Bioplastics 2016 SPI report

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www.plasticsmarketwatch.org
Bioplastics
A SERIES ON ECONOMIC-DEMOGRAPHIC-CONSUMER &
TECHNOLOGY TRENDS IN SPECIFIC PLASTICS END MARKETS
SUMMER 2016 | ISSUE VI
WATCHING:

© 2016 SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association.
All rights reserved.
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PLASTICS MARKET WATCH: BIOPLASTICS iii
Bioplastics
A SERIES ON ECONOMIC-DEMOGRAPHIC-CONSUMER &
TECHNOLOGY TRENDS IN SPECIFIC PLASTICS END MARKETS
CONTENTS
Bioplastics in the Marketplace.............................2
What are Bioplastics? .........................................7
New Feedstocks Show Promise for Growth....... 12
Challenges—and Progress—
Made by Bioplastics..........................................16
Overcoming Hurdles & Bioplastic
Success Stories.................................................22
Public Policy Landscape for Bioplastics.............28
Conclusion........................................................34
Sources.............................................................36
Plastics Market Watch Snapshot....................... 37
SPI: The Plastics Industry
Trade Association

iv PLASTICS MARKET WATCH: BIOPLASTICS
Plastics Market Watch (Report) is provided for general information purposes only.
The information in the Report was obtained through voluntary sources believed to be
reliable, but the information is in no way guaranteed. The use of any of the information
found within is at your own risk. No lawyer-client, advisory, fiduciary or other relationship
is created between SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association (SPI) and any person
accessing or otherwise using any of the information in this document. SPI (and any
of their respective directors, officers, agents, contractors, interns, suppliers and
employees) will not be liable for any damages, losses or causes of action of any nature
arising from any use of this report.
© 2016 SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association
Special thanks to members of the SPI Bioplastics
Division for their guidance and input on this Bioplastics
Market Watch Report.
Materials compiled, written and edited by William (Bill)
Mashek, with editorial assistance from Patrick Krieger and
Kendra Martin, SPI.
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PLASTICS MARKET WATCH: BIOPLASTICS 1
Bioplastics Introduction
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2 PLASTICS MARKET WATCH: BIOPLASTICS
Bioplastics in the Marketplace
Members of SPI’s Bioplastics Division came together in 2007 with education and
outreach as the primary goals driving their activities. In 2016, these efforts continue, and
while progress has been made with key stakeholders in and out of the industry, more work
needs to be done. SPI’s national poll of 1,107 adults nationwide (with a margin of error of
+/- 3.07% at the 95% confidence interval)—conducted in May 2016—validates that need
with the following findings:
nn Only 27 percent were somewhat or very familiar with bioplastics—34 percent were
not familiar at all with bioplastics.
nn After learning about bioplastics, 50 percent of those surveyed indicated they would
consider purchasing a product if it “was a little bit more expensive” because it was
made with bioplastics.
nn 86 percent had not seen or were unsure if they had seen the USDA Certified
Biobased Product seal.
nn More than half, 57 percent, indicated they would probably or definitely be more likely
to consider purchasing a plastic product with the USDA seal.
Despite the fact that bioplastics have been around—and widely used—since the
1950s, there still is confusion and misunderstandings about bioplastics: from their origins
and feedstocks to their end-of-life disposal, biodegradability and product performance.
SPI published its “Bioplastics Simplified” report in February 2016 to specify the
attributes and qualities of bioplastics and identify the advancements that have been made
in terms of definitions, content, biodegradability, and government guidelines and oversight.
These industry advancements have
been significant, but challenges remain
with all audiences as reflected in a recent
Plastics Today article, “Bothered and
bewildered over bioplastics,” and the
United Nations Environmental Programme
paper, “Biodegradable Plastics & Marine
Litter: Misconceptions, Concerns,
and Impacts.”
Despite these questions—and
misunderstandings—about bioplastics,
there are encouraging signs and support
for their continued development and
growth. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s
“The New Plastics Economy” released
earlier this year acknowledged the many
contributions of plastics to the global
economy, but also highlighted bioplastics
in calling for “better system-wide
economic and environmental outcomes.”
The report issues the challenge of creating
Despite the fact that
bioplastics have been
around since the 1950s,
there is still confusion
and misunderstanding
about bioplastics.
Trade Association

In 2012, European Bioplastics reported bioplastics accounted for less than 1 percent
of the total global plastics usage; they estimated at the time that the annual global
production of bioplastics would increase from 798,070 tons in 2010 to 1.85 million tons
by 2015. When this prediction was made, SPI also noted that the “current high prices for
petroleum and natural gas have spurred the industry to examine alternative feedstocks for
the production of various bioplastics.”
Clearly, times—and prices—have changed. Natural gas and petroleum prices have
plunged, making traditional polymers and plastics an easy choice if the top criteria for
a brand owner is cost. Still, bioplastic production and research and development has
continued in terms of developing new feedstocks and new plastics applications. Today,
bioplastics represent 0.7 percent of the total plastics marketplace.
Energy prices will change and likely increase in the coming years; but is that how
bioplastics will continue to grow? Or will bioplastics’ growth come from its own increased
utilization as material that meets the specifications of brands and businesses?
SPI is resin neutral, and believes there is a growing place for all plastics given the
unique advantages plastics provide consumers, manufacturers and brand owners.
Further, there is no polymer that works best in all situations, and the superior plastic
is one that meets the functional needs of a given application or specification. Due to
their unique characteristics—biobased, sustainable and biodegradable—bioplastics
an effective after-use plastics economy,
drastically reducing the leakage of plastics
into natural systems (in particular the
ocean) and other negative externalities.
Further, in its June 2015 Economic
Impact Analysis of U.S. Biobased
Products Industry, the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) noted, “Demand
for the products of the bioplastics
manufacturing industry increased from
2009 to 2014. Several factors have
contributed to heightened demand, i.e.,
stronger economic conditions, large
companies’ joining the campaign for
green packaging.”
Since the first comprehensive report
from the SPI Bioplastics Division in 2012,
there have been expansions of the USDA’s
BioPreferred Program, marketplace
growth like The Coca-Cola Company’s
PlantBottle, and increased utilization
among automotive manufacturers and the
strong adoption of bioplastic cups and
food service items.
USDA’s one-stop web application process makes it simple for manufacturers to apply and track their USDA Certified Biobased Product
AMERICA’S BIOECONOMY
GROWS OPPORTUNITIES
Thanks to the support of USDA’s BioPreferred®
program and the ingenuity of American
manufacturers, the U.S. bioeconomy is thriving — supporting millions of jobs, driving economic
growth, and expanding opportunities for biobased products from America’s farms and forests.*
COMMUNITY BENEFITS
The amount of petroleum replaced
by biobased products per year
300 MILLION
GALLONS
The number of USDA
Certified Biobased
Products on the
market today
2,250
The amount
contributed to the
U.S. economy in
just one year
$369
BILLION
The amount attributed to
the biobased industry in 2013
4 MILLION
JOBS
The estimated value added from
sales of biobased products in 2013
$126 BILLION 126,000,000,000
ECONOMIC IMPACT
The biobased industry's greenhouse gas emissions reduction as
explained by the number of cars taken off the road in one year
200,000
USDA’s Biopreferred “America’s Bioeconomy Growth Opportunities.” Download full infographic
at: www.biopreferred.gov/BPResources/files/BP_InfoGraphic.pdf
Trade Association

will play an important role in supporting
the growth of the plastics industry and
meeting brand needs. The increased
usage of bioplastics, in SPI’s view, is
linked to the better understanding of what
plastics and bioplastics are—and aren’t—
and how they are developed and can
uniquely benefit an array of businesses
and applications using plastics. It is in this
light that moving the bioplastics
needle deserves industry support
in terms of research, promotion,
and continued communications.
This SPI Bioplastics Market
Watch is intended to provide
readers with an improved
understanding of bioplastics and
how it offers unique applications
that can benefit brands,
consumers and the environment.
What are some of the
hurdles that bioplastics will
need to address to continue
growing? What needs to change
or happen? The SPI Bioplastics
Market Watch provides answers
to these questions.
SPI is resin neutral,
and believes there
is a growing place
for all plastics
given the unique
advantages plastics
provide consumers,
manufacturers and
brand owners. Further,
there is no polymer that
works in all situations,
and the best plastic
is one that meets the
functional needs of
a given application
or specification.
Trade Association

Bioplastics
What Are
Bioplastics?
Trade Association

Trade Association
Bioplastics are closely
linked to the history
and development of
plastics—some of
the industry’s earliest
pioneers, including
Henry Ford, developed
plastics using
renewable resources.
Switchgrass, a feedstock for bioplastic production.

