed before biodegradable products can compete on an equal footing with conventional plastics.
Properties can improve by deploying enhanced blending technologies or developing composites. Blending studies are underway in the academic and corporate sectors, and efforts have been initiated for the development of bio- and nanocomposites. The former incorporates bio-based materials such as natural fibers to improve the mechanical properties of biodegradable plastics, while the latter incorporates nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes to produce materials that are stronger and more durable.
