European Bioplastics, in collaboration with Nova-Institute, has recently released the latest data on the global bioplastics market, outlining a promising outlook for the coming years. The production of bioplastics is steadily increasing, driven by growing demand and the ongoing development of increasingly sophisticated applications.
According to forecasts, global bioplastics production capacity is set to rise significantly, from 2.47 million tons in 2024 to nearly 5.73 million tons by 2029. This trend is primarily fuelled by the expansion of bio-based alternatives for almost all conventional plastic materials and their related applications, ranging from packaging and consumer goods to the automotive and agricultural sectors.
In particular, the strong development of bio-based and biodegradable polymers - such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and bio-based polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) - will sustain significant growth in production capacity over the next five years. Packaging remains the most significant market segment, accounting for 45% of global production in 2024, with 1.12 million tons of bioplastics allocated to this sector.
Despite the rise in production, in 2024 the average utilisation rate of production capacity stood at 60%, with substantial variations among different polymers, ranging from 35% to 100%. This discrepancy is also influenced by the interpretation of recent regulations, such as the Plastic Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), as well as upcoming European legislation that will directly impact the plastics market.
Bioplastics are thus expanding their potential and are set to become an increasingly integrated part of industrial applications, offering tangible solutions for a more sustainable future
