Survey on the Research Progress and Industrial Application of Bio-based Materials

Abstract

This paper systematically reviews the classification, preparation technologies, application fields, and industrial status of bio-based materials. It focuses on analyzing the performance characteristics, cost structures, and technological breakthroughs of typical bio-based materials such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and poly(butylene adipate/terephthalate) (PBAT). Combining the industrialization practices of leading domestic and international enterprises, it explores the application potential of bio-based materials in packaging, automotive, medical, and other fields. Additionally, it proposes future development directions in response to current challenges such as high costs and inadequate recycling systems. The research indicates that bio-based materials hold a strategically important position in achieving "dual carbon" goals and circular economy. Their large-scale development depends on raw material innovation, process optimization, and policy support.

Keywords: Bio-based materials, Foaming, Functional applications

1. Introduction

With the intensification of global plastic pollution and the depletion of fossil resources, bio-based materials have become a research hotspot due to their renewability and environmental friendliness. Bio-based materials are prepared through biological or chemical synthesis technologies using biomass as raw materials, offering an alternative to traditional petroleum-based materials. According to statistics, the global production capacity of bio-based plastics reached 2.111 million tons in 2023, with biodegradable plastics accounting for 58% (European Bioplastics, 2023). Currently, the demand for degradable materials has basically covered the globe, with the main markets in developed countries in Europe and America, while the domestic market accounts for about 20%. With the gradual deepening of environmental protection and low-carbon concepts, as well as the continuous advancement of plastic restriction and emission reduction policies, it is expected that the domestic market share of degradable materials will increase significantly (Tian Fangwei, 2024). This paper comprehensively analyzes the research progress and development trends of bio-based materials from aspects such as material classification, technical pathways, application scenarios, and industrial competition landscape.

(a) Polymer classification; (b) Market demand distribution; (c) Market share distribution

Source: Research Progress on the Physical Foaming of Biodegradable Polymers. Materials Research and Application

2. Classification and Properties of Bio-based Materials

Bio-based materials can be classified into biodegradable materials (such as PLA, PHA, PBAT) and non-biodegradable materials (such as bio-based PE/PP/PET) based on their degradability. Currently, the widely used biodegradable materials in the market mainly include polylactic acid (PLA), poly(butylene adipate/terephthalate) (PBAT), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), and starch-based materials, accounting for 94% of the market share. Below are the performance and technical characteristics of typical materials:

Source: European Bioplastics, Guosen Securities

Characteristics of Biodegradable Materials

Source: Research Progress of Fully Biodegradable Foaming Materials, Petrochemical Industry

2.1 Polylactic Acid (PLA)

Preparation Process: PLA is produced by fermenting corn starch to generate lactic acid, followed by ring-opening polymerization of lactide. Domestic companies such as Jindan Technology and Haizheng Biochemical have mastered lactide synthesis technology. In 2024, Fengyuan Group's 300,000 tons/year project drove down raw material costs to below 14,000 yuan/ton (Jindan Technology, 2025).

Performance Advantages: PLA is compostable, with a density of 1.24 g/cm³, tensile strength of 50-70 MPa, and light transmittance >90%. It is widely used in food packaging, textile fibers, and medical sutures.

Industrialization Status: In 2024, China's PLA production capacity reached 285,000 tons, with a still relatively high import dependence (44,600 tons imported from January to November, a year-on-year increase of 53.2%), but export growth was significant (16,500 tons exported from January to November, a year-on-year increase of 79.5%) (Jururu Information, 2024).

2.2 Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)

Technological Breakthrough: Through gene editing to optimize bacterial strains, Shenzhen Biyou Biotech has reduced PHA production costs to 20,000 yuan/ton, a 43% reduction compared to the industry average. Its foaming material has a density of 0.08-0.15 g/cm³ and can completely degrade in the marine environment within 6 months (Shenzhen Biyou Biotech, 2024).

Application Fields: PHA is used in precision instrument packaging, medical implants, and agricultural mulch films. It has also been used in collaboration with Huawei and Meituan to develop electronic product cushioning packaging and biodegradable meal boxes (China Chemical Industry News, 2023).

2.3 Poly(butylene adipate/terephthalate) (PBAT)

Performance Characteristics: PBAT has an elongation at break >500% and excellent low-temperature resistance (-30℃). It is often blended with PLA to improve brittleness. In 2024, China's PBAT production capacity reached 1.5 million tons, accounting for 60% of the global total.

Recycling Challenges: Chemical recycling technology is not yet mature. The Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has discovered for the first time that marine microbial enzymes can efficiently degrade PBAT, providing a new path for recycling (Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2024).

3. Progress in Bio-based Material Preparation Technologies

3.1 Raw Material Innovation

Utilization of Non-food Biomass: Low-cost raw materials such as straw cellulose and waste cooking oil are gradually replacing corn starch. For example, Zhejiang Haizheng uses crude palm oil to produce PHA, reducing raw material costs to 4,000 yuan/ton (Zhejiang Haizheng, 2024).

CO₂ Resource Utilization: Suzhou Zhongke Shenlong uses industrial CO₂ to synthesize bio-based TPU, achieving a "carbon capture - materialization" closed loop and reducing carbon emissions by more than 50% (Suzhou Zhongke Shenlong, 2024).

3.2 Process Optimization

Supercritical Foaming Technology: NatureWorks in the United States has increased the foaming ratio of PLA to over 30 times using supercritical CO₂ technology, with heat resistance reaching 120℃. This technology is applied in coffee cups and 3D-printed building modules (NatureWorks, 2024).

