바이오플라스틱은 재생한 원료로 만든 내구성 있는 폴리머로, 기존의 석유에서 추출한 폴리머를 대체할 수 있는 친환경적인 대안을 제시합니다. 바이오플라스틱 시장은 향후 수년간 대폭적인 성장이 전망됩니다. 매출은 2024년 73억 5,000만 달러에서 2033년까지 197억 5,000만 달러로 급증할 것으로 예측되며, 2025-2033년의 예측 기간에 CAGR로 11.61%의 성장이 전망됩니다. 이러한 급격한 확대는 친환경 소재에 대한 수요 증가, 규제 기준의 진화, 기존 플라스틱이 환경에 미치는 영향에 대한 인식이 높아졌기 때문입니다.
바이오플라스틱 시장은 치열한 경쟁이 특징이며, 주요 기업은 기술 혁신과 시장 확대의 한계에 적극적으로 도전하고 있습니다. 여러 주요 기업은 제품의 성능, 비용 효율성, 지속가능성을 향상시키기 위해 연구개발에 많은 자원을 투입하고 있습니다. 각 업체들이 규제 수요와 환경 친화적인 제품을 원하는 소비자의 선호도 변화에 대응하기 위해 노력하는 가운데, 차세대 소재 개발에 대한 의욕이 역동적인 산업 환경을 형성하고 있습니다.
2025년5월, Lignin Industries가 Renol(R) 바이오플라스틱 생산을 확대하기 위해 390 만 유로(약 420만 달러)의 자금을 확보 한 것은 최근 수년간 이러한 혁신의 한 예입니다. 이번 투자로 인해 회사의 생산 능력이 크게 향상되어 플라스틱 산업에서 탄소 마이너스 소재의 광범위한 채택이 가능할 것으로 예측됩니다. Lignin Industries는 탄소 배출을 적극적으로 줄이는 재료에 집중함으로써 지속가능한 제조의 최전선에 서 있습니다.
2025년 6월 5일 세계 환경의 날(World Environment Day)을 맞아 뉴델리의 Vigyan Bhawan에서 또 하나의 주목할 만한 이정표가 세워졌습니다. 지속가능한 기술의 새로운 리더인 UKHI는 농업 폐기물로 만든 바이오플라스틱 EcoGran을 공식적으로 발표했습니다. 이 발표회에서는 "다음 큰 것은 석유가 아닌 농업 폐기물로 만들어질 것"이라는 대담한 선언을 통해 친환경 소재와 순환 경제 원칙으로의 큰 전환이 강조되었습니다. 이 행사는 클린테크에 대한 인도의 노력을 강조했을 뿐만 아니라, 석유가 아닌 지속가능한 플라스틱으로 전환하는 세계 전환점의 중요한 전환점을 보여주었습니다.
주요 성장 촉진요인
바이오플라스틱 시장은 지속적으로 성장하고 있으며, 그 주요 원인은 식품 및 음료 산업에서 지속가능한 포장 솔루션에 대한 소비자 수요 증가에 기인합니다. 환경 문제에 대한 인식이 높아짐에 따라 쇼핑객들은 자신의 구매가 미치는 영향에 대해 더 많은 의식을 가지고 있습니다. 이러한 소비자 행동의 변화로 인해 주요 브랜드들은 기존 플라스틱에 대한 의존도를 줄이고 생태적 발자국이 적은 바이오 대안을 채택해야 한다는 압박을 받고 있습니다.
코카콜라와 네슬레(Nestle)와 같은 주요 기업은 이러한 움직임의 최전선에 있으며, 포장 포트폴리오의 대부분을 변화시키겠다는 대담한 약속을 하고 있습니다. Coca-Cola의 PlantBottle은 이러한 추세를 상징하는 것으로, 시작 이후 600억 개가 넘는 바이오 페트병을 생산해 왔습니다. 이 혁신은 화석 연료에 대한 의존도를 낮출 뿐만 아니라 주류 포장에 바이오플라스틱을 대규모로 채택할 수 있는 가능성을 보여주고 있습니다. 마찬가지로 Nestle은 바이오소재의 사용을 늘리기 위해 노력하고 있으며, 포장 전략을 더 광범위한 기업의 지속가능성 목표와 일치시키고 있습니다.
새로운 기회의 동향
자동차, 전자, 소비재 등의 분야에서 바이오플라스틱의 급속한 채택은 시장에 큰 성장 기회를 가져올 것으로 예측됩니다. 최근 수년간 바이오소재의 사용은 기존 포장재를 훨씬 뛰어넘어 확대되고 있으며, 이들 산업의 제조업체들은 성능과 환경적 이점을 모두 갖춘 지속가능한 대안을 모색하고 있습니다.
세계의 바이오플라스틱 시장에 대해 조사분석했으며, 각 부문 시장 규모와 예측, 시장 역학과 동향, 기업 개요 등을 제공하고 있습니다.
Bioplastic is a durable polymer derived from renewable raw materials, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional petroleum-based polymers. The market for bioplastics is anticipated to witness substantial growth in the coming years. Revenue is projected to surge from US$ 7.35 billion in 2024 to an impressive US$ 19.75 billion by 2033, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.61% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2033. This rapid expansion is driven by increasing demand for eco-friendly materials, evolving regulatory standards, and heightened awareness of the environmental impacts of conventional plastics.
