The UK bioeconomy supports approximately 5 million jobs and contributes around £220 billion in gross value added to the economy. In recent years, there has been a surge in businesses focusing on environmental solutions, with engineering biology at the core of their work. Companies offering solutions for climate change, alternatives to fossil fuels, and other sustainability goals are attracting significant investment. One key area is plastics, where 93% of global production is derived from fossil fuels. Since the development of Bakelite more than a century ago, plastics have been designed for functionality and cost, with little regard for environmental impact. Most plastics are single-use, and 70% of them end up being incinerated, while only 22% were recycled as of 2019.
Recycling alone is not sufficient to address the issue of plastic waste due to factors such as cost, food contamination, and environmental degradation. Plastics contribute to a wide range of global issues, including microplastic pollution, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions. The term “bioplastics” often causes confusion, as it refers both to plastics made from biological materials and those that are biodegradable, which are two distinct properties. Bio-based plastics are produced from materials of biological origin but are more expensive to produce than fossil-based plastics, often costing 2 to 4 times more. Furthermore, these bio-based plastics may not perform as well as their fossil-based counterparts without supportive legislation or financial backing.
Despite growing consumer interest in sustainable products, competitive pricing remains a major factor in their adoption. For example, switching to bio-based alternatives for plastic bottles could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45-55%, but bio-based plastics still account for just 1% of the global plastics market. Avantium, a company collaborating with brands like Danone and Carlsberg, is working on bio-based plastics and plans to open a pilot manufacturing facility by the end of the year.
The first bioplastic was discovered in 1926, yet many companies still struggle to achieve profitability. Successful examples include Kaneka’s 100% bio-based polymer, Green Planet™, and TotalEnergy Corbion’s use of sugarcane fermentation to produce bio-based plastics. However, these achievements often come from companies with revenues in the millions or billions of pounds.
Consumers often misunderstand the difference between biodegradable and compostable products, which can lead to improper disposal and more plastic waste. The UK compostable market is expected to grow significantly by 2025, driven by increasing food waste collection and consumer education. Biome Bioplastics is one company addressing the plastics problem, offering bio-based and compostable packaging solutions. The company’s products, such as tea bags and coffee pods, are becoming more popular, especially in Europe and North America. However, bio-based products struggle to compete with fossil-based alternatives on price.
The UK government aims to ensure that 80% of plastics will come from bio-based or waste-derived alternatives by 2035. Biome has been investing in research and development to create novel bio-based plastics with enhanced functionality and biodegradability. Collaborating with UK universities and international institutions, the company has been working to develop and scale up its production processes. One of Biome’s significant challenges is the lack of access to the necessary research equipment and expertise for scaling up production.
The company has recently partnered with The London Biofoundry, which has provided the tools and knowledge to accelerate their research and improve their production capacity. Access to such Biofoundries is limited in the UK, but expanding these hubs would make it easier and more affordable for companies to pursue sustainable innovations, contributing to the growth of the UK bioeconomy.
Biome Technologies plc (LON:BIOM) is a growth oriented, commercially driven technology group. The Group’s primary activity is the development of its fast growing business in bioplastics. The Group comprises two divisions: Biome Bioplastics and Stanelco RF Technologies.
