Biodegradable Polymers - Rapra Market Report, 2006

Softcover  166 pp  ISBN 9781859575192      £300.00

Demand is being driven by a number of factors.

The cost of biodegradable polymers has come down considerably over the last three years while at the same time standard thermoplastic prices have increased considerably. Now, some classes of biodegradable polymers are price competitive with polymers such as PET.

The biodegradable polymers industry itself has established an agreed framework for testing and certification and there is growing political pressure in developed countries to reduce packaging waste and develop a composting infrastructure. Biodegradable polymer producers have also invested in product and process improvements. Finally, consumers and brand owners are beginning to recognise the benefits of sustainable or €green€ packaging.

Four main classes of biodegradable polymers are analysed in this report, polylactic acid (PLA), starch-based polymers, synthetic biodegradable polymers, such as aromatic aliphatic co-polyesters, and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). The report analyses their key performance properties, applications development, market drivers and future prospects. Each product section also contains an estimate of market size by world region and end use market, plus forecasts to 2010. There is also an analysis of key suppliers and their products.

Key Features

• Biodegradable polymers market size by geographic region, polymer type and end use sector, 2000 and 2005, plus forecasts to 2010.
• Market opportunity analysis by end use sector, such as packaging, bags and sacks, foodservice, agriculture, medical, consumer products and fibres.
• Illustrations of product and applications development over the last three years.
• Supply chain analysis: including details of thirty leading biodegradable polymer suppliers and profiles of around fifty of the world's leading biodegradable polymer processors.
• Analysis of biodegradable polymer performance properties, market drivers, applications and product developments.