BI·O·PLAS·TIC
/,bīō ˈplastik/
noun
plural noun: bioplastics
1. a type of plastic partially or fully biobased and/or biodegradable
a. a biobased bioplastic has some or all of its carbon produced from a renewable
plant (or sometimes animal) source.
a. biodegradable plastics are those that degrade into carbon dioxide (CO2
),
methane (CH4
), water (H2
0), and biomass through biological action in a defined
environment and in a defined timescale.
i. These environments include composting, anaerobic digestion, and marine
and soil environments.
Bioplastics are closely linked to the history and development of plastics—some of
the industry’s earliest pioneers, including Henry Ford, developed plastics using renewable
resources. Today, bioplastics covers a wide range of materials, but they are all partially or
fully biobased and/or biodegradable.
First-generation bioplastics come from traditional agricultural and renewable
resources such as corn, sugar cane and soybeans. Second-generation sources moved
to non-food renewable sources such as switch grass, sawdust, hemp, castor beans, as
well as the byproducts of first-generation sources, including husks and peels. Research
continues on developing new resources for bioplastics and diversifying feedstock; third
generation sources include algae and modified methanobacteria.
A common misunderstanding about bioplastics is that “biobased” and
“biodegradable” are linked; they are not, as a bioplastic that is biobased may not
necessarily be biodegradable, and a biodegradable bioplastic may not be biobased. This
confusion is common, and exists inside and out of the plastics industry, the value chain,
among brands and certainly with consumers.
“Most consumers have a low understanding of plastics—forget bioplastics. They do
not understand what plastics are, what they do, and how they work. With bioplastics,
there is the same misunderstanding,” according to BASF’s Keith Edwards, head of Sales
Management, Specialty Plastics, North America.
What are Bioplastics?
Trade Association

Genarex LLC is a product development and manufacturing company that offers
sustainable solutions while providing substantial savings. Today, our primary
focus is to seek cost effective waste feedstocks that can be obtained and refined
into biomaterials that offset costly, non-renewable materials used in the plastics
industry today.
Genarex produces BYLOX LT and HT, bio-based additives made from corn
byproducts that can increase the sustainability of finished products while also
improving product functionality—such as ductility and processing. The BYLOX
suite of products works well in nearly all conversion technologies, including profile
and film extrusion, injection molding and thermoforming.
The low cost position of our bio-based fillers allows BYLOX LT and HT to be great
supplements to reduce the overall cost per pound for resins, making products more
cost-competitive compared to those that are not traditionally bio-based.
Consumers do, however, accurately attach environmental benefits to bioplastics,
including the reduced usage of fossil fuels (natural gas / petroleum), the potential reduction
in carbon footprint, and the reduction of global warming potential (GWP). Biodegradability
is also appealing to consumers in helping reduce landfill usage and litter.
The misunderstandings of bioplastics over the years may have been fueled by early,
exaggerated claims of a products’ biobased content or biodegradability performance.
The marketing claims garnered the eye and attention of regulators like the Federal
Trade Commission and USDA, as well as industry groups like SPI and standards
setting organizations such as ASTM. These groups have worked to develop standards
for measuring the percentage of renewable carbon content within the plastic and to
confirm industrial compostability. Efforts
to establish standards for other forms of
biodegradation—anaerobic digestion,
home compostability and marine
degradability—are ongoing.
With biodegradation, microorganisms
such as bacteria and fungi eat the
plastics for food, breaking them down for
energy and converting them into carbon
dioxide, methane, and water. It is a broad
umbrella term for multiple processes
that occur in different environmental
conditions. Some biodegradable plastics
break down under “home compostable”
conditions while others require “industrial
compostable” conditions that provide
higher temperatures to help break down
a material.
There are 21 bioplastic polymers
currently used in the marketplace or under
development. Recyclability of bioplastics
is similar to petroleum-based plastics in
that bioplastics from biobased polymers
without fillers are the easiest and most
likely to be recycled while the bioplastics
produced from polymer blends or through
biobased fillers in traditional polymers may
be difficult to recycle or may contaminate
the existing recycling stream.
Biodegradability varies from plastic to
plastic, some are industrially compostable
and home compostable, others are soil
biodegradable, marine biodegradable or
anaerobically digestible.
Industrial Compostable Cold Drink Cup
Photo Courtesy: Greenware®
Agricultural row mulch film incorporating BYLOX, a biobased additive
Photo Courtesy: Genarex
Trade Association

* Not all grades of each polymer type may meet the biodegradability noted; check with the material supplier for the biodegradability of
specific grades.
Polymer
Abbreviation Polymer Name Biobased Biodegradable
PHA Polyhydroxy Alkanoate Yes

O2
PLA Polylactic Acid Yes
TPS Thermoplastic Starch Yes

O2
PBS Polybutylene Succinate Yes

PBAT Polybutylene Adipate-Co-Terephthalate Partially

PBAS Polybutylene Adipate-Co-Succinate In Development

PES Polyethylene Succinate Partially And Fully Biobased
In Development
No
PEF Polyethylene Furanoate In Development No
PET Polyethylene Terephthalate Partially No
PEET Polyetherester Terephthalate Partially No
PTT Polytrimethlene Terephthalate Partially No
PPA Polyphthalamide Partially No
PA 410 Polyamide 410 Partially No
PA 1010 Polyamide 1010 Yes No
TPC-ET Thermoplastic Copolymer Elastomer Partially No
TPU Thermoplastic Polyurethane Partially No
PE Polyethylene Yes No
PP Polypropylene In Development No
Marine Biodegradable
Soil Biodegradable O2 Anaerobically Digestible
Home Compostable
Industrially Compostable
LEGEND
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Castor Bean, a feedstock for bioplastic production.
Trade Association
Plastics—and
bioplastics—are seen
as overwhelmingly
positive on business
and economic activity
around the world.

