Biodegradable Plastics Market Size, Share, By Product (Starch-based Plastics, Polylactic Acid (PLA), Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), Cellulose-based Plastics, and Others), By Application (Packaging, Agriculture, Textiles, Consumer Goods, and Other Applications), By End-Use Industry (Food and Beverage, Retail, Agriculture, Healthcare, and Others), and By Region - Trends, Analysis and Forecast till 2034

Biodegradable Plastics Market Size was valued at USD 5.9 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 13.4 Billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 9.4%

Biodegradable plastic is plastic that can be decomposed by the action of living organisms, usually microbes, into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. It is commonly produced with renewable raw materials, microorganisms, petrochemicals, or combinations of all three. It has to pass the rigid standards to be considered genuinely biodegradable, fragmenting into small bits, high biodegrading rates, and no toxicity to the environment residue. Most of the biodegradable plastics one finds tend to degrade in industrial composting setups. It demands a well-managed waste system for appropriate disposal. However, they will still add to plastic pollution when not disposed of properly. The terms "bioplastic," "bio-based plastic," and "oxo-degradable plastic" are mistakenly used interchangeably with biodegradable plastics; however, they do not mean the same thing. Bio-based plastics derive from renewable resources, and not all of them are biodegradable. Oxo-degradable plastics degrade only to microplastics. Biodegradable plastics find application in disposables, including food packaging material, disposable cutlery, and food containers. However, reusable alternatives should be preferred if feasible. Therefore, proper industrial facility composition disposal is critical in unpinning the decision for biodegradable plastics on an environmental promise while preventing possible negative impacts.