Market Trends of Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Industry
Films Segment to Dominate the Market
- Thermoplastic starch films lucidly use natural resources, which help reduce environmental pollution. Thermoplastic starch films present many advantages, such as biodegradability, low cost, ease of processing, and renewability. Starch films are being used as promising commercial preservation films to extend the shelf life of food.
- TPS films have poor water vapor barrier properties, low permeability to gases, and resist the tensions arising from their usage in packaging. The increasing use of thermoplastic starch as a filler in plastic films to improve their biodegradability has enhanced their application in the packaging sector.
- Thermoplastic starch (TPS) is a starch derivative and is widely accepted as the most suitable material to replace synthetic polymers in the packaging industry.
- Hydrolyzed cornstarch films, as a sustainable packaging material, offer several advantages, such as biodegradability, reusability, and reduced environmental impact compared to other traditional petroleum-based plastics.
- Many companies are opting for sustainable packaging materials. For instance, Ingredion, a US-based global ingredients solutions company, offers CRISP FILM, a high amylose, white to off-white colored corn starch. The products offer good film-forming characteristics and act as an excellent protective barrier when it is used as a coating for fried foods.
- According to the United States Department of Agriculture, scientists from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) developed starch-based films, or coatings, that can make paper and other materials more water-resistant and biodegradable. The film product is widely used in plastic bags, food packaging, and other products, thus reducing the amount of synthetic products that are clogging landfills.
- As per the analysis of Mordor Intelligence, the films segment in the thermoplastic starch market is expected to register a CAGR of 6.77% between 2024 and 2029.
- Significant investment in the packaging sector is likely to boost demand in the market studied. For instance, in March 2023, Huatian Technology made significant strides by investing CNY 2.858 billion (~USD 0.42 billion) in its wholly-owned subsidiary, Huatian Technology (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd, for the construction of the "High-Density, High-Reliability Advanced Packaging Research and Industrialization" project. The construction period spans five years, from June 2023 to June 2028.
- Therefore, all these factors are expected to impact the market’s demand during the forecast period.
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Europe is Expected to Dominate the Market
- In Germany, packaging solutions are used for various customized products and innovation development. Further, smaller pack sizes are in high demand across the county in the packaged food sectors. According to the Statistisches Bundesamt's data, the revenue of the packaging sector in Germany in 2023 accounted for EUR 32.5 billion (~USD 35.87 billion).
- Germany is one of the leading 3D printing markets in Europe. The country has a renowned engineering heritage, which led to the establishment of various manufacturing facilities in industries that can assist international investors with their expansion into Europe.
- According to the Packaging Federation of the United Kingdom, the UK packaging manufacturing industry registers annual sales of around GBP 14 billion (~USD 17.82 billion). It employs over 85,000 people, representing 3% of the UK manufacturing workforce.
- Italy is one of the largest agricultural producers and food processors in the European Union. Moreover, Italy's agricultural sector and agri-food system strongly contribute to the country's economy, accounting for around 2% and 15% of the GDP, respectively, in 2023.
- According to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), in 2023, agricultural production generated an annual revenue of EUR 56.6 billion (~USD 60.96 billion) compared to EUR 58.7 billion (~USD 63.22 billion) in 2022 due to unfavorable macroeconomic factors, high energy costs, and others, thus negatively impacting the market studied.
- Hence, with the abovementioned factors, demand in the thermoplastic starch market is likely to be affected in the European market.
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