Media Contact: Barry Eisenberg
Email: beisenberg@plasticsindustry.org
Phone: (202) 974-5210

Digital Publication Covers Bioplastics Definitions, Applications, Trends, Standards, Growth Challenges, Companies, Production, Market Segments, and More

The Bioplastics Council, a special interest group of SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association, today announced the publication of the first-ever Bioplastics Industry Overview Guide. Filling the void for a comprehensive encapsulation of this relatively new but fast-growing market of the plastics industry, the new Guide provides readers with information concerning trends and challenges; similarities and differences amongst different bioplastics; applications and uses; companies in the industry; production estimates and projected market growth.

“When SPI’s Bioplastics Council was formed in 2008, its members identified the need for education about these materials, both within and outside of the plastics industry, as a primary objective,” said SPI President and CEO William R. Carteaux. “The publication of the Bioplastics Industry Overview Guide is a key step toward achieving that goal and is critically important as retailer and consumer demand for these materials continues to increase. As bioplastics continue to make inroads into new markets, the business world is taking notice and the desire to learn more about their properties, applications and potential for growth are at an all-time high. This new publication could not be timelier.”

The 26-page Bioplastics Industry Overview Guide is available in a digital download format only from SPI’s Plastics Industry e-Store (http://www.plasticsindustry.org/goto/e-store) and is free for members of the Bioplastics Council and $895 USD for non-Bioplastics Council companies.

Bioplastics -- plastics that are biodegradable, have biobased content, or both-- are currently being used in a variety of applications, including packaging, consumer goods, fibers for apparel, furnishings and home and garden. According to BCC Research, the current global market for bioplastics is estimated to be approximately 570 million pounds and is forecast to increase to 1.2 billion pounds in 2012, which represents an almost 18% annual growth rate.

SPI’s Bioplastics Council was created in order to provide a forum for resin and additive suppliers, as well as processors and equipment suppliers, to promote the development of bioplastics. The six founding members of the group are Arkema, BASF Corporation, Cereplast Inc., DuPont, NatureWorks LLC and Telles (a Metabolix/ADM Joint Venture).

In addition to developing and publishing the Bioplastics Industry Overview Guide, this year the Bioplastics Council has conducted several meetings with government agencies and organizations, including the Better Business Bureau’s National Advertising Division, Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Energy. Additional Council activities planned for 2009 are the development of guidance material to address issues such as “food versus fuel” as well as a bioplastics-related life-cycle assessment (LCA) project.

Learn more about the group at http://www.bioplasticscouncil.org. Membership and other inquiries should be addressed to SPI Vice President, Material Suppliers Council, Melissa Hockstad at mhockstad@plasticsindustry.org or 202-974-5258.

_{Founded in 1937, SPI is the plastics industry trade association representing the third largest manufacturing industry in the United States. SPI's member companies represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw materials suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs 1.1 million workers and provides nearly $379 billion in annual shipments.}