Compostable Bioplastics at turning point for global drinks industry
The global market for drinks packaged in compostable bottles jumped 150% to reach 10 million litres of volume sold in 2006. This represents a retail market value of €23 million, according to the 2007 Drinks Biopackaging report from leading food and drink consultancy Zenith International. Despite such strong growth, the low take up shows the global beverage industry has yet to embrace bioplastics – those plastics that break down so that no residue remains in the environment.
"Bioplastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA), have been readily incorporated into compost bags, catering products, supermarket shopping bags and increasingly food packaging," commented Zenith Research Director Gary Roethenbaugh. "For beverage manufacturers, however, while the environmental virtues of compostable plastic bottles resonate well with consumers, a number of challenges remain."
Zenith's 2007 Drinks Biopackaging report finds that:
- Biopackaging presents a genuine opportunity for increased sustainability in drinks packaging.
- Government and municipal programmes are required to separate bioplastics from existing PET recycling and waste management processes.
- Separated bioplastic bottles then need to be integrated into large scale commercial composting facilities.
- Reduced sales taxes on drinks biopackaging would also stimulate this essentially embryonic concept.
- Without government incentives for the use of bioplastic bottles, a major new product development opportunity is at risk of being squandered.
"Drinks that connect with nature, health and wellbeing are today's early adopters of biopackaging, such as smoothie operator Innocent and a range of bottled water producers like Belu in Europe and others in the US," added Gary Roethenbaugh. "But recycled PET is also building momentum as a more sustainable alternative to regular PET. The beverage industry is at risk of falling behind other food applications for biopackaging unless there is more government support."
Nevertheless, continued experimentation with compostable packaging is projected to multiply volumes fivefold in West Europe and North America to 135 million litres by 2011. With the development of improved infrastructure and economies of scale, the figure could be massively higher.
The 2007 Zenith Report on Drinks Biopackaging contains 60 pages including tables, drinks biopackaging brand profiles and a full market commentary. Contact Zenith International on tel +44 (0)1225 327900, fax +44 (0)1225 327901 or e-mail info@zenithinternational.com
For further information, please contact:
Gary Roethenbaugh, Zenith International Ltd
7 Kingsmead Square, Bath BA1 2AB, United Kingdom
t +44 (0)1225 327900, f +44 (0)1225 327901
zenithinternational.com