One of the most common plastics, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is used in bottles, films, fibers, and other consumer goods. But the overuse of plastics and the fact that they are not biodegradable are leading to massive plastic pollution in the air, land, and sea. Plus, most of the discarded plastic is left to rot in the open, while a lot of it is burned, with only a fraction of it actually making it to a recycling facility.

Moreover, bioplastics also last longer and offer better breathability, which is important for food products, to keep them fresh. All these advantages are encouraging plastic producers to invest in research and development (R&D) to come up with better bio-based PET and also produce more of it. In 2015, compared to synthetic plastics, only 1% bio-based plastic was produced, and by 2020, the production of the latter was targeted to reach 2.5%.  

For instance, backed by extensive R&D, The Coca-Cola Company developed a fully recyclable PET bottle, named PlantBottle, containing 70% PTA and 30% plant-based PET, in 2015. This followed the creation of a green bottle from pine bark, switch grass, and corn husk by its biggest competitor, PepsiCo Inc., in 2011. Moreover, PepsiCo has plans to replace the PTA in its PlantBottle with plant material, to achieve 100% bioplastic material, and use oat hulls, orange peel, and other agricultural byproducts in such bottles. 

Apart from packaging, which is the largest consumer of this material, bio-based PET is used in numerous other industries, such as electronics, automotive, medical, textile, and horticulture. The demand for bio-based PET is expected to rise the fastest among automakers because of the growing usage of sustainable materials in dashboard components, seat covers, vehicle covers, and battery cases. One of the purposes this is being done is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

It has been found that 6 kg of carbon dioxide is emitted from 1 kg of synthetic plastic, which is contributing to global warming, thus stirring the consciousness of countries to do something about it. As a result, many nations have already introduced stringent laws to check GHG emissions and many more are following suit. For instance, the Energy Transition for Green Growth Law was implemented in France in 2015 to reduce GHG emissions by using lesser nuclear and fossil fuels than before, which is now boosting the usage of bioplastics. 

However, the largest bio-based PET market is not Europe, but Asia-Pacific (APAC), owing to the existence of a large number of companies offering such materials, the preference for which is increasing with the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol by China, Japan, and India. Similarly, since the implementation of the Paris Agreement directives in 2015, Australian plastic manufacturers are focusing on packaging innovations to reduce GHG emissions. All such steps are a result of the high rate of air quality deterioration and increasing prevalence of respiratory diseases in the region.

Thus, with extensive R&D to keep GHG emissions in control and check plastic pollution, the usage of bio-based PET and other sustainable plastics will keep rising.