Biodegradable Films Market Report 2026

The biodegradable films market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.43 billion in 2025 to $1.54 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising environmental awareness, government regulations on plastic usage, increasing demand from food packaging sector, growth in personal care and cosmetics packaging, advancements in biodegradable polymer technology.

The biodegradable films market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.04 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expansion of sustainable packaging initiatives, increasing adoption in agriculture and mulch films, technological innovations in high-performance biodegradable polymers, growth in healthcare and pharmaceutical packaging, increasing investments in R&D for natural polymer blends. Major trends in the forecast period include rising adoption of polylactic acid (pla) films, increasing use of starch-based biodegradable films, expansion of biodegradable polyesters in packaging, growth of polyhydroxyalkanoates (pha) for agriculture applications, rising preference for cellulose-based and natural polymer films.

The expanding bioplastics industry worldwide is anticipated to drive the growth of the biodegradable film market in the coming years. Bioplastics are polymers made from renewable or natural resources, and they are increasingly used in biodegradable films as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics due to their renewability and biodegradability. For example, a report from European Bioplastics (EUBP) in December 2023 indicated that global bioplastics production capacity is expected to rise significantly, increasing from approximately 2.18 million metric tons in 2023 to about 7.43 million metric tons by 2028. Consequently, the growth of the bioplastics industry is fueling the expansion of the biodegradable film market.

Major companies in the biodegradable films market are strategically focusing on innovation to boost revenues. The introduction of fully biodegradable biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) exemplifies this approach. BOPP, a type of plastic film, is designed to completely break down into natural elements under specific environmental conditions. In March 2023, Polymateria Limited, a UK-based leader in responsible plastic management, partnered with Toppan Printing Co. Ltd., a Japan-based printing and packaging specialist, to launch this groundbreaking product. The fully biodegradable BOPP, applicable in food and cosmetic packaging, demonstrates unprecedented biodegradation rates. Polymateria's advanced biotransformation technology underpins this achievement, offering a substantial contribution to global efforts in reducing plastic pollution.

In May 2023, TIPA Compostable Packaging, a U.S.-based packaging company, acquired Bio4Pack for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition is intended to broaden TIPA's product portfolio and strengthen its foothold in the European market by promoting innovative and sustainable packaging solutions. This strategic initiative underscores TIPA's commitment to fighting plastic pollution and advancing a circular economy. Bio4Pack, a Germany-based packaging firm, specializes in sustainable packaging solutions, including biodegradable films that decompose more readily than conventional plastics. This emphasis on sustainability helps mitigate environmental impact and supports a circular economy within the packaging industry.

Major companies operating in the biodegradable films market are BASF SE, Futamura Chemical Co Ltd, Taghleef Industries LLC, BioBag International AS, TIPA Corp Ltd, Novamont SpA, NatureWorks LLC, Danimer Scientific Inc, Total Corbion PLA, Mondi Group, Innovia Films Ltd, Toray Industries Inc, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, RKW Group, Walki Group Oy, Clondalkin Group, Groupe Barbier, Kingfa Sci Tech Co Ltd, Armando Alvarez Group, Plastiroll Oy, Chintec Limited, Polynova Industries Inc.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the biodegradable films market share in 2025 and is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the biodegradable films market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the biodegradable films market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The biodegradable film market consists of sales of polycaprolactone, polybutylene adipate terephthalate, and polybutylene succinate. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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