Speaking at the Interpack show, in Dusseldorf, Germany, Andy Sweetman, market development manager of Innovia films, said that it was possible in a few years that we could expect to see a similar trade show devoted solely to bio-based packaging as a reflection of the potential in the market.

However, on the whole the sentiment at the trade show appeared to be mixed over how feasible a claim this was for a relatively fledgling industry.

Biodegradable future

Biodegradable plastics, which are often produced from renewable sources, are being increasingly sought after by food and consumer goods processors as part of a solution to environmental concerns over waste and use of fossil fuels.

Sweetman claimed that while there were concerns in the industry over the impact of renewably sourced packaging further exacerbating growing food prices, the packaging industry had to move to a renewable future.

"Bio-plastics is a young industry, which we often say is still in nappies, so it is possible we won't be using the same materials in another five years," he said. "Nonetheless, we have no choice to move away from non-renewable sources, so we must not put barriers on renewable products that do not exist on non-renewable packaging."

While Sweetman claimed that Innovia itself sourced its Natureflex biodegradable films from wood pulp, food sources are used within the industry.

Innovation

He went on to tell delegates that imposing restrictions on bio-packaging, for example by preventing processors from using packaging materials sourced from food crops or requiring them to use 100 per cent renewable materials, would only setback innovation.

In addressing future areas for bioplastics growth, he highlighted that the use of wheat by-products not needed in the food industry may be a possibility.

View from the flip side

Despite Sweetman's own predictions, other packagers were not quite as convinced of the effect that biodegradable packaging could have on the industry.

BASF, a major supplier of polymers and other chemicals for use in a variety of industries like consumer packaging, said that while it was actively stepping up production of its bioplastic products, the segment remained a small part of its wider operations.

A company spokesperson told CosmeticsDesign sister site BeverageDaily.com that consumers and processors demanded many different properties from their packaging and not all of these would be possible.

She added therefore that bioplastic use in packaging was not always an option, and any applications they may have needed to be carefully suited to a number of criteria.

"It is company policy that bio-based materials should not compete with food production," she stated. "The packaging materials must also have significant environmental benefits for us to move ahead with any concept."