6. Bioplastics

Bioplastics are plastics that are either biobased or biodegradable. The latter category can therefore also include petroleum-based plastics. There are sometimes major differences in the biodegradability of materials. The speed of degradation and the conditions required for this are also decisive. Plastics are labeled as compostable if they can be degraded without residue within a certain period of time in an industrial composting plant or in domestic compost. Bio-based plastics are made from starch, cellulose or even proteins, chitin or lignin.

The market share of bioplastics in the overall plastics market (390 million tons) is still very low. Around 5.8 million tons of bioplastics were produced in 2021 (Plastics Europe 2022). The proportion of biodegradable plastics in the total amount is greater than that of bio-based but non-degradable plastics. Biodegradable plastics include both bio-based and fossil-based plastics. PBAT, PLA and starch blends make up the largest proportion of bioplastics (see figure).