Bioplastics
New
Feedstocks
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New Feedstocks Show
Promise for Growth
Plastics—and bioplastics—are seen as overwhelmingly positive for business and
economic activity around the world, but there are continuing questions and assertions
that highlight the need for further developments in making renewable, environmentally
responsible bioplastics.
SPI has noted that costs are a major factor in developing biobased bioplastics,
particularly when petroleum-based sources are comparatively less expensive. The
current pricing model and dynamics affect a wide range of issues, from research and
development, to capital investment, to the difference in price in the end products.
Economies of scale and a lack of time to amortize capital expenditures also work against
the bioplastics industry.
Criticisms and misunderstandings of bioplastics are also undermining the
development of plastics with respect to feedstock issues, environmental impact
assessments, and end-of-life management; the industry’s response has been one that
acknowledges the need to develop next-generation feedstocks, enhance biodegradability
options, and expand the range of polymers that are biobased.
The Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance stated, “Biobased products represent an
opportunity for positive change, but that does not mean that they are free of environmental
impacts. Biomass production can also have significant impacts on the environment, which
is why producing responsibly is key to realizing its true potential.”
A diversified class of bioplastics will be required to meet the varied needs of brand
owners in the coming years; bioplastics must meet the specifications of companies and
their desired attributes whether it is a biobased plastic, a biodegradable biobased plastic,
or a sustainable plastic made of non-biobased waste products.
New feedstocks are linked to the development of new polymers. As an example,
Nylon 11, derived from castor beans, displays different physical properties than other
polyamide polymers. As a sustainable feedstock, succinic acid is considered by the U.S.
Department of Energy as one of the renewable building block chemicals with the greatest
technical feasibility and commercial potential. With petroleum feedstocks, succinic acid
is more costly to produce and requires expensive, multi-step processes to be developed.
Startup Gen3Bio is researching the development of specialty chemicals and
polymers that do not use plant sugars as a feed source. “We are focusing on micro algae
that is grown through CO2 capture or through water treatment—not through closed-
reactors that use sugar as the feedsource,” said Kelvin Okamoto, CEO of Gen3Bio.
Ski boot using Rilsan, or Nylon 11, a biobased polymer.
Photo Courtesy: Arkema
Trade Association
Criticisms and
misunderstandings
of bioplastics are
also undermining
the development of
plastics with respect
to feedstock issues,
environmental impact
assessments, and end-
of-life management.

Positioned as a Plastic or Bioplastic
Brand owners will not adopt bioplastics if the product fails to meet (or exceed) their
specifications and requirements to keep a product fresh, clean or secure—bioplastics
have to do the job. In this sense, the priority for bioplastics is their plastic qualities.
NatureWorks’ Davies noted, “Our product doesn’t sell because it is a bioplastic, it sells
because of its functionality and its price—like any other plastic.” However, there continues
to be debate within the industry whether term “bioplastics” is useful.
Given that brand owners are putting an emphasis on sustainability issues—and
consumers understand to some degree that bioplastics provide an environmental
benefit—some industry participants want to continue pressing forward with expanded
use of bioplastics and making the effort to educate brands and consumers about
bioplastics’ differentiators.
Others argue that specifying the plastic is a “bioplastic” is important, and coveys
information to the consumer. “If we start labeling them plastic,” according to BASF’s
Edwards, “we lose the notion of why we are changing or why we are developing this
bioplastic. I think there are education efforts taking place, and consumers are quite savvy
at really understanding the benefits versus marketing claims of products and packaging.
I also believe that we, as an industry, must do more to educate consumers and brand
owners about bioplastics, and recovery options such as recycling or composting, and
the benefits.”
NatureWorks is focusing on the
development of methane-to-lactic acid
fermentation in its bioplastics feedsource.
The company has invested in research
and development activities to achieve a
commercially viable fermentation process
to transform methane into lactic acid that
the company uses for its Ingeo biopolymer
PLA. The collaborative research initiative
has been bolstered by a U.S. Department
of Energy grant and involves partnering
companies to develop the potentially
ground-breaking technology that would
diversify the feedstock for bioplastics
applications such as food serviceware,
packaging and personal care items.
Steve Davies, NatureWork’s director
of Public Affairs & Communications,
said the company’s next generation
feedstock has “a five year horizon, but
methane simplifies the supply chain, takes
agriculture out of the picture, and gives us
a lower cost framework.”
Trade Association
A diversified class
of bioplastics will
be required to meet
the varied needs of
brand owners in the
coming years
Biodegradable Greenware®
Portion Cups
Photo Courtesy: Greenware®

Field trial for biodegradable biobased horticulture pots at Iowa State University, funded by United Soy Bean Board and USDA.
Photo Courtesy: Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites
Trade Association
“Consumers are
becoming aware
of bioplastics, and
we are starting to
see consumers ask
for them.”
—Joe Jankowski,
Braskem America

Bioplastics
Challenges—
and Progress
Trade Association

Challenges—and Progress—
Made by Bioplastics
In its 2012 “Bioplastics Report”, SPI identified the challenges facing the development
of bioplastics; some were directly related to the polymers and their feedstocks, others
were misconceptions about the technology, and the last were infrastructure and guidelines
needed to promote bioplastics development.
Four years is not a significant amount of time to overcome all of these challenges, but
progress is being made on individual hurdles and across the board. This is not to say that
any specific challenge has been put to bed, or that new ones have not been presented to
the industry. But identifiable—and measurable—progress is being made.
The hurdles identified in
2012 included:
nn Confusion with terminology
nn Lack of
industry cohesiveness
nn Lack of infrastructure for
end-of-life disposal options
other than landfill
nn Limited legislation and
regulations that provide
parity between bioplastics
and biofuels
nn Limited amount of funding
available for bioplastics
nn Limited availability of
biobased feedstocks
nn Limited availability
of bioplastics
nn Lack of testing
and certification
harmonization internationally
nn Debate about food versus
fuel versus plastics
Bioplastics Report Card
Terminology Clarity
Industry Cohesiveness
End-Of-Life
Infrastructure
Bioplastics Legislation
Regulations
Funding
Biobased Feedstock
Availability
Availability of Bioplastics
Harmonization
Food vs. Fuel vs.
Plastics
Course 2012 2016
Trade Association

SPI interviewed several bioplastics experts
to assess these challenges in 2016. Here
are some comments and assessments.
Confusion
with Terminology
Within the plastics industry and value
chain, there has been broad agreement
about specific terms and definitions;
in part, these advances are related to
industry standards and certifications that
have been developed. BASF’s Edwards
noted, “Confusion with bioplastic
terminology continues, but it has improved
greatly since 2012. Standard definitions
and terminology are in place.”
Outside the industry, among
marketers, supporting infrastructure
providers, and particularly the general
public, misunderstandings about
bioplastics continues.
Education efforts, like How2Recycle,
sponsored by leading global brands,
was noted as a valuable tool not only for
consumers, but also for manufacturers
and companies. How2Recycle aims to
reduce confusion by creating clear, well-understood, and nationally harmonized labeling
that enables industry to convey to consumers how to recycle a package. The effort is
aligned with the FTC’s Green Guides and hopes to increase the availability and quality of
recycled materials.
Joe Jankowski, commercial manager for Braskem America said How2Recycle’s
efforts were critical. “Consumers are becoming aware of bioplastics, and we are starting
to see consumers ask for them,” Jankowski said. “But consumers need good guidance
on how to behave after using a biobased product, ‘What do I do with this thing in my hand
when I am done with it?’”
Lack of Industry Cohesiveness
Plastics is a competitive and growing industry sector with established companies and
incubator-sized entities working to provide bioplastic technologies to customers. To some
degree, the lack of cohesiveness or agreement in feedstocks, end-of-life management,
and marketing is a positive sign of a vibrant, diversified, and competitive sector.
Fundamental issues like industry terminology, regulatory oversight and certifications have
solidified and several bioplastic segments—like food service items—have advanced and
are firmly established.
Kate Lewis, Analyst for the United
States Department of Agriculture
BioPreferred Program believes all
stakeholders and groups have an
incentive to collaborate together given
narrow budgets, “We will all achieve
more by combining resources, particularly
on the market research side and
consumer awareness.”
Lack of Infrastructure
for End-Of-Life Disposal
Options Other Than Landfill
Infrastructure for bioplastics is
improving, but it is linked to what comes
first and the need to build quantity and
demand for the material. “In certain
regions of the world and individual states,
progress on end-of-life (EOL) management is being made due to government mandates
to curtail landfill disposal. However, industrial compost technologies are not widely
accessible in the U.S.,” according to SPI Assistant Director of Regulatory and Technical
Affairs Patrick Krieger.
Four years is
not a significant
amount of time
to overcome
all of these
challenges,
but progress
is being made
on individual
hurdles and
across the
board.
Trade Association

