According to the fourth annual "Inside Green Innovation: Progress Report”, published by the UK intellectual property firm Appleyard Lees, global patent filings for bioplastics surpassed 600 for the first time in 2022, marking a rise of over 10% from the previous year. Notably, patent filings for polyhydroxyalkanoates -PHAs- materials have shown a remarkable 58% increase in priority patent activity since 2021, surpassing butylene-based polymers but still remaining under the number of filings for polylactic acid, which have consistently been much higher than for starch blends, PHAs, and butylene-based polymers for decades. Despite being relatively low, filing numbers for starch blends also experienced a sharp increase and those relating to both PHAs and starch blends are now at historic highs. According to the report’s authors, the growing interest in PHA solutions may well be because unlike PLA, PHAs seem to offer the promise of a bioplastic that can degrade in the natural environment without the need for composting, is obtainable from renewal sources and has acceptable physical properties for a variety of commercial uses. ‘The high biodegradability of PHA is often cited in patent applications as a key motivation for research into this type of bioplastic’, the authors write.
Globally, countries like South Korea, Europe, Japan, India, China, and Brazil are boosting bioplastic patent activity, with prominent companies like Brazil's Bioreset Biotechologia, and South Korea’s LG Chemical group, focusing on PHAs and their applications.
Interestingly, the data also reveals a 23% decrease in the quantity of international patent filings, which protect an innovation across multiple countries; possibly due to challenging economic conditions. However, the continued rise of overall filings relating to bioplastics suggests only a temporary decline.
David Jasiewicz, Associate at Appleyard Lees: “While the innovation focus is shifting from PLA and butylene-based polymers to PHAs, we expect that all three bioplastic types will continue to attract significant research efforts and a significant number of patent applications in the future.
Strong growth in recycling innovation
Meanwhile, annual patent filings in chemical plastic recycling have risen by more than 25% to approach 700 new filings for the first time in 2022 – a figure that’s increased by over 350% on five years before, said Amelia Barton, Patent Attorney.
In chemical recycling, pyrolysis dominates with a 32% increase in patent filings in 2022, a six-fold increase from five years earlier. “And while there has been comparatively lower patent activity in technologies involving metal-catalysed depolymerisation and supercritical water, both have shown significant recent increases (28% and 20% respectively), with metal-catalysed depolymerisation in particular recording a fourth-straight year of 20%-plus growth. Meanwhile, innovation in microbial biodegradation has also increased, with filings relating to micro-organisms able to degrade plastics, for example,” noted Barton.
While Europe and the US have been leaders in recycling innovation, South Korea has surpassed the US in patent filings between 2020 and 2022, which may be due to government interventions in the sector. Most chemical recycling innovation relates to PP, PET, and PVC technology, with innovation around PVC and PET carrying the most momentum.
In terms of plastic type, while long-time leader polypropylene (PP) has shown growth in 2022, the largest momentum is currently around recycling polyvinyl chloride (PVC), followed by polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PP is currently relegated to third spot, albeit still some way ahead of the next most common materials low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
“And we believe the number of companies innovating in chemical plastic recycling – driven by political and societal pressure plus government initiatives – is set to continue, ” said Jasiewicz,
The focus on bioplastics and plastics recycling in the "Inside Green Innovation: Progress Report – Fourth Edition" aligns with global sustainable development goals and initiatives aimed at addressing environmental challenges. The report provides a comprehensive look into patent filings as of December 31, 2022, and is available for review through Appleyard Lees.