Bio-based plastics: applications are mainly packaging and consumer goods, textiles, etc.
A polymer is a compound with very high molecular weight linked by one or several structural units through covalent bonds, and plastic is a type of polymer. According to different sources, polymers can be divided into bio-based polymers, fossil-based polymers, etc. There are many types of bio-based polymers, and most fossil-based polymers have their corresponding or similar bio-based products.
Demand for bio-based plastics is expanding due to the carbon-reducing and renewable advantages of biomass-derived bio-based plastics over petroleum-based plastics. At present, bio-based polymer materials have been developed to a certain extent; however, compared with traditional polymer materials, the yield of bio-based products is still relatively small, the variety is still relatively simple, and some of the performance is still incomplete. Alternative to petroleum-based products.
Bio-based plastics are used in various fields of industry and life. At present, packaging, consumer goods, and textiles are the most important application fields. According to whether it can be biodegraded, bio-based plastics can be divided into degradable bio-based plastics and non-degradable bio-based plastics. According to European Bioplastics (European Bioplastics Association), global bio-based plastics account for about 1% of the plastic produced each year. In 2020, the global bio-based plastic production capacity will reach 2.111 million tons, of which the production capacity of biodegradable plastics will be 1.227 million tons, and the production capacity of non-biodegradable plastics will be 884,000 tons. By the end of 2021, Asia has a total of 49.9% of the world's bio-based plastics production capacity.
Bio-based polymer classification: can be divided into biodegradable and bio-nondegradable bio-based materials
According to whether it is biodegradable or not, bio-based plastics can be divided into degradable bio-based plastics and non-degradable bio-based plastics. In 2020, the global bio-based plastic production capacity will reach 2.111 million tons, of which the production capacity of biodegradable plastics will be 1.227 million tons, mainly PLA and starch-based plastics, each accounting for 32%; the non-biodegradable production capacity will be 884,000 tons, of which PA (polyamide) and PE (polyethylene) accounted for the largest share at 28% and 25%, respectively. With the stricter environmental protection requirements in various countries and the development of the environmental protection industry, the proportion of biodegradable plastics in the production capacity of bio-based plastics will further increase.
