Technology · Biochemistry & industrial biotech / Polymers & materials

Biodegradable packaging materials (PLA, PBAT)

Plastics that microorganisms fully degrade in soil, water or compost, such as PLA and PBAT, designed to replace PE and PS in packaging and film — commercial but still under 1 % of the global plastic packaging market.

Maturity 8/9 Risk: medium Packaging & plastics Bio-Based Advanced Materials & Bioplastics US · EU · CN verified 2026-10-16 · 6 Sources

1 · What it gives

Biodegradable plastics are completely degraded by microorganisms in soil, seawater, freshwater and composting. PLA and PBAT are designed to replace non-degradable PE and PS in packaging and films. The industry is at commercial scale with global capacity projected to reach multi-million tonnes by 2025, yet it is still under 1 % of the global plastic packaging market.

2 · What it replaces 6

D1	Grease- and water-resistant food packaging without PFAS — dense molded fibre, glassine/high-density paper, and bio-based barrier coatings (chitosan, alginate, starch, proteins, plant waxes, PHA dispersions) Replaces: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used in molded-fibre bowls, fast-food wrappers, microwave-popcorn bags, bakery papers, pet-food …	PACK
D1	Bio-based and soil-biodegradable plastics instead of fossil commodity plastics (PET, LDPE, PS) and their microplastics Replaces: Fossil polyethylene/polypropylene/PS/PET in flexible and rigid packaging; intentional microplastics (restricted in the EU since 2023); …	PACK
D1	Bio-based plasticizers — epoxidized soybean/linseed oil (ESBO), citrate esters (ATBC), isosorbide diesters, castor-oil derivatives — instead of ortho-phthalates (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DIBP) in PVC Replaces: Low-molecular-weight ortho-phthalate plasticizers in flexible PVC (flooring, cables, films, toys, medical tubing, food-contact gaskets)	CHEM
D2	Grafting onto resistant rootstocks, biological/anaerobic soil disinfestation and biofumigation, and soilless (substrate and hydroponic) culture instead of methyl bromide and chemical soil fumigants Replaces: Methyl bromide (phased out under the Montreal Protocol, remaining critical/quarantine uses); chemical fumigants used in its place — metam …	SERV
D1	Metal-contaminated soils, mine tailings and smelter sites managed by phytostabilization, phytoextraction and rhizoremediation (gentle remediation options) instead of excavation, soil washing and inert capping Replaces: Excavation and disposal of metal-contaminated topsoil; chemical soil washing (acids, chelators such as EDTA); bare tailings covered with …	SERV
D1	Natural antioxidants — tocopherols, rosemary extract, ascorbyl palmitate — instead of BHA and BHT Replaces: Synthetic phenolic antioxidants BHA (E320) and BHT (E321) in fats, oils, snacks, cereals, meat and fish products; part of synthetic …	FOOD

3 · How to implement 3 steps

1
Design the product
Design the packaging product.
2
Source polymers and manufacture
Source biodegradable polymers and manufacture on existing or adapted machinery.
3
Plan end of life
Plan waste collection, segregation and treatment.

4 · Who delivers

Matched suppliers (matched automatically)

Changzhou Ding En Biodegradable Material Co., Ltd.	China	Producer	active
Pakka (ex-Yash Pakka)	India	Producer	active
Primapack	Egypt	Producer	active
TIPA	Israel	Producer	active
Oeko Bioplásticos	Brazil	Producer	active
SKC Co., Ltd. (SK Group)	South Korea	Producer	active
Stora Enso	Finland	Research / RTO	active
Suzano (B3: SUZB3)	Brazil	Research / RTO	active
Rodenburg Biopolymers	Netherlands	Producer	active
Torise Biomaterials	China	Producer	active
Alterpacks	Singapore	Producer	active
Avani	Indonesia	Producer	active

Leading companies and institutes (from the brief)

NatureWorks, TotalEnergies Corbion, Kaneka and Chinese firms such as Bright China Biotechnological are named as key providers. Others are matched by the portal under Packaging & plastics.

5 · Rules & route to market

Route into Russia / EAEU: PACK · EAEU accredited bodies
declaration; up to ~6-7 months if biodegradability claims need testing
Information, not legal advice — confirm the procedure for your product. (2026-10-06)

United States

The USA uses ASTM D6400 (named in the sources).

European Union

The EU uses EN 13432 (named in the sources).

China

China’s standards for degradable plastics are described as evolving.

6 · Money: tenders & grants

Grant	Circular innovative advanced materials: facilitating the transition from design to markets (RIA) (Innovative … European Commission · EU	Feb 2, 2027 109 days
Grant	Developing novel recycling technologies for complex plastic materials applying biotech solutions European Commission · EU	Sep 22, 2027 341 days
Grant	Advancing Global Health Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy · United States	Feb 14, 2027 121 days
Grant	Innovative biotechnologies to restore soil health and improve agricultural competitiveness and resilience European Commission · EU	Apr 8, 2027 174 days

7 · Tech stack & innovations

Main risks from the sources: higher cost than conventional plastics, difficulty achieving degradation in real-world conditions, lack of standardised waste-management infrastructure and greenwashing.

Sources 6

Ndrc.gov.cn — www.ndrc.gov.cn 2026-10-16
Apec.org — www.apec.org 2026-10-16
Plastics rubber.basf.com — plastics-rubber.basf.com 2026-10-16
Env.go.jp — www.env.go.jp 2026-10-16
Pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov 2026-10-16
Dialogue.earth — dialogue.earth 2026-10-16