Global bioplastics production capacity is poised for a significant scale-up. By 2030, capacity is expected to grow from the current 2,31 million tons to approximately 4,69 million tons. This is according to the Bioplastics Market Development Update 2025, presented last week at the twentieth European Bioplastics Conference (EBC25) in Berlin.
While the figures show robust growth in the sector, its market share on the global stage remains modest. Of a total global plastics production of 431 million tons, bioplastics currently account for about half a percent. However, the industry organization European Bioplastics (EUBP), which compiled the report in collaboration with the renowned Nova Institute, sees clear signs that the market is maturing.
Capacity and utilization
In 2025, the sector operated at an average global utilization rate of 72 percent. In concrete terms, this translates to actual production of 1,67 million tons from an installed capacity of 2,31 million tons. Notably, European plants operate slightly more efficiently than the global average, with a utilization rate of 73 percent.
In terms of applications, the packaging industry remains the dominant sales market. With approximately 0,95 million tons, this sector accounts for 41,3 percent of total capacity. However, there is visible movement in other sectors. The automotive and transportation sector is emerging and is growing to a market share of 10,3 percent (0,24 million tons), driven by the demand for lighter and more sustainable materials.
Two-pronged growth engine
The predicted doubling of capacity rests on two pillars that are increasing simultaneously worldwide:
- The 'Drop-ins'Strong growth is visible in established biobased polymers such as Bio-PE (polyethylene) and Bio-PP (polypropylene). These are biobased variants that are chemically identical to their fossil-based counterparts and therefore fit directly into existing processing and recycling chains.
- New biodegradable polymersAt the same time, the commercial rollout of biodegradable polymers is accelerating. PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) and PLA (polylactic acid) are the clear driving forces.
This diversification means that bioplastics are now available for virtually every common application, ranging from fibres for clothing to complex components for consumer electronics.
European material trends: Within Europe, the growth is primarily driven by PHA, Bio-PE, and Bio-PP capacities. The expected growth of Bio-PE in the European market is significant: its share of total European bioplastics production will increase from 5,2 percent in 2025 to 17,5 percent in 2030. PHA, an important biodegradable polymer, is also growing rapidly in Europe, nearly tripling its share from 2,9 percent in 2025 to 9,5 percent in 2030. This demonstrates that Europe is focusing on both greening traditional plastics and developing advanced, biodegradable solutions.
Europe: from innovation hub to factory?
A key point of discussion in Berlin was the geopolitical situation. Asia remains by far the largest production region. Although Europe is gaining ground slightly, it still lags behind Asia and North America in terms of volume. There is concern within the sector that Europe is falling into a "knowledge trap": developing innovation while leaving large-scale production to other continents.
The European Commission appears to be aware of this risk and, in the run-up to the conference, presented the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy. European Bioplastics sees this as explicit recognition of the role of bioplastics and points to plans for criteria within the new packaging framework (PPWR). Clear policy must provide the necessary investment certainty to actually scale up production capacity in Europe.
Citation: European Bioplastics eV (2025). Bioplastics Market Development Update 2025. Presented at the 20th European Bioplastics Conference, 2/3 December, Berlin. Access the full report at: european-bioplastics.org/eubp-presents-the-results-of-the-2025-market-data-report/
Photo taken with Ai
