Biopolymers derived from renewable biomass sources ensure the conservation of fossil resources, the utilisation of renewable vegetal resources with its geopolitics involvements, the consumption of CO2 instead of its emission. Several ways are exploited:
- Direct processing of natural polymers such as starch, PLA, PHA, natural fibres. The bioplastics currently available contain more than 50% weight issued from renewable sources, reaching 100% for polymers such as PLA, PHA, natural fibres.
- Use of biocomponents partly replacing petroleum-based components. The used level can vary from 20% up to more than 60%. Among the numerous examples are polyamide 11, thermoplastic elastomers (Hytrel, Pebax, Pearlthane...; polyurethanes and unsaturated polyesters derived from Natural Oil Polyols (NOPs), Acrylics containing 20% renewable carbon.
- Use of renewable monomers as building blocks in conventional polymerization: Bio-derived polyethylene or polypropylene.
The market, originally aiming packaging is fast developing in more technical sectors including automobile, E&E, construction, etc thanks to the diversification of polymer families.