Page 68 - Plastics News Issue October 2025
P. 68
PRODUCT NEWS
food. PLA, however, needs industrial compost- Market Insights: Growth Drivers and Hurdles
ing environments to be able to break down, and
this may cast doubt on its actual environmental The biodegradable packaging films market in the
imprint. world is expected to grow tremendously in the
next decade. The driving forces are increasing
PHA Packaging Solutions regulations prohibiting single-use plastics, cor-
porate sustainability, and increasing consumer
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are an innova- awareness.
tion in PHA packaging and are prepared using
plant oils and sugars in fermentation by bacte- A further analysis of the numbers shows the
ria. PHAs, unlike PLA, can decompose in both way the industry is changing:
the marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and thus,
are perfect as single-use products such as bags,
straws, and agricultural films. Their versatility
makes them a huge force in the shift to renew-
able packaging films.
Cellulose-Based Films
The cellulose-based film market has acquired its
momentum due to the naturalness of its origin
and its superior oil and grease resistance as a
barrier. These are also clear and easy to dispose
of as they are transparent and compostable, as Although these opportunities are there, there
well as commonly used in confectionery wraps are still various challenges. Cost is also an obsta-
and labels. Being a pioneer bioplastics, they have cle since sustainable film materials are 2-4 times
resurfaced in prominence with industries urging higher in cost than traditional plastics. There are
the need to get realistic compostable plastic also infrastructure issues that limit the adoption
sheets that are practical and biodegradable. rate because the industrial composting facilities
are not prevalent in the market. Also, the stand-
Agricultural Mulch Films
ardization of certifications of biodegradable or
In farming, the use of agricultural mulch films has compostable is still spotty and confounding to
revolutionized farming because it has enhanced both consumers and regulators.
the temperature of soils, retention of moisture,
and weed suppression. Mulch films, traditionally The Adoption Curve: Who is leading the
produced out of polyethylene, were not easy to Charge?
dispose of. Nonetheless, biodegradable packag- The industries that switch to renewable pack-
ing films produced to be used in the agricultural aging films are different according to the geo-
industry can decompose naturally into soil, sav- graphical region and industry. Europe is a leader,
ing time and money to the farmer and minimiz- and the high standards are enforced by the strict
ing the environmental impact.
68 PLASTICS NEWS October 2025