France, Italy and other EU nations are more aggressively advancing EOL capabilities,
including industrial composting. Currently, the U.S. has less than 200 industrial composting
facilities, some of which do not accept some biodegradable plastics. Composting—
residential and industrial—is vital for bioplastic growth and the development of diversified
applications like PLA. The increased use of industrially compostable bioplastics will
enhance efforts to divert food waste from landfills. However, brand owners will be
reluctant to adopt compostable bioplastics unless downstream infrastructure is in place;
and not in selected cities or states, but nationwide. Composters will begin to emerge
and encourage the adoption of bioplastics as states like California advance their waste
reduction initiatives.
Limited Legislation and Regulations in Favor
of Bioplastics
The promotion of one plastic over another by government agencies is linked to a
common concern within the plastics industry—and one held by SPI. Industry participants,
like NatureWorks’ Davies believe bioplastics should compete with plastics to meet the
specifications and requirements of brands on everything from cost and function to supply
and recyclability. And BASF’s Edwards believes federal guidelines provide a view of the
horizon and gives companies and brand owners a target to strive for in the future.
In the U.S., the USDA Biopreferred Program is a strong advocate for bioplastics
development and expansion and some states are working to promote the development of
biostocks and sources. The Federal Trade Commission is also overseeing and regulating
the marketing claims made by brands utilizing bioplastics to ensure language and
characterizations are accurate.
Industrial Compostable Grocery Bags. Photo Courtesy: Novamont
The Iowa legislature adopted the
nation’s first Renewable Chemicals
Production Tax Credit program this year
to further the state’s development of
biomass as feedstocks for the production
of renewable chemicals. Long a leader in
the biofuels sector through its corn and
soybean production, the new law seeks
to expand and diversify its biosciences
development. Many of the state’s
industrial processing facilities produce
products that can be further processed
into high value chemical compounds that
can lead to developing plastics, textiles,
paints and pharmaceuticals.
The USDA’s Lewis compares
the BioPreferred Program to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy
Star certification program that recently
celebrated its 25th
anniversary. “To tip
the scale on consumer awareness of a
new product or concept, like biobased
products, is a protracted process that
takes decades and lots of resources,”
she said.
Trade Association

Novamont, headquartered in Italy, is
the world leader in the development
and production of bioplastics and
biochemicals.
Novamont promotes a bioeconomy model with the efficient use of renewable
resources and repurposed obsolete industrial sites. Thus creating new industries,
new products and new jobs. Matrìca biorefinery in Sardinia and a decommissioned
industrial site in north-east Italy are two recent examples. The second the world’s
first dedicated industrial plant to make sustainable bio-butanediol (BDO) through
fermentative processes.
Novamont’s Mater-Bi brand resins are an innovative family of bioplastics. Up to
50% of its feedstocks are obtained from plants and are certified biodegradable
and compostable to international standards. Mater-Bi combines performance with
low environmental impact. Products made with Mater-Bi are found in large-scale
retail, municipal organic waste collection, foodservice, agriculture and packaging
markets. International offices are located in Germany, France, and the UK. Novamont
North America is located in Shelton, CT.
Limited Availability of
Biobased Feedstocks
Feedstocks for biobased plastics
are growing and diversifying—and
next generation sources are showing
great promise; however the collection,
availability and costs of these feedsources
continue to be an industry focus
and concern.
First-generation feedstock, like
corn in the U.S. and sugar cane in
other regions, is established in terms
of infrastructure necessary to grow,
collect and process according to SPI’s
Krieger. Next-generation feedstocks in
certain cases do not have the supply and
demand in place to support necessary
infrastructure and therefore do not have
consistent cost-effectiveness to make an
impact in the marketplace. Consistent supply and quality of the feedstock—particularly
second and third generation feedsources—is another hurdle that will need to be cleared
for new feedstocks to take flight.
Davies at NatureWorks stated, “There should be a portfolio of feedstocks available,
whatever is locally abundant. In the U.S., for the foreseeable future, the right feedstock
that is abundant is cornstarch, which is very low value and not the cornstock used for
animal feeds. In other parts of the world, it is sugar cane. Methane is developed by looking
at feedlots and biomethane. Whatever feedstock is being used, it must be sustainable
and locally available.”
Limited Availability of Bioplastics
While bioplastics are still a fraction of traditional natural gas or petroleum derived
plastics, the marketplace is growing and bioplastics are an option for brands around
the world. Bioplastics based on second and third generation feedsources are still in the
developmental stage.
Trade Association
“There should be a
portfolio of feedstocks
available, whatever
is locally abundant.
In the U.S., for the
foreseeable future, the
right feedstock that is
abundant is cornstarch,
which is very low value
and not the cornstock
used for animal feeds.”
— Steve Davies,
NatureWorks LLC

Lack of Testing and Certification
Harmonization Internationally
Testing, certification, and harmonization internationally have improved significantly
and are not seen as a major factor limiting growth. In fact, with the aggressive positioning
taken by some EU nations, the U.S. is benefiting from work and efforts in Italy, France
and elsewhere.
“There has been a lot of harmonization in standards and
how we should communicate what our products are and what
they do—especially on the ASTM-side. There has been a lot of
work done to develop robust systems,” SPI’s Krieger said.
Debate About Food Versus Fuel
Versus Plastics
This debate continues in some markets and with some
applications, although the minimal amount of plastics’ use of agricultural feedstocks is
lost in the discussion—0.067 percent of land is used to make bioplastics according to
European Bioplastics. Given the concern among some brand owners and consumers,
there continues to be a push for developing new sources of feedstock, based from food
waste or alternative sources.
Rather than engage on this premise, NatureWorks’ Davies believes the industry
should explain the bigger picture, “We are turning greenhouse gas into plastic. It is not
competition for food; it is competition for land. You need to look at whatever renewable
resource is available and effective with the smallest ecological impact on the land. If that is
a first generation sugar—that is what you should use, not a non-native species that uses
more water or needs a lot more acres to get the same yield.”
Trade Association
FOOD
VS.
FUEL
It’s not
competition
for food; it’s
competition
for land.
12
for every
ears of corn
1kernel is used to
make bioplastics
0.02% of land used for agriculture in 2014 was used to produce biobased
bioplastics. That means for every dozen ears of corn, one kernel is used
to produce biobased bioplastics.

