Publication
As plastics production remains heavily fossil-dependent, plastics produced from biomass feedstocks could be a climate-friendly alternative. However, extensive biomass production is linked to reduced carbon sinks, thus posing an opposing challenge. This study analyses large-scale bioplastics production and its impacts on the energy system and land-use using an Integrated Assessment
As plastics production remains heavily fossil-dependent, plastics produced from biomass feedstocks could be a climate-friendly alternative. However, extensive biomass production is linked to reduced carbon sinks, thus posing an opposing challenge. This study analyses large-scale bioplastics production and its impacts on the energy system and land-use using an Integrated Assessment Model, and quantifies its climate change mitigation potential alongside other system-level impacts. The results indicate that a shift from fossil-based plastics to bioplastics can mitigate climate change cost-efficiently, particularly if techno-economic advancements and the utilization of biomass from residues can be realized. The total use of fossil resources is decreased with the emergence of bioplastics; but total biomass use remains on a similar level than in the scenarios without bioplastics, as the energy use of biomass declines as a response to the increasing bioplastics production. By 2100, bioplastics production is projected to account for roughly a third of total plastics production, with PLA constituting the majority; while drop-in bioplastics have a minor role in overall production.
Tuukka Mattlar, Tommi Ekholm, The impact of bioplastics production on climate change mitigation, fossil fuels and land-use, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 212, 2025, 115234, ISSN 1364-0321, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2024.115234