The bioplastics market - France

French bioplastics market valued at over €800 million

The global bioplastics market is experiencing significant growth, driven by increased demand for environmentally-friendly alternatives to traditional plastics. Bioplastics accounted for around 1% of total plastics production, and demand is set to continue rising, partly due to regulatory pressure to reduce single-use plastics.

Europe is a key player in bioplastics production, with a quarter of global capacity, and Asia continues to lead production, with 45% of bioplastics manufactured.

Regulatory changes are encouraging the development of bioplastics by banning certain plastic products and imposing higher contents of plant-based materials, but difficulties persist regarding the biodegradability and recyclability of these new materials.

Recycling bioplastics and the mixture of materials that cannot be processed by traditional systems remains highly complex.

Trends in demand for bioplastics on the French market

The French market is expanding. Packaging remains the dominant sector, accounting for over half of all bioplastics used.

Demand is driven by a heightened awareness of environmental issues and the search for more renewable, environmentally-friendly materials.

France accounts for around 3% to 4% of the global plastics industry's sales.

The French market has significant growth potential, and is valued at over €800 million.

Bioplastics offer solutions in a variety of applications, where they are now present in everything from automotive components to everyday items such as plastic bags. One of the driving forces behind this evolution is the packaging sector, where bioplastics have carved out a substantial share of the flexible and rigid packaging market, accounting for more than half of global bioplastics consumption. Increasing scrutiny of plastic packaging has led to greater interest in paper and other biodegradable materials, with significant growth in drinking water bottles, soft drink packaging and shopping bags made from bioplastics. This development illustrates a broader trend in consumer preferences, where the market is gradually shifting towards sustainable packaging solutions, fuelling demand for biobased materials. Interestingly, the cost factor represents a considerable challenge, with bioplastics tending to be significantly more expensive - around two to three times - than their traditional plastic equivalents.

This extra cost is linked to the more expensive recycling processes and alternative raw materials used in bioplastics production. Nevertheless, this has not dampened enthusiasm for these materials, suggesting that environmental considerations are beginning to outweigh purely economic reasoning in the French market. French regulations have adapted dynamically to promote environmentally-friendly practices, phase out single-use plastics and support the rise of bioplastics. Progressive policies that ban certain plastic items and encourage the use of compostable or biosourced materials reflect a legislative approach determined to foster a greener future and thus fuel market demand for these products.

In short, although the French bioplastics market lags behind traditional plastics in terms of volume, it is gaining ground at a remarkable rate.

Bioplastics industry players

• Total and Corbion: Total has teamed up with Corbion, a world market leader in lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives and lactides, based in the Netherlands, to drive the industry forward with products based on polylactic acid (PLA) derived from renewable sugarcane resources.
• Braskem: originating from Brazil, Braskem presents itself as a petrochemical powerhouse that has gone green thanks to its biosourced production.
• Novamont: Italian innovator and a key player in the bioplastics industry, Novamont has made a name for itself with its wide range of biodegradable and compostable thermoplastic materials.
• Akro-Plastic: With its dual expertise in traditional plastics and bioplastics, Akro-Plastic embodies the transformation path taken by many large-scale manufacturers.
• Vegeplast: A medium-sized specialist company based in France, Vegeplast exemplifies the innovative spirit of niche players.

Inforamtion

• Number of pages : ~ 40 pages
• Format : Digital and PDF versions
• Last update : 13/07/2020

Summary and extracts

List of charts presented in this market study

• Évolution de la capacité de production mondiale de bioplastiques
• Répartition de la production de bioplastique par types de matériaux
• Capacité de production mondiale de bioplastique
• Évolution du chiffre d'affaires de la plasturgie
• Répartition de la consommation de plastique par secteur
• Répartition de la consommation de bioplastiques par secteur
• Évolution de l'indice de chiffre d'affaires de la plasturgie
• Évolution du nombre d'entreprises de plasturgie
• Évolution de la valorisation et du recyclage des déchets plastiques