A Brief Overview Of The Bio-Based Composites Industry

Starch-based plastic materials and products: a breakthrough for traditional plastic pollution

Starch-based biodegradable plastics: generally a blend of modified starch and biodegradable polyesters (e.g. PLA/PBAT/PBS/PHA/PPC, etc.), which are fully biodegradable, compostable and non-polluting to the environment, with waste suitable for composting, landfill and other disposal methods.

Starch-based bio-based plastics: generally a mixture of modified starch and polyolefins (e.g. PP/PE/PS, etc.). Its environmental significance lies in its ability to reduce the use of petrochemical resources, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and make the waste suitable for incineration.

Modified starch has three main characteristics: 1. Hydrophobicity. The starch is chemically modified to be completely hydrophobic and has a moisture content of <1%, making it compatible with other synthetic polymers. 2. Temperature resistance. Modified starch can withstand temperatures up to 230°C during thermoplastic processing without yellowing or decomposition. 3. Thermoplasticity. Modified starch can be thermoplastically processed on plastic processing equipment.

With the gradual shift in consumer preference for plastic products, the market for renewable and environmentally friendly materials continues to heat up. As a result, the demand for bio-based plastics has increased.

According to RnR Market Research, the introduction of plastic restrictions in recent years and the increasing regulation of the use of traditional plastics have helped to further boost demand for bio-based, especially starch-based, plastics.

At present, the main domestic manufacturers of starch-based materials and products and their current situation are as follows: Wuhan Huahua 60,000 tons/year; Shenzhen Hongcai 25,000 tons/year; Suzhou Hanfeng 10,000 tons/year; Zhejiang Tianhe 35,000 tons/year; Zhejiang Huafa 10,000 tons/year; Shandong Bikecheng 10,000 tons/year; other manufacturers include Nanjing Biaoge, Changzhou Longjun, etc.

Wood-plastic material: a new environmentally friendly material that can replace wood, plastic and metal

Wood-Plastic Composites (WPC) are made of wood fibres and plant fibres as the main raw materials (sawn wood, wood chips, bamboo chips, rice hulls, wheat straw, soybean peel, peanut shells, cotton straw, etc.), and various plastics (PE, PP, PVC, ABS and PE, etc.), with the addition of other chemical additives, mixed in a certain ratio, and extruded by high-temperature extrusion moulds. The wood is then extruded at high temperatures. The lack of wood supply has become a common problem in many countries around the world.

Wood-plastic composites, as the ideal new material to replace wood and plastic, have many advantages such as anti-corrosion, water and moisture resistance, wear and flame retardant, energy saving and environmental protection, recyclable and strong mechanical properties, etc. Their prospects are favourable at home and abroad.

At present, China's manufacturing level, production and export of wood-plastic composites and products have leaped to the forefront of the world, but from the perspective of the competitive landscape of the wood-plastic composites industry, the United States still leads the world in the production, development and application of wood-plastic composites.

Compared to the US wood-plastic composites industry, the gap is reflected in the small size of domestic wood-plastic composites manufacturers, the low concentration of the industry, the small number of companies with real brand influence, and the need to improve product application areas and innovation capabilities.