Contents

• 1. Introduction 1.1 Background 1.2 The Report 1.3 Methodology 1.4 About the Author
• 2. Executive Summary 2.1 Global Market Forecasts 2.2 Material Trends 2.3 Regional Trends 2.4 Market Trends 2.5 Competitive Trends
• 3. Overview of Biodegradable Polymers 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Definitions of Biodegradable Polymers 3.3 Mechanisms of Polymer Degradation 3.4 Measuring Biodegradability of Polymers 3.5 Factors Affecting Biodegradability 3.6 Biodegradable Polymer Classes 3.6.1 Naturally Biodegradable Polymers 3.6.2 Synthetic Biodegradable Polymers 3.6.3 Modified Naturally Biodegradable Polymers 3.7 Starch-Based Biodegradable Polymers 3.8 Polyhydroxyalkanoates 3.9 Polylactic Acid Polyesters 3.10 Synthetic Biodegradable Polymers 3.10.1 Polycaprolactone (PCL) 3.10.2 Polyglycolide (PGA) 3.10.3 Poly(dioxanone) (a polyether-ester) 3.10.4 Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) 3.11 Processing Biodegradable Polymers 3.11.1 Introduction 3.11.2 Film Blowing and Casting 3.11.3 Injection Moulding 3.11.4 Blow Moulding 3.11.5 Injection Stretch Blow Moulding 3.11.6 Thermoforming 3.11.7 Fibre Spinning
• 4. The Global Biodegradable Polymers Market 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Market Drivers 4.2.1 Development of Framework Conditions 4.2.2 Development of a Composting Infrastructure 4.2.3 Pricing Trends 4.2.4 Growth in Pre-Packaged Food Sales 4.2.5 Consumer Preference for Sustainable Packaging 4.2.6 Product and Technology Development 4.3 Market Development and Structure 4.4 The Global Biodegradable Polymers Market Forecast 4.4.1 Western European Biodegradable Polymers Market Forecast 4.4.2 North American Biodegradable Polymers Market Forecast 4.4.3 Asia Pacific Biodegradable Polymers Market Forecast
• 5. The Starch-Based Biodegradable Polymer Market 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Applications Development 5.3 Market Drivers 5.4 Market Size and Forecast 5.5 Major Suppliers and their Products 5.5.1 Novamont 5.5.2 Rodenburg Biopolymers, BV 5.5.3 EarthShell Corporation 5.5.4 Stanelco Group 5.5.5 Grenidea Technologies 5.5.6 Biopolymer Technologies 5.5.7 NNZ BV 5.5.8 Plantic Technologies
• 6.The Polylactic Acid Biodegradable Polymers Market 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Applications Development 6.2.1 Rigid Packaging 6.2.2 Flexible Packaging 6.2.3 Blow Moulded Bottles 6.2.4 High Performance Applications 6.3 Market Drivers 6.3.1 Better Environmental Credentials 6.3.2 Stable Supply and More Competitive Prices 6.3.3 World's First Greenhouse-Gas-Neutral Polymer 6.3.4 Replacement of Traditional Packaging Materials 6.3.5 Speciality Cards 6.3.6 Source Options 6.3.7 New Applications 6.3.8 Better Processing 6.4 Market Size and Forecast 6.5 Major Suppliers and their Products
• 7.The PHA Biodegradable Polymers Market 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Applications Development 7.2.1 Films 7.2.2 Flexible Packaging 7.2.3 Thermoformed Articles 7.2.4 Coated/Corrugated Paper 7.2.5 Synthetic Papers 7.2.6 Bioresorbable Medical Devices 7.2.7 Polymer Blends 7.3 Market Drivers 7.4 Market Size and Forecast 7.5 Suppliers and their Products
• 8.The Synthetic Biodegradable Polymers Market 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Applications Development 8.3 Market Drivers 8.4 Market Size and Forecast 8.5 Suppliers and their Products
• 9.Market Opportunities for Biodegradable Polymers 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Packaging 9.2.1 Flexible Packaging 9.2.2 Rigid Packaging 9.2.3 Paper Coating 9.2.4 Loose-Fill Packaging 9.3 Bags and Sacks 9.4 Disposable Serviceware 9.5 Agriculture and Horticulture 9.6 Medical Devices 9.6.1 Sutures 9.6.2 Dental Devices 9.6.3 Orthopaedic Fixation Devices 9.6.4 Other Applications 9.7 Consumer Electronics Products 9.8 Automotive 9.9 Speciality Cards 9.10 Fibres
• 10. Profiles of Leading Biodegradable Plastics Converters 10.1 Alpha Packaging 10.2 Arkhe Planning Co. 10.3 Arthur Blank & Company 10.4 Autobar Group Ltd. 10.5 Bartling GmbH & Co. KG Kunststoffe 10.6 Bi-Ax International 10.7 BioBag International AS 10.8 Biosphere Industries Corporation 10.9 BIOTA Brands of America Inc. 10.10 Bomatic Inc. 10.11 Brenmar Company 10.12 Carolex SAS 10.13 Chien Fua Bio-Tech Industry Co., Ltd. 10.14 Coopbox Europe 10.15 Cortec Corporation 10.16 Earthcycle Packaging Ltd. 10.17 Europackaging plc 10.18 Ex-Tech Plastics, Inc. 10.19 Fabri-Kal 10.20 Faerch Plast A/S 10.21 Farnell Packaging Ltd. 10.22 Fortune Plastics 10.23 Good Flag Biotechnology Corporation 10.24 Grenidea Technologies Pte Ltd. 10.25 The Heritage Bag Company 10.26 Huhtamäki Oy 10.27 IBEK Verpackungshandel GmbH 10.28 ILIP 10.29 Innovia Films BVBA 10.30 Liquid Container/Plaxicon 10.31 NNZ bv 10.32 Natura Verpackungs GmbH 10.33 NVYRO 10.34 Plastic Suppliers Inc. 10.35 RPC Group plc 10.36 Siamp-Cedap 10.37 Sidaplax 10.38 Signum NZ Ltd. 10.39 Spartech Corp. 10.40 Sunway Household Ltd. 10.41 Toray Industries Inc. 10.42 Toray Saehan Inc. 10.43 Treofan Group 10.44 Vertex Pacific Limited 10.45 Wei Mon Industry Co. Ltd. 10.46 Wentus Kunststoff GmbH 10.47 Wilkinson Industries Inc.
• 11. Database of Major Biodegradable Polymer Suppliers
• 12. Glossary of Terms
• 13. Abbreviations and Acronyms