The bioplastics market is defined by intense competition, with leading companies actively pushing the boundaries of innovation and market expansion. Several key players are investing substantial resources in research and development to improve the performance, cost-efficiency, and sustainability of their offerings. The drive to develop next-generation materials is shaping a dynamic industry landscape, as firms seek to address both regulatory demands and evolving consumer preferences for greener products.
A recent example of this innovation came in May 2025, when Lignin Industries secured €3.9 million (approximately US$4.2 million) in funding to scale up production of its Renol(R) bioplastic. This investment is expected to significantly boost the company's output capacity, enabling broader adoption of carbon-negative materials within the plastics industry. By focusing on materials that actively reduce carbon emissions, Lignin Industries is positioning itself at the forefront of sustainable manufacturing.
Another notable milestone in the industry occurred on World Environment Day, June 5, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. UKHI, an emerging leader in sustainable technology, officially launched EcoGran, a bioplastic made from agricultural waste. The launch was accompanied by the bold declaration, "The next big thing isn't made from oil-it's made from farm waste," highlighting a major shift towards eco-friendly materials and circular economy principles. This event not only underscored India's commitment to cleantech but also signaled a significant turning point in the global transition toward sustainable, non-petroleum-based plastics.
Core Growth Drivers
The bioplastics market is undergoing remarkable growth, fueled largely by increasing consumer demand for sustainable packaging solutions in the food and beverage industry. As awareness of environmental issues rises, shoppers are becoming more conscientious about the impact of their purchases. This shift in consumer behavior has created significant pressure on major brands to reduce their reliance on conventional plastics and embrace bio-based alternatives that offer a smaller ecological footprint.
Leading companies such as Coca-Cola and Nestle are at the forefront of this movement, making bold commitments to transform substantial portions of their packaging portfolios. Coca-Cola's PlantBottle initiative exemplifies this trend, having produced over 60 billion bottles made from bio-PET since its inception. This innovation not only reduces fossil fuel dependence but also demonstrates the feasibility of large-scale adoption of bioplastics in mainstream packaging. Similarly, Nestle has pledged to increase its use of bio-based materials, aligning its packaging strategy with broader corporate sustainability goals.
Emerging Opportunity Trends
The rapid adoption of bioplastics in sectors such as automotive, electronics, and consumer goods is expected to create substantial growth opportunities for the market. In recent years, the use of bio-based materials has expanded well beyond traditional packaging, as manufacturers in these industries seek sustainable alternatives that offer both performance and environmental benefits.
The automotive sector, in particular, has become a major driver of this trend, integrating bioplastics into a wide array of vehicle components. Mercedes-Benz's latest S-Class is a prime example of this shift, with each vehicle incorporating around 120 kilograms of bioplastic components. This movement toward bioplastics is not limited to a single manufacturer; it has been embraced across the global automotive industry.
In 2024, worldwide consumption of bioplastics in automotive applications reached 450,000 metric tons, representing a market value of US$ 1.8 billion. The trend is mirrored in the electronics and consumer goods sectors, where companies are increasingly turning to bio-based materials to meet sustainability targets and respond to consumer demand for greener products.
Barriers to Optimization
The bioplastics market is increasingly under scrutiny due to its dependence on food crops as primary feedstocks. In 2024 alone, crops such as corn, sugarcane, and cassava accounted for the diversion of approximately 1.2 million metric tons of agricultural output toward plastic production. This reliance raises concerns about resource allocation, especially during times of agricultural stress when food security becomes more pressing.
A notable example occurred following the 2024 drought in the Midwest, which resulted in a reduction of corn yields by 15 million bushels. The scarcity of available corn led to a surge in the price of polylactic acid (PLA), a common bioplastic, with prices increasing by US$ 340 per metric ton. Environmental advocacy groups further emphasize the issue by pointing out that producing just one metric ton of corn-based PLA requires about 2.5 hectares of farmland-land that could otherwise be used to grow enough food to sustain 50 people for an entire year.
Based on application, flexible packaging is set to dominate more than 33% of the bioplastics market. This segment has gained preference largely because bioplastics offer a significantly reduced environmental footprint compared to traditional materials. Their versatile properties allow manufacturers to create packaging that meets various functional requirements. This is also aligning with the evolving expectations of environmentally conscious consumers who increasingly demand sustainable options in everyday products.
By type, biodegradable plastics hold a commanding 71% share of the bioplastics market, primarily because they meet the growing demand for genuinely eco-friendly solutions. These materials are made up of starch-based compounds, polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and specific biodegradable polyesters such as PBS, PBAT, and PCL. What sets them apart is their ability to break down more rapidly under controlled environmental conditions, offering a practical alternative to traditional plastics that persist in the environment.
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Geographical Breakdown
Asia Pacific's leadership in the bioplastics market, commanding over 45% of the global share, is deeply rooted in its abundant agricultural resources combined with targeted government initiatives. The region's vast natural feedstocks create a strong foundation for bioplastic production. For instance, Thailand alone produces an impressive 32 million metric tons of cassava each year, which serves as a crucial raw material for manufacturing polylactic acid (PLA), a key bioplastic.
Beyond raw materials, substantial investments highlight the region's manufacturing capabilities and commitment to scaling bioplastics production. A standout example is NatureWorks' $600 million facility located within Thailand's Nakhon Sawan Bio complex. This state-of-the-art plant can produce 75,000 tons of Ingeo PLA annually, underscoring the significant industrial scale and technological advancement achieved in the Asia Pacific.