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Renewable sciences have come a long way in championing the commercial use of more eco-friendly bio based chemicals that further improve the air, water and soil quality around us. Renewable chemicals are produced by novel conversion of organic waste, agricultural residues or feedstock, biomass, and microorganism through green chemistry synthesis in the so called biorefineries. In the last decade, Biorefineries have sprung into existence to produce completely ecofriendly sustainable biochemicals that are made purely from vegetable oils & esters. These biochemicals or renewable chemicals have substituted and are fast gaining commercial acceptance globally in many sectors due to increased consumer awareness and environmental concerns. 

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Global market for these renewable or green chemicals was around $60 billion in 2019 and expected to increase in the coming decade at CAGR of 10-15%. Biopolymers or renewable polymers like Bio Polyethylene (PE) continue to dominate the market growth amongst these green chemistries based renewable process technologies. Europe offers the largest market demand and continues to be the leader while North America remains a large producer of majority of these renewable chemicals or biomaterials.

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Some of the commonly available renewable chemicals or biomaterials are bioethanol, biomethanol, biobutanol, biopolymers like Bio PE/Bio PET, Ketones, Starches, Poly lactic acid (PLA) and other organic compounds. These environmentally friendly as well as renewable biomaterials or chemicals are widely used in food & beverage, textile, personal care, agriculture, transportation, paints and so on. Prominent technologies include metathesis, thermo chemical conversion, enzymatic/acid hydrolysis, dehydrative transformation and fermentation. 

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Trident chemicals has been involved with these leading biorefineries focusing on renewable sciences by commercially producing these specialty renewable chemicals with a strict control and focus on quality. Market demand for specialty biomaterials like these has just begun and we can assist with business development or creating international markets for these niche products besides technology licensing and evaluation.

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Biofertilizers

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What are biofertilizers ?

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Biofertilizers are microbial inoculants that improve the fertility and productivity of plant and soil. Biofertilizers are living microorganisms that help promote the growth by increasing the nutrient availability when applied to plants or seeds. Simply put they trap the atmospheric nitrogen and convert them into a form that is easily assimilated by plants. They also convert insoluble phosphates into plant forms thus helping them grow further. 

Usually produced by fermentation process, the most prominent biofertilizers are bacteria, fungi and cyanobacteria like Blue Green Algae (BGA), Azospirilium, Rhizobium and Azotobacter.

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Biofertilizer Market Demand

 

Increasing demand, consumer awareness for organic fruits and vegetables, soil management practices, hazards of excessive chemical fertilizers usage and govt. subsidies have globally created a rapidly growing market of biofertilizers. In 2020, it is around $2.4 billion global market and is expected to grow around $4- $5 billion by 2025 at CAGR of 11% approx. India, China, Brazil and South Africa offer a huge opportunity potential for the coming decade due to rising economies and growing population.

 

Liquid biofertilizers are the latest innovation in this arena and offer better tolerance and shelf life (18-36 months) compared to traditional carrier based biofertilizers. Thus, making it a potential game changer for farmers in developing nations that can afford it reasonably.

 

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India happens to be the largest fertilizer consumer in the world as well as second largest producer of fertilizers in the world. Increasing soil water contamination plus rapidly rising economy combined with population growth offers best market to expand biofertilizers in India. Government of India in a bid to boost the soil as well as nutrient quality of Fruits and Vegetables is actively promoting the use of biofertilizers for farmers in India.

 

Biodegradable Boxes & Compostable Packaging Materials

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Plastic pollution has alarmingly affected the human life, ocean health, food quality and our environment by means of climate change due to their inability to decompose back into the nature. Crude oil derived Plastic (petro plastic) takes more than 400-500 years to decompose which severely affects aquatic and wildlife that become intoxicated. These toxins (Bisphenol A or BPA) unfortunately enter the human food chain leading to numerous health issues and diseases.

 

Consumer awareness has led to a tremendous increase in demand of these ecofriendly compostable, fully renewable, sustainable and biodegradable products in the form of to go meal boxes, lids, tea and coffee cups, takeout containers, fully recyclable paper bags, biodegradable straws and various other forms of packaging as well as environmentally friendly shipping materials.

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What are biodegradable boxes & compostable packaging materials

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Types of biodegradable boxes & compostable packaging materials

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Biodegradable packaging materials are usually biopolymers that use raw materials like cellulose or proteins derived from biomass, plant waste or plant products. Biodegradable packaging materials are eco- friendly and used as films, coatings, bags, and boxes.

 

Corrugated cardboards are an example of biodegradable material while starch based fully renewable ecofriendly bioplastics, packaging peanuts made from crop based sources such as corn, grain sorghum, potatoes etc, mushroom, cornstarch and seaweed packaging, are examples of compostable packaging materials.

 

Bioplastics typically have the same properties as petrochemical based plastic like being water resistant, temperature resistant and flexible which makes them excellent materials for long term storage as well as shipping purposes.

 

Starch is one of the most common sources of producing these biopolymers or sustainable packaging materials. Polylactic acid (PLA) is a renewable bioplastic is produced from cornstarch and demonstrates similar if not better properties compared to polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene followed by Chitin which is predominantly found in the skins of insects, walls of fungi and shells of shellfish. Starch-Chitin based biofilms act as a good antimicrobial coating preventing perishables like fruits and vegetables from coming into contact with air and are thus used to extend the shelf life of food products.

 

Global and India market demand for biodegradable & compostable packaging materials

 

Starting in 2021, Europe has decided to put ban on single use plastics like straws, buds,disposable cutlery, and others similar products. Walmart recently announced use of PLA based biodegradable containers for their vegetables/produce. Starbucks is working closely to create eco friendly coffee cups, lids and straws by using Polylactic Acid derived ecofriendly and sustainable products. McDonalds has decided to get rid of single use plastic straws by replacing with environmentally friendly disposable materials. BASF, Frito Lays and Dow Chemicals all are either actively working or have launched compostable and biodegradable products from plant based crops to the benefit of environment and its global consumers.

 

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The estimated global ecofriendly food packaging market in 2020 is expected to be around $160 billion and grow at CAGR of 9-12% until the year 2030 due to increasing consumer demand as well as strict regulatory laws and compliances by governing bodies across the globe. Market continues to grow and the global Covid 19 impact is further boosting the pent up demand of these low carbon footprint and renewable packaging materials.

 

India is setting up to be an active contract manufacturing and export hub for these biodegradable packaging boxes to the largest markets in USA & Europe, thanks to the wide scale availability of agricultural crops, plant waste or biomass in India. Trident chemicals can help its clients or investors establish a JV with local manufacturing companies or build a plant in Special economic zones (SEZ) in India and avail larger subsidies and government tax benefits.