Bioplastics
Overcoming
Hurdles
Trade Association

Challenges facing the development of bioplastics have evolved over the past four
years; while much of the debate and progress has been internally focused within the
industry; some focus on bioplastics has occurred with major brands in mainstream media
and even pop culture.
Bioplastics—and specifically biodegradable plastic utensils—were prominently
featured in the first episode of HBO’s political satire “Veep” when Julia Louis-Dreyfus’
character works to convince Americans to use biodegradable plastics—only to have her
spoon melt into her coffee. Granted, the program featured a farce, but brand transitions to
bioplastics have been the focus of social media conversations and concerted marketing
campaigns.
PepsiCo: Innovating through Challenges—Is it true there is no such thing
as bad publicity? Frito-Lay and its SunChips brand tested that premise in 2009 when
hundreds of articles and news reports—and thousands more social media postings—
focused on the noise generated by its new biodegradable plastic bag. SunChips
connoisseurs likened the noise of the bags to lawnmowers and even jet engines—an
exaggeration no doubt, but the reaction got Frito-Lay to switch back to its old packaging
while it looked for a solution to muffle the biobased bag.
Frito-Lay, and its parent company
PepsiCo, initially introduced the
environmentally friendly bag that breaks
down in compost to generate publicity
and awareness of its corporate-wide
sustainability initiatives. It got more
publicity than anyone in the company
could have imagined. Brad Rodgers,
PepsiCo’s manager of sustainable
packaging told the Associated Press, “It
was interesting we got a lot of extremely
positive feedback...but on the same hand
we heard one overwhelming complaint.”
The stiffer biodegradable material,
when opened and handled, caused a
louder noise than the original bag—and
one that consumers said made it difficult
to enjoy the chips in an office, cafeteria, or
when eating with others.
PepsiCo, committed to its
environmental program, went back to
work on designing and developing the
SunChips packaging; after several months
the company determined a different kind
of bonding agent between exterior and
interior layers of the bag could create a
sound muffler for the packaging.
The new adhesive helped reduce the
noise measurably. While the initial design
registered between 80 to 85 decibels, the
new bag registered just 70 decibels—
the same level of noise generated by the
original packaging and most chip bags on
the market.
Overcoming Hurdles
Bioplastic Success Stories
Trade Association
A SunChip bag in an industrial composting facility

The SunChips packaging
was even featured in an MIT
Sloan Management Review paper,
“The Sweet Spot of Sustainability
Strategy,” outlining PepsiCo’s
effort to address packaging, litter
and sustainability issues. Gregory
Unruh, a George Mason University
professor and author of the paper
concluded there were three lessons
from the SunChips story:
nn Try out big changes on smaller
brands first. Launching
the compostable bag with
SunChips rather than bigger
brands such as Fritos
or Lay’s minimized
the risk.
nn Persist through the
initial setbacks and
resolve the problem
to gain goodwill.
Unruh stated, “By
being the first among
its competitors
to introduce a
compostable snack
bag, PepsiCo staked
out a first-mover
advantage on an
issue strategically
important to the
company.” In the end,
according to Unruh,
PepsiCo’s standing
with sustainability
advocates improved.
nn Poke fun at yourself
to defang your critics.
When the company
brought the SunChips
compostable bag to
the Canadian market,
its ad campaign
acknowledged
the noise—and offered to
send customers a free set
of ear plugs.
Photo Courtesy: PepsiCo
Trade Association
Try big changes on
smaller brand first.
Persist through
initial setbacks.
Poke fun at
yourself to defang
your critics.

Coca-Cola: Advancing the PlantBottleTM
Program
Coca-Cola has been producing its partially biobased PlantBottle packaging since
2009, but the company’s eye has been on production of a 100 percent biobased bottle.
For the company and its brand, the bottle has historically been a key to its identity and
marketing efforts. While the contour glass bottle is instantly recognizable and well-loved,
the company started to move toward plastic PET bottles in the late 1970s; the plastic
bottle significantly lowered distribution costs and met consumer needs for convenient,
durable lightweight packaging.
The PET in Coca-Cola’s PlantBottle
package is 30 percent plant-based; the
company has reduced its use of fossil
fuels without impacting the recyclability of
the bottle. PlantBottle packaging can be
found in a number of Coca-Cola’s brands
(Dasani, Minute Maid, Smartwater, Simply
Juices, and Gold Peak) and in markets
around the world. The company estimates
more than 40 billion PlantBottle packages
have been sold in more than 40 countries
since the bottle was first introduced and its
performance—and market acceptance by
consumers—is pushing the company to
expand its sustainable packaging efforts,
including a carbon neutral, 100 percent
renewable and responsibly sourced
plastic bottle that is fully recyclable.
In June 2015, Coca-Cola and its
research partner Virent announced the
development of the world’s first 100
percent biobased (sugar cane sourced)
PlantBottle package—at demonstration
scale. The company continues to work
with technology partners to commercialize
a 100 PlantBottle package.
Coca-Cola’s PlantBottleTM
. Photo Courtesy: Coca-Cola
Trade Association

Brand Owner Leadership
The Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance,
with a number of its members (Nike,
Coca-Cola, Danone, Ford, Heinz, Nestlé,
Procter Gamble, Unilever, and the World
Wildlife Fund) are collaborating to identify
a feedstock that can provide the volume
necessary for a 100 percent plant-based
bottle that will not impact the food supply
or produce excessive carbon.
The impact of individual brands
adopting bioplastics is evident in the
Coca-Cola PlantBottle in that one-third of
total, global bioPET 30 is the PlantBottle.
This leadership by global brands
working to reduce their carbon
footprint enhances their environmental
sustainability and aligns with the objectives
of the 2015 United Nations Climate
Change Conference, COP 21 initiative
for member nations to reduce global
greenhouse emissions by 55 percent in
the coming years.
Non-government organizations,
like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, are
spurring corporate efforts by promoting
the circular economy—re-using, repairing,
refurbishing and recycling products and
materials, turning waste into a resource,
and managing all resources through their
life cycles.
BASF’s Edwards believes the growth of bioplastics is linked to corporate initiatives
and specific advances in polymers. “I think more conversion of large volume applications
is needed to bridge the gap a bit—snack food packaging, can liners, etc.—and brand
owners having sustainability drivers must begin to put these in place and make material
conversions to help reach their corporate sustainability goals. Many have only put in place
real metrics in the past few years, and it will take some time for these to create market pull
which should increase the demand for bioplastics,” Edwards said.
SPI’s Krieger indicated a variety of brand owners want to expand their use of
bioplastics for their products and packaging, while some are cautious in making the leap
because of costs. “Brands recognize price considerations, but people use bioplastics
for a lot of different reasons. Cost is really specific to application, and applications are
a measure of functionality.” Krieger said. “Why get into bioplastics? It is more than just
about cost—it could be about functionality, sustainability, or consumer demand. This is
why companies are getting into bioplastics.”
Scale of bioplastics availability may
be as much of a hurdle for companies as
cost. Brands want to be market leaders in
adopting sustainable practices, but are going
slow in changing to bioplastics in order to
prevent market disruptions or significant
front-end costs.
Automotive brand owners have been
turning to plastics to trim weight on their
vehicles and improve their Corporate Average
Fuel Economy standards. Sustainability
efforts now have automotive manufacturers
increasingly turning to biobased products
that provide the same product performance
as traditional feed stocks, with renewable benefits. Ford Motor Company has been at
the forefront of using bioplastics in its vehicles. Last August, Ford expanded its use of
soybean oil-based foam blends to another part of the car—headrests. Initially used in the
2008 Mustang, the biobased foam is now used in the headrests of a number of vehicles,
including the F-150 truck. The company also uses soy foam blends in the headliners of
a number of models.
According to Braskem’s Jankowski, “Collaboration is necessary. If there is enough
capacity to meet demand, it will require collaboration with the value chain. In some cases,
adoption is not as high as it could be due to a lack of awareness or a lack of transparency
in the value chain, but there is also a cultural aspect to it in that not every company is ready
for bioplastics from a purchasing standpoint. A company must really ‘buy in’ to bioplastics
and sustainability and have the tools to execute on transitioning to biobased plastics.”
Brands Owners
want to be
market leaders
in adopting
sustainable
practices.
Trade Association

