Starch-based plastic accounted for 90% of global consumption of biodegradable plastics in 2009

The implementation of low-carbon environmental protection initiatives has promoted the application of biodegradable plastics and boosted the emergence of biodegradable plastics industry. Starch-based plastic, PLA and PHA, accounting for 90% of the global consumption of biodegradable plastics in 2009, saw their capacity grow rapidly from 306,000 tons in 2007 to 695,000 tons in 2009, with an annual compound growth rate of 50.7%. However, biodegradable plastics only accounted for less than 1% of the global demand for plastics in 2009, as per Research and Markets. Considering the unstoppable trend of biodegradable plastics replacing traditional plastics, the biodegradable plastics industry has huge market potential. Following the global trend, China's biodegradable plastics industry has developed rapidly. The biodegradable plastics capacity reached 80,000 tons in 2007, and soared to 150,000 tons in 2009, almost 100% more than that in 2007. However, in 2009, China's domestic consumption of bio-plastics was less than 8,000 tons, and over 95% of China's bio-plastic materials and products were exported to Europe, America and other developed countries, because people there have a strong awareness of environmental protection and are rich enough to accept expensive biodegradable plastics. Production capacity of global starch-based biodegradable plastics industry will rise to 708000 tpa in 2013, 212.6% more than that in 2009. NatureWorks of USA is the world's largest PLA bio-plastic manufacturer. Novamont of Italy is the largest bio-plastic manufacturer in Europe. Mitsubishi Plastics of Japan has become a leader in the development of PLA packaging materials in the world. BASF of Germany is one of the manufacturers that launched biodegradable plastics 10 years ago. Zhejiang Hisun Biomaterials Co., Ltd. ranks third in terms of PLA industrial capacity in the world with the annual output of 5,000 tons. Guangzhou Kingfa Science and Technology Co., Ltd. is the largest manufacturer of modified plastics in China, it started a biodegradable plastics project in 2009, and plans to build a 20,000 ton biodegradable plastics production line in the next two years. Wuhan Huali Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. has become a leading enterprise in China's biodegradable industry with the annual output of 40,000 tons. Anqing Hexing Chemical Co., Ltd. is China's first large-scale PBS enterprise, with the annual capacity of 10,000 tons. Zhejiang Hangzhou Xinfu Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has built the world's largest continuous and closed PBS production line with an annual capacity of 20,000 tons. Ningbo Tianan Biologic Material Co. Ltd. is the world's only enterprise that has achieved PHBV industrialization.