The bioplastic market - Italy

1.1 Definition and presentation

Bioplastics are a very broad category of plastics with special characteristics. A bioplastic uses manufacturing materials from biomass (sweet potato, sugar cane, etc.), or biodegradable, that is, its decomposition reaches 90% after being in contact for six months with microorganisms (bacteria, algae, fungi), oxygen moisture or heat. Bioplastics can be either bio-based or biodegradable. The market under analysis can be segmented by product type (biodegradable or non-biodegradable), application (packaging, consumer goods, textile, and so on), and geographic area.

The size of the global bioplastics market has been estimated at $9.17 billion in 2020, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.1% from 2021 to 2028.

In Italy, about 275 companies operate in the bioplastics industry, employing a total number of 2,645 workers. The total number of companies can be divided into four categories: basic and intermediate chemical producers, granule producers and distributors, first processors, and second processors. In 2019, the entire production volume reached more than 100,000 tons for the first time, registering a 14% increase over the previous fiscal year.

In terms of products, packaging remains the largest application area for bioplastics, accounting for nearly 47% of the total market in 2020. The strong focus on environmental sustainability has also driven demand for recyclable solutions with the organic fraction of waste as an alternative to disposable ones made of traditional plastic. The wet-bag sector is also positive, thanks to stronger exports and further increases in separate collection of wet waste at the European level.

In Italy, the main producers of bioplastics are BetaLife, which specializes in biodegradable and biocompostable products; Agromateriae, which produces new plastics from agroindustrial waste; and Novamont, which provides a variety of everyday products made from bio materials.