As a leading provider of high-quality
and high-performing plastics, BASF
has been developing biodegradable
and bio-based polymers for more
than a quarter century. With ecovio®
,
BASF offers a certified compostable
polymer which features a variable bio-
based content.
It consists of the compostable BASF
polymer ecoflex®
and polylactic acid,
which is derived from the renewable
resource corn. Products made with
ecovio®
exhibit the same high
performance and strength in use as
conventional plastics.
For example, an ecovio®
bag can carry
the same load as its polyethylene
counterpart. The product properties are
designed such that the products only
fully biodegrade in compost after use.
The main applications for ecovio®
include plastic films such as organic
waste bags, dual-use bags (first for
shopping, then for organic waste) or
agricultural films; and, compostable
packaging solutions such as paper
coating, shrink films, foam packaging
and injection molding products. ecovio®
is a finished product that can be used
by the customer as a drop-in solution
with standard plastic production
procedures. For more information on
ecovio, www.ecovio.com.
At BASF, we create chemistry for
a sustainable future. We combine
economic success with environmental
protection and social responsibility.
Through science and innovation, we
enable our customers in nearly every
industry to meet the current and future
needs of society.
BASF Corporation is the largest
affiliate of BASF SE and the second
largest producer and marketer of
chemicals and related products in
North America. For more information on
BASF, www.basf.com.
At BASF, we create
chemistry for a
sustainable future.
Industrially Compostable coffee capsules and packaging using BASF plastic ecovio(r).
Photo Courtesy: BASF
Trade Association

Bioplastics
Public Policy
Landscape
Trade Association

Public Policy Landscape
for Bioplastics
Bioplastics growth in the U.S. and around the world is being guided and encouraged
by federal and state programs. Some encourage the use of biobased products while
others ensure products are accurately portrayed in terms of their performance and
environmental impact. For example, Iowa has adopted legislation to promote its soy and
corn production and facilities.
USDA BioPreferred/Biobased Seal
The United States Department of Agriculture BioPreferred®
program was created
as part of the 2002 Farm Bill to spur the development and new markets for biobased
products. By 2016, after the program was expanded in the 2014 Farm Bill, more than
2,500 products in 100 different categories were certified through the program.
The dual purposed program reduces the country’s reliance on petroleum while
increasing the use and development of renewable agricultural crops and materials,
including row crops, marine, and forestry materials. The program balances its promotion
by mandating the purchasing of biobased products for Federal agencies and contractors
while providing voluntary product certification and labeling in the private sector.
Kate Lewis, Analyst for BioPreferred, USDA said the program incentivizes the
development, purchase and use of biobased products, “If you look at the manufacturing
supply chain, we view the product certification and labeling program as an end-market
tool that is designed to increase a buyer’s awareness of what a biobased product is and
the value proposition of biobased products.”
Biobased products include a diverse range of offerings such as construction,
janitorial, and grounds-keeping products as well as
personal care and packaging products used by consumers
every day. To earn the USDA certification, a product must
meet a minimum biobased content threshold and pass
third party testing.
The USDA, in promoting the success of the biobased
program, points to an independent report it commissioned
that stated the biobased economy contributes a total $369 billion to the U.S. economy
each year while supporting four million jobs, directly and indirectly. Further, USDA
estimates biobased products displace around 300 million gallons of petroleum per year in
the U.S., the equivalent of taking 200,000 cars off the road.
In the USDA’s independent Economic Impact of the Biobased Product Industry
report authored by Dr. Jay Golden, director of Duke University’s Center for Sustainability
Commerce, and Dr. Robert Handfield, professor of Supply Chain Management at
North Carolina State
University’s Poole
College of Management
i d e n t i f i e d s e v e n
major overarching
sectors that represent
the U.S. biobased
products industry’s contribution to the
U.S. economy: agriculture and forestry,
biorefining, biobased chemicals, enzymes,
bioplastic bottles and packaging, forest
products, and textiles.
Trade Association
The biobased economy
contributes a total of
$369 billion to the
U.S. economy each year
while supporting four
million jobs.

BIOBASEDPRODUCTS
construction
janitorial
grounds-keeping
personal care
packaging
Looking toward the future, Lewis said the USDA is working to merge the two side of
the program and provide a one-stop shop on the supply and demand side for tools and
information on biobased products and resources.
Braskem’s I’m greenTM
Polyethylene
combines technology, innovation, and
sustainability. Produced from ethanol
made from sugarcane—a renewable
source—green polyethylene is a drop-
in biopolymer substitute to conventional, fossil-based polyethylene. It exhibits
the same characteristics as the petrochemical polyethylene, in application,
performance, and especially recycling.
As the largest petrochemical company in the Americas and the world’s leading
biopolymer producer, Braskem is committed to improving people’s lives by creating
more environmental-friendly solutions for the chemicals and plastics. By using I’m
greenTM
Polyethlyene, Braskem’s partners can offer unique products that help lower
greenhouse gas emissions throughout the value chain. I’m greenTM
Polyethlyene is
currently used in food packaging, personal care, home care, cosmetics, toys and
bags. For more information, visit www.braskem.com.
Graphic Courtesy: Braskem America
Trade Association

FTC Green Guides
Another federal program that is helping to guide the development of bioplastics—and
other environmentally-aware products—is the Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guides.
Established in 1992, and updated over the years, Green Guides offer help to consumers
in making “green product” choices and companies in how they market their products.
The Green Guides have evolved to help consumers understand different environmental
claims and benefits as well as the logos and emblems used to distinguish products in
the marketplace.
The updated FTC Green Guides address
specific claims companies may make, including
recent additions that address third-party
certification seals and claims about carbon offsets
and “renewable” materials and energy sources.
Given the emphasis a growing number
of consumers are placing on environmental
issues, the Green Guides will likely grow and
continue to delineate environmental claims—
helping consumers and companies alike. False
or misleading environmental claims undermine
consumer confidence in products and corporate
claims regarding environmental protections. The
FTC has been particularly active in regulating biodegradable products and claims as well
as certifications marketers have used to designate them.
For example, in 2015, the FTC found that a company “acted deceptively by making
false and unsubstantiated environmental claims about its product, a chemical additive that
supposedly would make treated plastics biodegrade in a landfill within nine months to five
years or within a reasonably short period of time.”
The FTC’s action was based on their rejection of substantiation for biodegradability
claims, even though the tests conducted on the product were based on established,
international test methods. The FTC found that because testing had not simulated the
physical conditions found in most U.S. landfills, it was not “competent and reliable
scientific evidence.”
FTC Green Guides
“Biodegradable”
Marketers often claim their product is
“degradable” or “biodegradable,” but if
a product is headed for a landfill (where
most trash ends up),a company shouldn’t
make this claim without explaining how
long the product will take to
degrade and how much it will
break down over time.
Something that’s biodegradable,
like food or leaves, breaks
down and decomposes into
elements found in nature
when it’s exposed to light, air,
moisture, certain bacteria, or
other organisms. But most
trash ends up in landfills
which are designed to shut out
sunlight, air and moisture. That
keeps pollutants out of the air
and drinking water, but also
slows decomposition. Things—
like food—that usually decompose
quickly, could take decades (or longer)
to decompose in a landfill.
If a company says its product is
“degradable,” and the product is
typically thrown out in the trash, the
company should have proof that the
product will completely break down and
return to nature in a landfill in the time
or at the rate the ad states.
ASTM
ASTM, an international standards setting body, maintains several standards with respect to bioplastics—for reporting
how much biobased carbon content can be found in a material, as well as topics related to industrial composting.
In addition, the ASTM Subcommittee D20.96 is developing several additional standards on home composting, and
marine degradation. Manufacturers are hesitant to make claims related to product performance without these types of
standards in place, so their creation may facilitate additional development for biodegradable bioplastics within these specific scenarios.
Trade Association

