Biopolymer has good global growth prospects.

Biopolymer is an environmentally friendly polymeric material which has shown potential growth across the globe. According to recent survey, global demand will undoubtedly grow from 180 million tons to 258 within 2010. Various facts like high prices of oil, international interest in renewable resources, rising worry about greenhouse gas emissions and emphasis on waste management have rehabilitated interest in biopolymers.

Advanced technologies in plant reproducing as well as processing are not only thinning the biopolymers-synthetic plastics cost gap but also improving material quality. Environmental concerns, mainly in the EU, have stirred curiosity in biodegradable plastics. Application of Kyoto Protocol will carry into sharper center the relative performance of biopolymers and synthetics in terms of their relevant energy use and CO 2 emissions. Between 0.8 and 3.2 tons of CO2 per ton can be saved by Starch-based plastics can be saved, the range reflecting the share of petroleum based copolymers used in plastics.
PHA or PHB, Polylactides (PLA), Starch-based polymers are three major degradable polymer groups are available in the marketplace. Other manufacturer blends degradable materials either to develop materials’ properties or to minimize product expenditure.

Comparatively Biopolymers are expensive than the conventional polymers but the cost has reasonably decreased in recent years. Biodegradable polymers are not only potential for gains by enabling the diversion of waste from landfills but also the best alternative that can be further recycled. According to work on life cycle inventories for two new soy polyols of The National Institute of Standards (NIST) Soy based polyols would be the best it had only minimum level of green impacts that petroleum based polyols show. There were noteworthy reductions in global warming, emission, ecological toxicity and fossil fuel reduction.

Significant number of companies, mainly in Western Europe, USA, Japan and China have emphasized on manufacturing degradable plastics. Some important names- Metabolix, Mitsubishi Inc, Kaneka and Biomer are in the high tech PHA/PHB category of biodegradable plastics. Recent products of biopolymers are: Compact Disc, Mineral Water Bottle and Automotive parts. Gradually worldwide companies are adopting the biopolymers based products.