Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Plastics News
  • Plastics News China
  • European Rubber Journal
SustainablePlasticsFINAL
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Recycling
    • Sustainability
    • Bioplastics
    • Technology & Materials
    • Itero to build plastic waste recycling plant at Brightlands Chemelot Campus
      VTT-led research project aims to find ways to recover and recycle river plastic waste - profitably
      New mechanical recycling demo plant Borealis and Tomra marries chemistry with technology
      KBR, Mura partner to spur global development of the world’s first advanced recycling process based on steam
    • Huhtamaki welcomes LCA results on environmental impact of single-use packaging
      Flexible packaging industry seeks stronger alignment with circular economy ambitions
      E-marketplace brings recycled and renewable materials to circular economy
      BPF launches 'Sustainability in the Plastics Supply Chain' report
    • Novamont advances vertical integration growth strategy with acquisition BioBag
      British researchers make sustainable polymer from sugars in wood
      Novamont to further integrate upstream production with construction FDCA demonstration plant
      Sulzer wins contract to install new lactide processing plant in China
    • Injection Moulding
    • Blow Moulding
    • Extrusion
    • Thermoforming
    • 3D printing
    • Technology
    • Materials
    • Machinery
  • Opinion
    • View Point
    • A year to remember
      Opinion: California introduces world’s toughest plastic bottle recycling legislature – will other markets follow?
      Opinion: What to expect from plastic that protects our kids
      Legislation is catching up with our Lifestyle goals
  • Events
    • Our Exhibitions
    • Plastics Industry Awards (PIA)
    • Ask the Expert
    • Sustainable Plastics Live
    • Reifenhäuser Technologies Livestreams
    • Plastics News Europe Live Archives
    • Plastics Recycling Show Europe
  • Prices & Resources
    • Polymer Prices
    • Data Reports
    • White Papers
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Media Pack
  • Subscribe
    • Magazine
    • Newsletters
    • List Rental
  • Digital magazine
    • Digital Magazine
  • Multimedia
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
April 09, 2013 07:00 AM

Bioplastics pose no threat to food supply; report

Plastic News Europe
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    The European Bioplastics association says bioplastics accounted for only 0.006% of the world's agricultural land in 2011 so is “nowhere near” in competition with food and feed supplies.

    The association compiled data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites in Germany, which suggests that the surface required to grow sufficient feedstock for today's bioplastic production is less than 1% of the global agricultural area of five billion hectares.

    “Metaphorically speaking, this ration correlates to the size of an average cherry tomato placed next to the Eiffel Tower,” says the report.

    Kristy-Barbara Lange, head of communications at European Bioplastics, says the association wanted to release the facts and move away from “emotional” talk about how to feed the world.

    “For bioplastics we rely on certain feedstocks so there are lots of discussions about good agricultural practices,” she told European Plastics News. “However, there are sometimes emotional discussions about feeding the growing global population.”

    She added: “Of course hunger is a problem but it has a lot to do with problems with distribution and waste. Production is actually sufficient.”

    According to the report, around 37% (5bn hectares) of the world's land surface is currently used for agriculture. This includes pastures (70%, approximately 3.5bn hectares) and arable land (30%, approximately 1.4bn hectare).

    The 30% of arable land is further divided into areas predominantly used to grow crops for food and feed (27%, approximately 1.29bn hectares), as well as crops for materials (2%, approximately 100m hectares, including the share used for bioplastics), and crops for biofuels (1%, approximately 55m hectares).

    However, European Bioplastics says bioplastic production capacities are growing faster outside Europe. In 2011, Europe accounted for 18.5% of global production but this is predicted to fall to 4.9% by 2016.

    The association says the EU needs to implement more favourable framework conditions to attract investment and secure its place in the bioplastics market.

    Lange says that unlike in the US or Thailand, where there are concrete initiatives to support bioplastics, there is only general support in Europe.

    “Europe is the important market for bioplastics - and research is strong - but some parts of the value chain are going amiss,” she said.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Sustainable Plastics' news delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Reserve your subscription today

    Subscriptions to Sustainable Plastics, the leading Pan-European magazine for the circular plastics industry are coming soon.

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter

    "In a changing world, Sustainable Plastics is a constant: a platform the plastics industry can rely on to deliver the news and knowhow impacting the industry going forward”

    SustainablePlasticsFINAL
    Contact Us

    11 Ironmonger Lane, EC2V 8EY
    United Kingdom 
    Tel: +44 (0)1622 370570

    Customer Service:
    1-313-446-0450

    [email protected]

     

    Resources
    • Advertise
    • Sitemap
    • Careers
    • Subscribe
    Affiliates
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • LSR World
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Tire Business
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • Automotive News
    • Automotive News Europe
    • Crain Publications
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Recycling
      • Sustainability
      • Bioplastics
      • Technology & Materials
        • Injection Moulding
        • Blow Moulding
        • Extrusion
        • Thermoforming
        • 3D printing
        • Technology
        • Materials
        • Machinery
    • Opinion
      • View Point
    • Events
      • Our Exhibitions
        • Plastics Recycling Show Europe
      • Plastics Industry Awards (PIA)
      • Ask the Expert
      • Sustainable Plastics Live
      • Reifenhäuser Technologies Livestreams
      • Plastics News Europe Live Archives
    • Prices & Resources
      • Polymer Prices
      • Data Reports
      • White Papers
    • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Media Pack
    • Subscribe
      • Magazine
      • Newsletters
      • List Rental
    • Digital magazine
      • Digital Magazine
    • Multimedia