California Landfill Initiative
Individual states, particularly
California, are pushing the envelope on
the utilization of bioplastics through landfill
and waste reduction efforts. California’s
75 Percent Initiative is the state’s
ambitious goal of 75 percent recycling,
composting or source reduction of solid
waste by 2020.
Given the state’s size and population,
the 75 Percent Initiative is a monumental
task requiring a number of strategies
to curb waste from being landfilled. The
California Department of Resources
Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)
developed a state-wide catalog of options
for implementing the 75 Percent Initiative,
including a mix of statutory and regulatory
changes, infrastructure expansion,
fiscal policies and incentives, as well as
monitoring and enforcement.
According to a progress report published by CalRecycle to the State Legislature,
the 75 Percent Initiative builds on some earlier efforts—the 1986 Beverage Container
Recycling and Litter Reduction Act and the 1989 Integrated Waste Management Act—
that were adopted when California had single-digit recycling rates, limited infrastructure,
and few end markets for recyclables.
California has a diversion rate equivalent of 65 percent, a statewide recycling rate
of 50 percent, and a beverage container recycling rate of 80 percent. For comparison,
according to the Environmental Protection Agency, only 34.3 percent of waste in the U.S.
was recycled, composted or sent to energy facilities in 2013.
But California’s waste generation is significant; by 2020, an estimated 80 million
tons of solid waste will be generated—and currently California has enough landfill
permitted until 2057, according to a CalRecycle March 2015 report. To meet the 75
Percent Initiative, 60 million tons of waste will need to be source reduced, composted,
or recycled. The state believes 37 million
tons—more than half—will be achieved
through source reduction, composting,
and recycling programs.
EU Circular Economy/
EU 2020 Mandate
for Composting
European countries have been
at the forefront of advancing policies
to address recycling, composting and
landfill utilization; bioplastics have been a
centerpiece of many initiatives in France,
Italy and elsewhere in the region.
In February 2016, France issued
it new mandate on single-use plastic
bags. The French Ministry of Ecology,
Sustainable Development and Energy
issued new language that delineated requirements to reduce single-use plastic bags for
more biobased, biodegradable and home compostable bags. France had introduced a
ban on single-use plastic bags in the prior year, but the revised ruling provides further
support for the French standard for 2017 that calls for home composting of plastic bags
with at least 30 percent biobased content. (The biobased content will increase in later
years: 40 percent in 2018, 50 percent in 2020, and 60 percent in 2025.)
California’s
75 Percent
Initiative is
the state’s
ambitious goal
of 75 percent
recycling,
composting
or source
reduction of
solid waste by
2020.
Trade Association

Sugarcane and baggase (a sugarcane byproduct) are common feedstocks for biobased bioplastics
Trade Association
The growth and
expansion of plastics in
recent years is linked to
the advantages the
material provides all
participants in the
value chain.

Bioplastics Conclusion
Trade Association

Conclusion
The growth and expansion of plastics in recent years is linked to the advantages the
material provides all participants in the value chain; its role in packaging, manufacturing,
consumer goods, bottling or construction is growing due to the unique and unmistakable
benefits it provides. Bioplastics is part of plastics’ growth story that is helping brand
owners and manufacturers find new applications and solutions for products.
For plastics to continue to grow, expansion the sector needs bioplastics to
continue maturing and diversifying. Bioplastics should be seen as another arrow in
plastics’ quiver that can solve problems for customers and contribute to plastics overall
marketplace success.
Bioplastics offer brand owners and end-consumers the unique advantages of being
biobased, sustainable and biodegradable; a brand owner looking to differentiate itself and
its product can use bioplastics for its consumer preferences, end-of-life options, as well
as potential carbon footprint reductions and a diversification of feedstocks (i.e. reduced
reliance on fossil fuel with their variable costs).
As noted, the 19 members of SPI’s
Bioplastics Division have been working
inside and outside of the plastics sector
to promote awareness of bioplastics and
their offerings such as performance, feed
stocks and EOL disposal. Their efforts
have been bolstered by government
guidelines on product claims and support
for biobased developments.
Currently, there are 21 bioplastic
polymers being used in the marketplace
or under development. Research and
advancements are being made in
diversifying the feed stocks for plastics
as well as their applications and EOL
capabilities including recycling and/
or biodegradeability—whether in
soil, water or other home/industrial
composting environment.
PACKAGING
MANUFACTURING
CONSUMER
GOODS
BOTTLING
CONSTRUCTION
The growth and expansion of
plastics in recent years is linked to
the advantages the material provides
all participants in the value chain
Trade Association
Bioplastics is part
of plastics’ growth
story that is helping
brand owners and
manufacturers find
new applications and
solutions for products.

While demand for bioplastics has grown in recent years, the price of petroleum and
natural gas has had an impact on the research, adoption and usage of bioplastics. But
rather than decline, bioplastics has continued to diversify and show growth.
A number of issues are pushing bioplastics’ usage, most notably large brand owners
moving to advance sustainability and green packaging initiatives. Leadership from brand
owners will continue to be a major indicator for the future growth of bioplastics—look
no further than Coca-Cola’s PlantBottle to see how the actions of one company can
profoundly change the landscape for the material.
An additional factor that will continue to spur development of bioplastics will be
EOL management and increased infrastructure capabilities for handling bioplastics
recycling and biodegradability. Governments need to continue collaborating with brand
owners and institutions that use bioplastics to ensure EOL management of bioplastics
is fulfilled and expanded. Further, the federal and state government support of biobased
developments and research and tax credits will benefit bioplastics—and all biobased
products and chemicals.
Plastics—and bioplastics—are trending in the right direction, showing clear growth
around the world as new applications and technologies are developed. There is a place
and need for all plastics in the industry—and no perfect polymer will fit everyone’s needs
in all situations.
While bioplastics currently represent 0.7 percent of the total plastics marketplace,
it can continue to grow if a number of factors align in and out of the industry to spur the
materials’ diversification, usage and EOL management. To SPI, bioplastics’ growth is
critical to the entire sector and in meeting the needs of all customers and consumers.
Bioplastics represent an evolution and not a revolution within the plastics marketplace.
Trade Association
Plastics—and
bioplastics—are
trending in the
right direction,
showing clear growth
around the world
as new applications
and technologies
are developed.

