(MENAFN- Market Press Release) November 20, 2025 8:06 am - Ceresana has analyzed the global market for packaging materials made from bio-based and/or biodegradable plastics for the second time.

New factories for bioplastics open up new prospects for the packaging industry. Larger production capacities for polylactic acid (PLA), thermoplastic starch (TPS), and other biopolymers improve supply capability and predictability, lower prices, and make sustainable alternatives to fossil-based plastics economically attractive. Films, containers, bottles, and cups of all kinds, closures and lids, as well as labels, adhesive tapes, and loose-fill packaging chips made from renewable resources: The market research institute Ceresana expects global sales generated with these products to grow to around USD 32.1 billion by 2034. In the context of the bioeconomy and circular economy, bio-based packaging is also being promoted by government regulation, for example through the new EU packaging and packaging waste regulation (PPWR), compostability requirements, or the obligation to reduce CO2 emissions.

Bacteria Produce Films for Food

Not only is the production of bio-based and biodegradable polymers being expanded, their quality is also being constantly improved. Heat-resistant grades, customized barrier properties, and other innovations expand the range of possible applications and areas of use. PLA, usually made from plant starch, is currently the most important bioplastic on the packaging market with a share of 30%. In second place comes packaging made from bio-based plastics that are not biodegradable, such as polyethylene and PET made from sugar cane ethanol. Ceresana forecasts the highest growth rates for PLA packaging and for packaging made from polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), which are produced with the help of bacteria through fermentation and are biodegradable. The demand for this eco-friendly packaging is expected to increase by 10.3% and 7.2% respectively by 2034. One remaining challenge regarding bioplastics is that they are often still more expensive than plastics made from crude oil or natural gas. The dependence on sugar and starch as precursors can be a risk and lead to strong price fluctuations.

Opportunities and Challenges for Bioplastic Packaging

Bioplastics are increasingly being processed into durable high-performance products. However, by far the most important area of application today is short-life packaging for food and beverages. Almost 56% of all bio-based and biodegradable packaging materials are used for products such as bread, fruit, and vegetables, water, soft drinks, and juices, dairy products, chilled and frozen foods, ready meals and convenience foods, spreads, sauces, and condiments. Not only in Europe, the trend is moving towards sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging: The world region with the largest demand for bioplastic packaging is currently Asia-Pacific, with a global market share of around 42%. The European Union finances itself with a levy on non-recycled plastic packaging, among other things. In addition to market data and forecasts, the study also provides information on the regulatory framework in the EU as well as the general economic situation and the situation in the packaging industry (including important companies, market size, recycling rates) in the individual countries.

Current Bio-Based Plastic Packaging Market Report:

Chapter 1 of the new Ceresana market study provides a comprehensive presentation and analysis of the global bioplastic packaging market with growth forecasts up to 2034: The development of demand (in tonnes) and revenues (in USD and EUR) is shown for each region of the world. In addition, the different types of packaging, areas of application, and products are examined individually. Rigid packaging (e.g. bottles, cans, and containers) and flexible packaging (bags, sacks, pouches, and films) are handled separately. The following bioplastic packaging applications are examined in detail: Food and beverages, Consumer products, Cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, Other packaging areas. For the regions Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and the“Rest of the World (ROW)”, the packaging market is broken down for the different types of bioplastics: Polylactic acid (PLA), Starch-based plastics (especially TPS), Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), Other biodegradable plastics, Bio-based but non-biodegradable plastics. In addition, the demand for each individual type of bioplastic is broken down for the respective packaging application areas.

In Chapter 2, the 11 most important sales markets are examined individually. The largest national markets are: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the USA, China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. The following are shown in each case: Demand and revenues split by the individual application areas, demand per bioplastic and packaging type (flexible and rigid packaging).

To give an overview of the bioplastic packaging industry, Chapter 3 provides useful company profiles of the largest bioplastic packaging manufacturers, clearly arranged according to contact details, revenues, net income, product range, production sites, and profile summary. Detailed profiles of 35 packaging companies are supplied.

About Ceresana
As one of the world's leading market research institutes, Ceresana specializes in the chemicals, plastics, packaging, and industrial goods sectors. Special focus areas are bio-economy and automotive / mobility. Companies have been benefiting from our high-quality industry analyses and forecasts since 2002. More than 250 market studies provide more than 10,000 customers around the world with the knowledge base for their sustainable success.

Let's meet! The new Ceresana event series on the future of the bioeconomy continues. Register now for the online event "Future of BioBuilding" on December 10th and 11th, 2025. "Future of BioCoatings" and "Future of BioAdhesives" will follow starting in January 2026.

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