Progress in bio-based plastics and plasticizing modifications
Recent advances in bio-based plastics are spurred by factors such as public concern over the depletion of petroleum based raw materials, the desire of manufacturing companies to develop more sustainable raw material sources, the improvement in properties as well as cost competitive relationship of bioplastics. 25,26 As these bio-based plastic industries continuously grow, the demand for new
Bioplastics for a circular economy | Nature Reviews Materials
Bioplastics — typically plastics manufactured from bio-based polymers — stand to contribute to more sustainable commercial plastic life cycles as part of a circular economy, in which virgin...
Global bioplastics industry - statistics & facts | Statista
As of 2025, the total global production capacity of bioplastics was 2.11 million metric tons, and it is forecast to continue growing year-over-year, up to 2.87 million metric tons by 2025
Cost competitiveness of sustainable bioplastic feedstocks – A Monte
The latest market report from European Bioplastics (2025) shows steady growth in the bioplastics segment and indicates a global increase in bioplastics production capacity from about 2.11 million t in 2025 to about 2.87 million t in 2025.
Effect of glycerol plasticizer loading on the physical
This research was set out to explore the development of arrowroot starch (AS) films using glycerol (G) as plasticizer at the ratio of 15, 30, and 45% (w/w, starch basis) using solution casting
- Can bio-based plasticizers replace conventional plastic goods?
- The challenge to implement this new class of natural-based plasticizers matches the increasing interest of material researchers and industries in new bio-based materials, made from renewable resources with the potential, not to totally replace but to reduce the use of conventional plastic goods.
- Are plasticizers suitable for biopolymers?
- However, poor water vapour barrier properties of carbohydrates (polysaccharides) and proteins, and low elasticity of lipids are the main limitations for their use as commercial packaging materials. In this regard plasticizers provide the necessary workability to biopolymers.
- Why are plasticizers important in biopolymer-based films & coatings production?
- In biopolymer-based films and coatings production, plasticizers are also essential additives since they can improve flexibility and handling of films, maintain integrity and avoid pores and cracks in the polymeric matrix .
- What role do bio-based materials play in the plastics market?
- At present, bio-based materials play only a minor role on the plastics markets, as discussed in section 2. In the future, however, a significant increase in production capacities is expected. The industry association European Bioplastics expects global production capacities to grow by 36% over the period 2020–2025 (European Bioplastics, 2020).
- Which plasticizers are used in the development of bioplastics?
- The plasticizers most used in the development of bioplastics are glycol, glycerol, sorbitol, fructose, sucrose, and mannose [29, 44]. Glycerol and sorbitol have been reported to improve mechanical properties; however, they decrease the biodegradation capacity of potato-based bioplastics .
- Do bioplastics production costs depend on raw material prices?
- Ögmundarson et al. (2020) experiment with the cultivation of brown algae of the species Laminaria sp. as feedstock source. The level of production costs is therefore strongly dependent on raw material prices and technological progress in bioplastics production.