AB 341 Report to the Legislature, California Department of
Resources Recycling and Recovery, August 2015
Are Green Labels Legitimate or Just Greenwashing?, Scientific
American, April 18, 2016
Banks, Ian; De Smet, Michiel; Linder, Mats, “Towards a new plastics
economy,” Chemistry World, May 3, 2016
Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance, “Responsible Bioplastics, Sustainable
Sourcing and the Circular Economy,” November 1, 2015
Brokaw, Leslie, “Pepsi’s biodegradable backlash: The snack bag that
was too noisy,” Greenbiz, March 18, 2014
California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, “State
of Disposal in California,” March 2015
Clare Goldsberry, Bothered and bewildered over bioplastics, Plastics
Today, November 20, 2015
Davies, Steve, Director—Public Affairs Communications,
NatureWorks, Interview, April 2016
Donovan, Emily, “California falling short of 75 percent recycling
goals,” Desert Sun, August 6, 2015
Edwards, Keith, Head of Sales Management, Specialty Plastics
North America, BASF, Interview, May 2016
European Bioplastics, Institute for bioplastics and Biocomposites,
Bioplastics Market Data, 2015
“French law introduces measures to strengthen bioplastics market
Biobased, biodegradable fruit and vegetable bags mandatory as of
January 2017,” European Bioplastics Press Release April 16, 2016
Fussell, Nicky, “Busting the myths of biodegradable plastics,”
Packaging News, November 18, 2015
“Global bioplastics production capacities continue to grow despite low
oil price” European Bioplastics, Press Release, November 5, 2015
Golden, J.S., Handfield, R.B., Daystar, J. and, T.E. McConnell (2015).
An Economic Impact Analysis of the U.S. Biobased Products Industry:
A Report to the Congress of the United States of America. A Joint
Publication of the Duke Center for Sustainability Commerce and the
Supply Chain Resource Cooperative at North Carolina State University
Hardcastle, Jessica Lyons, “6 Sustainable Packaging Trends to
Watch in 2016,” Environmental Leader, January 22, 2016
Henry, Karen, “Bioplastics Association Criticizes EU’s New Circular
Economy Package,” Environmental Leader, December 2, 2015
How2Recycle.org, http://www.how2recycle.info
Il Bioeconomist, “France goes green: Paris adopted the law on
energy transition and green growth,” July 23, 2015
Jankowski, Joe, Commercial Manager, Braskem America, Inc.
Interview, June 2016
Karidis, Arlene, “Good things come in plant packages: How
‘bioplastics’ could become mainstream,” WasteDive, March 31, 2016
Krieger, Patrick, Assistant Director, Regulatory and Technical Affairs,
SPI, Interview, April 2016
Lewis, Kate, Analyst for the United States Department of Agriculture,
BioPreferred Program, Interview, June 2016
Manolis Sherman, Lilli, “Cow Gas to Plastics,” Plastics Technology,
March 16, 2016
Mechele R. Dillard, “Frito-Lay hopes new quieter SunChips bag
excites customers,” Huliq, February 24, 2011
Miel, Rhoda, “Danone converting some yogurt packaging to PLA,”
Plastic News, February 19, 2014
Okamoto, Kelvin, CEO, 3GenBio, Interview, May 2016
Royte, Elizabeth,  Smithsonian Magazine “Corn Plastic to the
Rescue,” August 2006
Sapp, Meghan, “Iowa governor signs renewable chemical tax credit
into law,” Biofuels Digest, April 7, 2016
Schelmetic, Tracey, “Auto Plastics’ Future Is in Biomaterials and
Nanotechnology,” Thomasnet, September 16, 2014
Sheppard, Kate, “Why We’re Doomed,” Mother Jones, October 5, 2010
Sherman, Lilli Manolis, “France Supporting Biobased Home-
Compostable Bags,” Plastics Technology, February 12, 2016
Skidmores, Sarah, “Biodegradable Bag Made Quieter For Critics,”
Associated Press, May 25, 2011
Smith, Kevin, “Report: L.A. County must expedite recycling to meet
landfill reduction goals,” San Gabriel Valley Tribune, July 13, 2015
“Succinic acid,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succinic_acid
Szaky, Tom, “Bioplastics and the Truth about Biodegradable Plastic,”
Huffington Post, January 11, 2016
“The New Plastics Economy—Rethinking the Future of Plastics,”
Ellen MacCarthur Foundation, January 19, 2016
Thryft, Anne R., “6 Promising New Ways to Make Bio-based
Renewable Plastics” Design News, January 22, 2016
United States Department of Agriculture, Fact Sheet: Overview of
USDA’s BioPreferred Program, February 18, 2016
United States Department of Agriculture, News Release: New Report
Shows U.S. Biobased Products Industry Contributes $369 Billion, 4
Million Jobs to American Economy, June 17, 2015
United States Energy Information Administration, Short-term Energy
and Summer Fuels Outlook, April 12, 2016
United States Enivironmental Protection Agency, Advancing Sustainable
Materials Management: Facts and Figures. https://www.epa.gov/smm/
advancing-sustainable-materials-management-facts-and-figures
Unruh, Gregory, “The Sweet Spot of Sustainability Strategy,” MIT
Sloan Management Review, Fall 2013
Verbruggen, Marc, “NatureWorks: The Next Decade—Opportunities,
Obstacles, and Opportunties,” Presentation, April 2016
Sources
Trade Association

ConfidenceLevel
ModeratelyPessimisticLowExtremelyLowModeratelyOptimisticHighExtremelyHigh
UTILITY OF
BIOPLASTICS
PUBLIC
POLICY
BIG
PICTURE
US
ECONOMY
TECHNOLOGY
TRENDS
Neutral
Misunderstanding of
biobased and
biodegradable
causes confusion—
with general public
as well as within
industry.
There is a lack of
infrastructure for
end-of-life disposal
options other than
landfill.
Current ample
supply and low price
of petroleum and
natural gas have
had an impact on
the research,
adoption and usage
of bioplastics.
Only 27% of adults
polled in a national
survey were
somewhat or very
familiar with
bioplastics—34%
were not familiar at
all with bioplastics.
Despite having been
around since the
1950’s,there's still
confusion and
misunderstandings
of bioplastics:from
origins/feedstocks to
end-of-life disposal,
biodegradability and
product
performance.
86% of adults
survey said they'd
not seen or were
unsure if they'd
seen the USDA
Certified Biobased
Product seal.
There's limited
legislation and
regulation in favor
of bioplastics, plus
a lack of testing
standards for
end-of-life options.
Debate about food
vs. fuel vs.
plastics persists.
Research advances
in diversifying the
feed stocks for
plastics as well as
their applications and
end-of-life
capabilities including
biodegradability.
End-of-Life
management and
increased
infrastructure
capabilities for
handling bioplastics
recycling and
biodegradability exist.
Government
guidelines on product
claims continue, as
does support for
biobased
developments.
More than half of
adults polled in a
national survey
indicated they would
probably or definitely
be more likely to
consider purchasing
a plastic product
with the USDA
Certified Biobased
Product seal.
Large brand owners
move to advance
sustainability and
green packaging
initiatives.
After learning about
bioplastics, 50
percent of adults
survey indicate they
would consider
purchasing a product
if it “was a little bit
more expensive”
because it was made
with bioplastics.
Bioplastics is still in its
infancy but represents
an evolution—not a
revolution—within the
plastics marketplace.
Increasingly
optimistic outlook
continues for all
sectors of
manufacturing.
Plastics use
continues to grow
and expand,
including
bioplastics.
Plastics provide
wide functionality,
flexibility, strength
and low costs
across packaging,
manufacturing,
consumer goods,
bottling,
construction, etc.
Bioplastics support
overall plastics
industry's need for
continued growth
and diversification.
Bioplastics offer
brand owners and
end-consumers the
unique advantages
of being biobased,
sustainable, and
biodegradable.
Bioplastics contain
manufacturing
advantages and
end-of-life
capabilities as well
as carbon footprint
reductions and
diversification of
feed stocks.
Plastics Market Watch Snapshot
Trade Association

We create
chemistry
that makes
compost
love plastic.
Most plastics don’t biodegrade, but ecovio®
plastics from BASF
biodegrade completely when composted in a controlled environment*.
Using compostable bags for collection of organic waste makes disposal
more hygienic and convenient. Rather than ending up in landfill, the
ecovio®
bagged organic waste can be turned into valuable compost where
programs exist.When the plastic bag you use today can mean a cleaner
future for the environment, it’s because at BASF, we create chemistry.
www.ecovio.com
® = REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF BASF GROUP
* ECOVIO®
POLYMERS ARE CERTIFIED GLOBALLY BY THE BPI ACCORDING TO ASTM D6400,
DIN CERTCO ACCORDING TO EN 13432, THE JBPA ACCORDING TO GREENPLA AND THE
ABAM ACCORDING TO AS4736-2006 SPECIFICATIONS.
Trade Association

SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association
1425 K Street NW., Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
202.974.5200
plasticsindustry.org
PREMIERE PROGRAM SPONSOR: PROGRAM SPONSORS:

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