Composite Modification Technology: Shenzhen Chenmengyuan has enhanced the toughness of PLA using nanocellulose, developing disposable tableware with a temperature resistance of 100℃ (Shenzhen Chenmengyuan, 2024).

3.3 Certification and Compliance

International Standards: EU OK Compost and US BPI certifications promote exports, with initial application fees of several thousand euros and over $1,500, respectively (EU Certification Body, 2024).

Policy Support: China's "dual carbon" policy provides tax incentives, while the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is expected to increase the cost of traditional plastics by 7,200-10,800 yuan/ton, indirectly enhancing the competitiveness of bio-based materials.

4. Application Fields of Bio-based Materials

4.1 Packaging Field

Biodegradable Meal Boxes: PLA/PBAT blends are used to replace expanded polystyrene (EPS). PHA meal boxes piloted by Meituan have been launched in Shenzhen.

Cold Chain Packaging: Shenzhen Chenmengyuan's bio-based cold chain packaging boxes have passed SF Express's pilot test and are planned for mass production in 2024.

4.2 Automotive and Transportation

Lightweight Materials: Cathay Biotech's bio-based polyamide is used in power battery housings, reducing weight by 30% and costs by 20% (Cathay Biotech, 2024).

Interior Soundproofing Cotton: Shenzhen Chenmengyuan has provided BYD with bio-based soundproofing cotton samples, with a bio-based content of 70%.

4.3 Medical and Healthcare

Surgical Sutures: PLA/PHA composites are biocompatible, with a controllable degradation period (6-12 months) (China Chemical Industry News, 2023).

Antimicrobial Materials: The Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed chitosan-based antimicrobial films for wound dressings (Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2024).

4.4 Textile and Agriculture

Eco-friendly Fibers: Fujian Hongkun Chemical Fiber's bio-based composite recycled materials are used in the production of underwear and fishing nets (Fujian Hongkun Chemical Fiber, 2024).

Agricultural Mulch Films: Starch-based materials degrade in the soil within 3 months, reducing "white pollution."

5. Industrial Competition Landscape and Leading Enterprises

5.1 International Enterprises

BASF: BASF has launched biomass-balanced polyethersulfone (PESU), with 50% of fossil raw materials replaced by bio-based raw materials (BASF Annual Report, 2023).

NatureWorks: The world's largest PLA producer, NatureWorks' Ingeo™ series of foaming materials occupy a 30% market share in the food packaging market. It has also collaborated with Adidas to develop compostable midsole foam for sports shoes (NatureWorks, 2024).

Celanese: Celanese has developed bio-based Hytrel® TPC RS40F2 for use in sports shoe midsoles, with a bio-based content of over 20% (Celanese, 2024).

5.2 Domestic Enterprises

Kingfa Sci. & Tech.: The company's main business includes the research, development, production, and sales of modified plastics, fully biodegradable plastics, special engineering plastics, carbon fiber and composite materials, light hydrocarbon and hydrogen energy, and medical and health polymer materials. It has a PBAT production capacity of 120,000 tons and is about to put 30,000 tons of PLA into production. In the first three quarters of 2024, it sold 126,700 tons of biodegradable plastics (Kingfa Sci. & Tech., 2024).

Shenzhen Biyou: Biyou leads the industry in PHA foaming material costs. Through gene editing to optimize bacterial strains, it has tripled PHA production efficiency and reduced costs to 20,000 yuan/ton (industry average: 35,000 yuan/ton). It has collaborated with Huawei to develop bio-based cushioning packaging for electronic products, which passed drop tests in 2023 and is planned for supply chain integration in 2025. It has also jointly piloted the promotion of biodegradable meal boxes with Meituan, which have been launched in some areas of Shenzhen (Shenzhen Biyou Biotech, 2024).

6. Challenges and Future Outlook

6.1 Main Challenges

Cost Pressure: The raw material costs of PLA and PHA are 14,000 yuan/ton and 20,000 yuan/ton, respectively, far exceeding that of traditional plastics (0.5-0.8 million yuan/ton) (Jindan Technology, 2025).

Inadequate Recycling System: The coverage rate of bio-based material recycling networks is less than 30%, and chemical recycling technology has not yet been scaled up.

Performance Limitations: PLA has poor heat resistance (<60℃), and PHA has relatively low mechanical strength, requiring co-polymerization modification to improve (Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2024).

6.2 Future Directions

Technological Innovation: Develop new technologies such as non-food biomass fermentation and CO₂ fixation to drive down PHA costs to below 10,000 yuan/ton (China Chemical Industry News, 2023).

Application Expansion: Explore high value-added fields such as aerospace (bio-based carbon fiber) and electronic devices (bio-based circuit boards).

Policy Synergy: Improve the carbon trading market and establish a recycling subsidy mechanism for bio-based materials to accelerate industrialization.

7. Conclusion

As an important carrier of the green economy, bio-based materials show broad prospects in packaging, automotive, medical, and other fields. Despite facing cost and performance challenges, with technological breakthroughs and policy support, their market share is expected to continue expanding. In the future, it is necessary to strengthen industry-university-research cooperation and build a full industrial chain of "raw materials - preparation - application - recycling" to promote bio-based materials as a core support for achieving "dual carbon" goals.

References

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Guo Peng, Xu Weiliang, Lv Mingfu, Xu Yaohui, Zhang Zongyin, & Gao Dali. (2025). Research Progress of Fully Biodegradable Foaming Materials. Petrochemical Industry, 54(02), 278-287.

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