The largest PHA production line in China has landed in Jiangsu, and listed companies in the biodegradable plastics industry have accelerated production expansion

With the intensive implementation of policies in the past two years, the market space for degradable plastics has suddenly opened up, and companies are enthusiastic about expanding production and have announced plans to expand or build new production capacity

Reported by a reporter from China Times ( from Nanjing

At the beginning of the new year, with the construction of an aquamarine biodegradable plastic PHA production line covering an area of ​​about 130 mu in Binhai County, Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, a new competitor has been added to the large-scale production of degradable plastics

With the intensive implementation of environmental protection policies in the past two years, the market space for degradable plastics has suddenly opened up

"China announced a ban on the import of waste plastics in 2018, and issued a new plastic restriction order in 2020, which began to promote the use of degradable plastics to replace ordinary plastics at home and abroad

In fact, in the past two years, both PBAT and PLA have been greatly expanded, and now PHA has also joined the track of degradable plastics by substantially reducing costs

The largest PHA production line in China landed in Jiangsu

At the beginning of the new year in 2022, the construction of a blue crystal biodegradable plastic PHA production line covering an area of ​​130 acres started in Binhai County, Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province

The so-called PHA is the English abbreviation of polyhydroxy fatty acid ester.

"The global annual production of plastic waste is close to 300 million tons, nearly 80% of which are landfilled or directly into the natural environment, and less than 10% of plastics are recycled, causing serious and irreversible damage to soil management and the marine environment.

"The currently used degradable materials include starch composites, PLA, PBAT, PBS, PHA, etc.

However, even with the current high prices, there is a specific market need for PHA

However, things may be different today

The plastic restriction order promotes the rapid development of degradable plastics

The white pollution caused by traditional petroleum-based plastics is one of the most concerned environmental problems in the world in recent years

Previously, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced the "Opinions on Further Strengthening the Control of Plastic Pollution" in January 2020, prohibiting the production and sale of ultra-thin plastic shopping bags with a thickness of less than 0.

Later, in July 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission and other nine ministries and commissions jointly issued the "Notice on Solidly Promoting Plastic Pollution Control", which clearly stated that from January 1, 2021, non-degradable plastic bags, plastic tableware and disposable plastic bags will be banned.

"The development of degradable plastics has been very slow in the early stage.

"The domestic plan is to gradually expand the production and use restrictions on ordinary disposable plastic products in three steps by 2025, which will bring tens of millions of tons of degradable alternative space

The reporter of "China Times" noticed that with the intensive implementation of policies in the past two years, the market space for degradable plastics has suddenly opened up.
Enterprises are enthusiastic about expanding production and have announced plans to expand or build new production capacity
.

Taking PBAT as an example, at the beginning of 2021, the domestic PBAT production capacity is 687,000 tons, and the planned production capacity is 4.
633 million tons
.
As of the third quarter, a total of 71 companies announced the layout of PBAT, and the existing + under construction + planned production capacity of PBAT including long-term planning has soared to 18.
861 million tons
.
In terms of PLA, it is estimated from the production capacity construction plan that 560,000 tons of new production capacity will be added in 2021-2022, and a large number of long-term polylactic acid production capacity plans will be added.
As of October 22, PLA's existing + under construction + planned production capacity has increased to 451.
6 million/year
.
And now, PHA has also found a way to massively reduce costs
.
"In the long run, PHA/PLA/PBAT will coexist for a long time and complement each other, but as the production scale of PHA gradually expands and the cost is greatly reduced, it is expected that the market will far exceed PLA and PBAT in the future
.
" Li Teng believes
.

"The current degradable plastics market will still focus on diversification and capacity expansion.
In the short term, it will rely on the dual route of petrochemical-based raw materials and bio-based raw materials - multi-variety development
.
" Ni Ji said
.