Study Touts Bio-Plastics as an Alternative to Petroleum-Based Plastics

Cereplast Inc., which manufactures bio-based plastics products, is highlighting a recent study from the European Bioplastics and the European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence estimates that current technology may make it possible for up to 90 percent of total plastics consumed could be replaced by bio-based polymers.
The study cites that lower oil prices temporarily affected the bio-plastics market in 2009. However, the bio-plastics market experienced a 38 percent growth rate in the timeframe 2003-2007. The European growth rate was said to be as high as 48 percent.
“This study found that in 2007, only 0.3 percent of global plastic production was bio-based. By 2013 we expect that overall bio-plastics manufacturing capacity will increase by approximately seven times current levels, which still barely taps the surface. Demand is huge and will increase exponentially according to all the indicators we are watching,” said Frederic Scheer, founder and CEO of Cereplast.