Degradable Plastic

Degradable Plastic

This study examines the degradable plastics industry in the US by type (e.g., polylactic acid, starch-based, cellophane, polyester-based and others) and market (packaging, fibers and others). Historical data are presented for 1995, 2000 and 2005 with forecasts to 2010 and 2015. Data are presented in pounds and dollars. The market environment examines trends in markets such as film, bottle and food packaging, as well as pricing factors, degradability standards and international activity. The industry structure presents market share, an overview of merger and acquisition activity, research and development efforts and international markets. The term “demand” is used synonymously with consumption and reflects US degradable plastic production plus imports minus exports.

INTRODUCTION viii

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1

II. MARKET ENVIRONMENT 4
General 4
Macroeconomic Overview 4
Consumer Income & Spending Trends 7
Demographic & Household Trends 9
Packaging Outlook 11
Plastic Film 15
Plastic Beverage Bottles 18
Plastic Disposable Foodservice 20
Manufacturing Outlook 22
Agricultural Outlook 25
Manufactured Fiber Overview 27
Nonwoven Disposables Overview 29
New Developments 31 Plastic Resin Outlook 33
Historical Trends 36
Pricing Trends 38
Solid Waste Management 40
Landfills 44
Recycling 45
Incineration 45
Composting 46
Degradability Standards 47
Degradable Additives 49
Regulatory & Legislative Environment 51
Plastic Recycling 52
International Activity 53
Europe 54
Japan 55
Other Countries 55

III. TYPES 57
General 57
Biodegradable/Compostable Plastic 59
Starch-Based Plastic 60
Products 62
Producers 63
Polylactic Acid 66
Packaging 69
Fiber 71
Other Uses 72
Cellophane 73
Polyester-Based Plastic 76
Types 78
Producers 80
Other Biodegradable/Compostable Plastics 83
Photodegradable Plastic 86
Other Degradable Plastics 90
Polyvinyl Alcohol 91
Polyethylene Oxide & Other Types 92

IV. MARKETS 93
General 93
Packaging 95
Film 97
Bags 99
Overwraps & Other 100
Producers 101 Ring Carriers 102
Degradable Loose-Fill 104
Foodservice 106
Molded & Other 107
Fiber 110
Bedding & Apparel 112
Nonwoven Disposables 113
Carpet & Other 113
Other Markets 114
Medical 115
All Other 115

V. INDUSTRY STRUCTURE 118
General 118
Market Share 119
Innovia Films 120
ITW-Hi-Cone 121
NatureWorks 121
Other Producers 122
Mergers & Acquisitions 123
Manufacturing Requirements 124
Marketing Strategies 125
Channels of Distribution 127
Competitive Strategies 129
Cooperative Agreements 130
Company Profiles 136
Absorbable Polymers International Corporation, see
DURECT Corporation
Amerchol Corporation, see Dow Chemical Company
American Excelsior Company 137
Ampacet Corporation 139
AMYLEX Corporation 140
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company 141
BASF AG 143
Bio-Plastics Incorporated, see Diamant Art Corporation
BioBag International AS 144 Biocorp North America, see Cereplast Incorporated
BIOgroup USA Incorporated 146
Cargill Incorporated 147
Celanese Corporation 149
Cereplast Incorporated 150
Cortec Corporation 152
Diamant Art Corporation 153
Dow Chemical Company 154
DuPont (EI) de Nemours 156
DURECT Corporation 158
EarthShell Corporation 160
Eastman Chemical Company 162
EPI Environmental Technologies Incorporated 163
FP International Incorporated, see Free-Flow Packaging International Incorporated
Free-Flow Packaging International Incorporated 165 Illinois Tool Works Incorporated 166
Imperial Chemical Industries plc 168
Innovia Films Limited 169
ITW Hi-Cone, see Illinois Tool Works Incorporated
KTM Industries Incorporated 171
Kuraray Company Limited 172
Metabolix Incorporated 174
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Incorporated 176
National Starch and Chemical Company, see Imperial Chemical Industries plc
NatureWorks LLC, see Cargill Incorporated
Novamont SpA 177
Pak-Lite Incorporated 178
Pliant Corporation 179
PolarGruppen AS, see BioBag International AS
Primester, see Eastman Chemical Company
Procter & Gamble Company 180
Solae LLC, see DuPont (EI) de Nemours
Solvay SA 181
StarchTech Incorporated 182
Storopack Hans Reichenecker GmbH 183
Wilkinson Industries Incorporated 184 Willow Ridge Plastics Incorporated 186
Other Companies Mentioned in Study 187

LIST OF TABLES
TABLE NUMBER PAGE
SECTION I -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Summary Table 3

SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT
1 Macroeconomic Indicators 7
2 Personal Consumption Expenditures 9
3 Resident Population & Households 11
4 Packaging Shipments by Material 15
5 Plastic Film Demand 17
6 Plastic Beverage Bottle Demand 20
7 Plastic Disposable Foodservice Product Demand 22
8 Manufacturers’ Shipments 25
9 Agricultural Indicators 27
10 Manufactured Fiber Demand 28
11 Nonwoven Disposables Demand 31
12 Plastic Resin Supply & Demand 35
13 Degradable Plastic Market, 1995-2005 37
14 Degradable Plastic Prices 40
15 Municipal Solid Waste Management by Process 43

SECTION III -- TYPES
1 Degradable Plastic Demand by Type 58
2 Biodegradable/Compostable Plastic Demand by Type 59
3 Starch-Based Degradable Plastic Demand by Use 62
4 Polylactic Acid Demand by Use 68
5 Polylactic Acid Demand in Packaging by Use 71
6 Polylactic Acid Demand in Fiber by Use 72
7 Polylactic Acid Demand in Other Uses 73
8 Cellophane Demand by Use 76
9 Polyester-Based Degradable Plastic Demand by Use 78
10 Other Biodegradable/Compostable Plastic Demand by Use 86
11 Photodegradable Plastic Demand by Use 89
12 Other Degradable Plastic Demand by Use 90

SECTION IV -- MARKETS
1 Degradable Plastic Demand by Market 94
2 Packaging Markets for Degradable Plastic by Type 96
3 Film Markets for Degradable Plastic by Use 98
4 Ring Carrier Market for Degradable Plastic 104
5 Degradable Loose-Fill Packaging Demand 106
6 Degradable Foodservice Disposables Demand by Type 107
7 Molded & Other Packaging Markets for Degradable Plastic 110
8 Fiber Markets for Degradable Plastic by Use 112
9 Other Markets for Degradable Plastic 114

SECTION V -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
1 US Degradable Plastic Sales by Company, 2005 119
2 Selected Cooperative Agreements 133

LIST OF CHARTS
CHART NUMBER PAGE
SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT
1 Plastic Film Demand by Type, 2005 18
2 Plastic Resin Demand by Type, 2005 36
3 Degradable Plastic Market, 1995-2005 38
4 Municipal Solid Waste Management by Process, 2005 44

SECTION III -- TYPES
1 Biodegradable/Compostable Plastic Demand by Type, 2005 60

SECTION IV -- MARKETS
1 Packaging Markets for Degradable Plastic by Type, 2005 96
2 Film Markets for Degradable Plastic by Use, 2005 98

SECTION V -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
1 US Degradable Plastic Market Share, 2005 120