How much biomass do bio-based plastics need?

Currently, the land and biomass required for bio-based polymers do not play a relevant role compared to other sectors and do not represent any relevant competition to other uses, in particular the food and feed sector. In order to produce 3.4 million tonnes of bio-based polymers with an average bio-based share of 43%, 4.3 million tonnes of biomass were used – including conversion losses. The largest share of biomass comes from by-products (46%), mainly glycerine from biodiesel production, which is used for the production of bio-based epoxy resins. Food crops for the production of e.g. PLA or bio-PE account for a total of 37%. 9% is cellulose for cellulose acetate and 8% is non-edible vegetable oils such as castor oil for polyamides.

The 4.3 million tonnes of biomass, used for the production of all bio-based polymers, account for only 0.034% of the entire produced biomass of 12.3 billion tonnes. This 0.034% share of biomass used to produce bio-based polymers translates into an area share of only 0.004%.

Please find all details, data and figures in the latest issue of bioplastics MAGAZIN (02/20) Vol. 15: www.bio-based.eu/policy/#biomassneedBM