[China Packaging Network News] Bioplastics refers to plastics that are produced under the influence of microorganisms based on natural substances such as starch. It is recyclable and therefore very environmentally friendly. Bioplastics are not only environmentally friendly, but also very adaptable to the body, and are expected to be used in the production of medical products such as postoperative sutures that can be absorbed by the body.
In order to deal with environmental pollution, the state has issued a corresponding plastic buying and environmental protection policy. At the same time, it encourages people to save energy, protect the environment and reduce emissions. With the growing awareness of environmental protection, environmentally friendly and degradable materials are popular. Bioplastics, with its advantages of producing no petroleum products and self-decomposing after use, will soon replace traditional plastics into our lives.
The global bioplastics market will grow rapidly: a report on the bioplastics market completed by Helmut Kaiser consultants pointed out that the global bioplastics market will grow rapidly, with an average annual growth rate of 8% to 10%, which will be 1 billion in 2007. The dollar increased to 10 billion U.S. dollars by 2020. New applications in the automotive and electronics industries will drive growth in demand for bioplastics. Although packaging will still dominate the market, it is expected that its share will drop from 65% in 2007 to 40% in 2025. By 2025, Asia will be the market leader in the bioplastics market, accounting for about 32% of the market, followed by Europe, 31%, and the United States, 28%. Asia will dominate the market mainly based on the rapid development of transgenic plants. In 2007, bioplastics accounted for about 10% to 15% of the plastics market, and it is expected to reach 25% to 30% by 2020. Mainly due to the improvement of bio-plastic technical performance, technological innovation will expand its application in the automotive, medical and electronics industries.
Bioplastics add luster to sustainable packaging
People’s increased awareness of environmental protection has allowed manufacturers to see the opportunities for biodegradable plastics in the packaging market. Many well-known international companies have entered the market in mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures. Given that consumer awareness of biodegradable plastics is not high, it is necessary to vigorously cultivate the market in the future and to guide consumers to accept such environmentally friendly materials. Biodegradable plastics have broad prospects for development.
Nowadays, "sustainable packaging" as a term is no longer the basis for judging whether a package is good or bad. In the future, the development of the sustainable packaging industry should focus on practicality and sustainability after use, rather than the packaging itself. The continuous packaging industry is moving toward all-round development in four major areas: efficient products, efficient packaging, efficient transportation efficiency, and efficient solutions.
With the development of intelligent packaging, non-petrochemical-derived plant-based plastics, and drivers, the entire packaging supply chain will be more efficient and form an effective packaging solution. This is a considerable advancement. Many small businesses and corporate giants have invested heavily in their packaging supply chain and can be reclaimed after use, so as to be more "sustainable" and the phrase "sustainable packaging" will no longer exist.
Some people in the society today are anti-plastic product groups. They do not accept any form of plastic packaging products and are very suspicious of sustainable packaging products. According to Joan Hynes, a packaging industry expert, as an industry player, if you want to get more consumers, change their prejudice, and make the sustainable packaging industry more room for development, you should pay more attention to consumer awareness and Practical aspects of packaging, maximum sustainability throughout the supply chain, and post-use recyclability.
The advantages of bioplastics
Bioplastics can be used to reduce the consumption of petroleum for producing plastics; biodegradable plastics can promote the slow progress of plastic recycling in the United States (according to data from the US Environmental Protection Agency, only about 6% of plastics were recovered in the United States in 2005); bioplastics Excluding toxic substances such as polyvinyl chloride and phthalates, the health effects of these toxins have attracted widespread attention. Some countries and regions have banned the addition of phthalates to toys and baby products; bioplastics The research and development are all obtained from pure plants. The plants contain a large amount of starch and protein. This is also the main source of acrylic acid and polylactic acid in bioplastics. Acrylic acid and polylactic acid extracted from plants are produced through various processes and made into biologics. Degradation of plastic materials, to a large extent, to avoid the environmental pollution and damage, which is the superiority of traditional plastic can not be compared.
Bioplastics are not only environmentally friendly, but also very adaptable to the body, and are expected to be used in the production of medical products such as postoperative sutures that can be absorbed by the body.
The Japanese government has promulgated the "Biotechnology Strategy Outline" and "Biomass Japan Comprehensive Strategy" to promote the use of renewable resources such as bio-plastics, which mentioned that the expansion of the use of bio-plastics is an important issue. The policy objective set out in the Outline of the Biotechnology Strategy is that by 2010, 20% of plastics will be made from renewable resources.
The increase in environmental awareness among the public and the increase in the price of petrochemical fuels and their derivatives are the two main factors that contribute to the rising temperature of bioplastics. With the continuous increase in the price of traditional polymeric materials (petroleum polymer materials) extracted from petrochemical products, the acceptance and growth rate of bioplastics in the global packaging industry have also increased.
It is understood that bioplastics are gaining favor among more and more packaging professionals. The ever-increasing energy costs and the re-understanding of the concept of environmental sustainability will lay the foundation for the success of bioplastics in the market.
Biopolymer materials are mostly used in the packaging and food service industries. They are mainly used for packaging products that are intended for use at one time or sent to landfills or into the sea. As a result, biodegradability has become a factor that people first consider when choosing packaging materials.