In the battle against global plastic pollution, PLA (polylactic acid), PBAT (polybutylene adipate/terephthalate), and corn starch, as the three pillars of biodegradable materials, have been game changers in packaging and agriculture.

PLA: From Medical Wizard to Environmental Pioneer

1930-1960: An Unexpected Discovery in the Laboratory

– 1954: DuPont obtained the first PLA synthesis patent (US2668162)

– PLA cost more than $1,000 per kilogram during this period, limited to high-end medical research

1970-1990: The Golden Age of Medicine

– 1966: U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research develops PLA absorbable sutures.

– 1974: PLA bone nails were first successfully used for clinical fracture fixation

– 1987: Shimadzu Corporation in Japan built a pilot PLA production line

After 1997: A new era of environmentally friendly materials

– 1997: NatureWorks was founded, starting the first year of PLA industrialization.

– 2003: PLA prices fell below the $3/kg mark for the first time.

– 2023: global PLA production capacity exceeded 800,000 tons, accounting for more than 40% of China

Second, PBAT: the green reversal of petroleum-based materials

1920-1960: accumulation of basic science

– 1928: German chemists synthesized aromatic-aliphatic copolyester for the first time.

– 1950s: DuPont developed PBAT precursor technology for specialty fibers.

1990s: Environmental awareness leads to breakthroughs

– 1993: BASF launches the “Ecoflex” secret development program.

– 1998: First commercially available PBAT at a price of US$15/kg.

– 1999: PBAT is certified compostable by the European Union (EN13432).

The Rise of Chinese Power

– 2005: CAS breaks through the technical barrier of PBAT localization

– 2016: JDF built Asia’s largest PBAT production line

– 2022: China’s PBAT production capacity accounts for 75% of the world, and the price drops to $2/kg

Third, corn starch: the oldest modern solution

19th century: the dawn of industrial application

– 1840: Britain granted the first starch modification patent

– 1890s: starch started to be used in paper and textile sizing

The awakening of environmental awareness

– 1973: The oil crisis leads to a boom in starch-based plastics research

– 1985: Novamont, Italy, launches first starch-based shopping bag

– 1990: Starch-based plastics are produced in 10,000 tons for the first time.

A New Era of Technology Integration

– 2008: Starch/PLA composites break through the strength bottleneck

– 2015: Film with 30% starch content reaches PE mechanical properties

– 2023: the global starch-based plastics market size of 3.5 billion U.S. dollars

Four, five milestones that changed the world

1.1997 PLA industrialization:

  NatureWorks was founded

  Production capacity: 14,000 tons/year

  Price reduced from $1000/kg to $5/kg.

2.2005 China’s technological breakthrough:

  Chinese Academy of Sciences developed new PBAT process

  Reduced production cost by 40

  Promote the outbreak of Asian market

3.2015 Modified Starch Revolution:

  Starch compatibilizer technology matured

  Starch content increased to 50%

  Significant improvement in product transparency

4.2020 Global Plastic Ban Wave:

  67 countries implement plastic restrictions

  Demand for biodegradable materials grows by 300

  China’s “Toughest Plastic Restriction” in force

5. 2023 Circular economy takes shape:

   PLA/PBAT/starch ternary system is mature.

   Degradation time can be controlled in 3-12 months.

   Cost gap with PE narrowed to 20

Future Prospects of Materials Science

Technological frontier breakthrough:

– Fourth-generation PLA: Corbion launches new varieties with heat resistance of 120°C in 2022

– Intelligent PBAT: BASF releases photo-biological dual degradation formula in 2023

– Nanostarch: MIT develops nanostarch composites with 5-fold increased strength by 2021

Market Growth Forecast:

– Global Degradable Plastics Market Size:

  2023: $8.2 billion

  2025 (forecast): $12 billion

  2030 (forecast): $28 billion

– Regional Distribution:

  Asia: 58% market share

  Europe: 23 percent

  North America: 15 percent