Introducing sustainability goals to long standing, established industries can be difficult. However, global environmental awareness and ramped up regulations are proving to help make changes across major sectors, with the creation of bioproducts and reduced emission processes. IDTechEx's portfolio of Sustainability Research Reports and Subscriptions covers technologies including bioplastics, biomanufacturing, and biofuels.
Bioplastics and PLA
With the undeniably ever-growing demand for plastic, sustainable alternatives are becoming increasingly necessary to reduce fossil fuel and petrochemical reliance, and to lessen plastic pollution and the impact on the environment. Bioplastics are up and coming as a new means of creating packaging and other plastic products that are made from biomass feedstocks, with some of them being biodegradable and therefore able to contribute to circularity within the plastics sector.
Polylactic acid (PLA) is one example of a bioplastic which is biodegradable, being 100% sourced from biomass like sugarcane. PLA can be used for packaging, textiles, and in 3D printing, and can be thermoformed or injection molded, making it a versatile option across a wide range of applications as it acts as a great replacement for non-compostable plastics. PET and PEF are other types of plastic that have the potential to be bio-sourced, which are explored in IDTechEx's report, "Bioplastics 2026-2036: Technology, Market, Players, and Forecasts", along with the best suited applications for bioplastics and forecasts for their uptake. Higher costs of production and reduced durability are, however, two drawbacks of bioplastics that are also explored in the report.
The use of white biotechnology in sustainable production
Biomanufacturing refers to the process of manufacturing products with biological systems, such as white biotechnology, which uses enzymes and microorganisms to create a variety of things from chemicals and food to detergents and textiles. IDTechEx's report, "Biomanufacturing Specialty Chemicals 2026-2036: Technologies, Markets, Players, Forecasts", lists vitamins, amino acids, pigments, cosmetic actives, and specialty chemical ingredients as examples of what white biotechnology can be used to produce, with anything from yeast, fungi, bacteria, and enzymes. Feedstocks will undergo a biomanufacturing process and further refining, such as industrial fermentation, before being transformed into the final product.
Sustainability goals are acting as a huge driver for white biotechnology, with government initiatives also providing means of encouraging growth within the sector. Restrictions on environmentally harmful products, like additives and colourants, are creating space in the market for new products which can come about as a result of biomanufacturing, with players already showing interest in switching to more sustainable processes and products.
Biodiesel and sustainable feedstocks
These sustainability trends are also carrying through to the transportation sector, where alongside electric vehicles and zero-emission vehicles, biofuels are being created to ensure that less petrochemicals are used, while also still being compatible with existing infrastructure. The delayed EV transition and large number of ICE vehicles still on the road has driven interest in biofuels as a short-term sustainable solution, as ensuring that fuels contain less fossil fuel origins is more of a feasible option, reflected in the many companies now developing biodiesel made from waste vegetable oils.
IDTechEx's report, "Sustainable Biofuels & E-Fuels Market 2026-2036: Technologies, Players, Forecasts", explores different types of biofuels, including conventional and advanced, and the various feedstocks that can be used for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation biofuels. For example, 1st generation uses food crops and food oils, while at the other end of the spectrum, 4th generation will see genetically engineered microorganisms, algae, or even captured CO2 being used as feedstocks, to ensure that biofuels will not only be only safer for the environment, but actively contributing to processes that utilize excess carbon dioxide. IDTechEx's report, "Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) Markets 2026-2036: Technologies, Market Forecasts, and Players", explores the capture and storage technologies that will make this possible.
For more information, visit IDTechEx's portfolio of Sustainability Research Reports and Subscriptions for the latest research and developments across the sustainability sector, including key players, trends, and forecasts.
