Bioplastics Growth Exceeds Overall Plastics Market: Key 2020–2025 Insights

In 2020, the bioplastics sector delivered a remarkable 4.2 million tonnes of polymer—just 1 % of the total fossil‑based output—yet it grew at an annual rate of 8 % CAGR, surpassing the 3‑4 % average growth of the wider plastics market. This momentum is projected to continue through 2025.

Nova‑Institute’s latest “Bio‑Based Building Blocks and Polymers – Global Capacities, Production and Trends 2020‑2025” report offers a detailed snapshot of current production volumes and future forecasts for every major biobased polymer. The analysis covers 17 building blocks and 17 polymers, including new entrants such as PBAT, PHAs, and casein‑based materials.

The report also features a comprehensive update on biobased naphtha and a roster of 174 company profiles—from startups to global multinationals—highlighting the industry’s expanding capacity landscape.

Key growth drivers:

• Asia’s rapid expansion of PLA and PBAT production, coupled with global epoxy resin output.
• Significant increases in polybutylene succinate (PBS(X)), biobased polyethylene (PE), and biobased polyurethanes.
• Projected 36 % surge in polyamides/nylons and polypropylene (PP) through 2025.
• Region‑specific gains: 32 % rise in European casein polymers; 8 % growth in PLA (Europe) and PBAT (Asia).

Despite the positive trend, policy support remains uneven; governments largely favor biofuels and bioenergy over biopolymers, limiting broader adoption.

Global land use for biobased polymers is negligible—only 0.006 % of world agricultural land—and the leading biomass feedstock is glycerol, a biogenic by‑product, accounting for 37 % of input material.

For an in‑depth look at regional production capacities, see the accompanying map:

For updated figures and analysis, visit the European Bioplastics website: European Bioplastics Market Data.