From biomass to biopolymer and bioplastics

<p>Wolfgang Baltus</p>

From biomass to biopolymer and bioplastics

Wolfgang Baltus

Wobaltexpedition Consultancy, Thailand

: Expert Opin Environ Biol

Abstract

Bio-based materials are expected to have huge market potentials in several industry segments particular as bioplastics or bio-based polymers in the plastic industry. Being the first plastics entering the “world”, today they are still mostly in niche positions. Even today “bioplastics” and “biodegradability” and alike are often different or wrong defined, leading to misinformation what has slowed down the acceptance process. The presentation will give an overview about the actual status and trends of bioplastics and biomaterials in Asia compared to the global development. The presentation will highlight the opportunities but also the challenges bio-based plastics and biopolymer are facing with a special focus on the activities in South-East Asia. For example Thailand has abundant sources of raw materials and an already well developed infrastructure for plastic products including a National Roadmap since 2008 to support bioplastic introduction in the domestic market. But where is Thailand today? The current status of the bioplastic development in Thailand will be reviewed and the experiences with the involved measures on technology, market and policy aspects be shared with the focus on lessons learned for future outlooks. Understanding driver mechanism and interaction, the importance of policy support from governments, deeper understanding of technology, applications and markets will be the future key for success for bioplastics and related products.