Bioplastics Manufacturers in China: Our Top 10 Picks

Bioplastics can be used to manufacture everything from sunglasses to kitchen products and grocery bags. In this guide, we list some of the most common bioplastics available on the market today – and companies in China manufacturing products using bioplastics.

The materials covered in this guide include polylactic acid (PLA), cellulose acetate, plastarch material (PSM), polybutylene succinate (PBS), and other bioplastics.

Supplier List

• Henan Green Polymer
• Sichuan Push Acetati
• BioLogiQ
• Shandong Landian Biological Technology
• Zhejiang Biodegradable Advanced Material
• PSM (HK) Limited
• Suzhou Hanfeng New Material
• Jiangsu Longjun Environmental Protection Industrial Development
• Anhui Jumei Biological Technology
• Guangdong Huazhilu Biomaterial

Disclaimer

We are not affiliated with any of the companies listed in this guide. We have selected these companies based on their claimed product scope, history, certification, and capabilities.

List of Bioplastics

Bioplastic is made of chemical compounds that are derived from or synthesized by microbes or genetically modified plants.

Plants such as sugarcane and corn, or microbes such as yeast are common sources used to produce bioplastics. In most cases, bioplastics should be degradable into water and CO2 in the natural environment within several weeks to several months.

In this section, we introduce several types of bioplastic materials that can be found in the Chinese market.

Polylactic Acid (PLA)

PLA is a type of polyester that is produced from the conversion of dextrose from plants such as corn, sugarcane, wheat, and tapioca roots. PLA is made from renewable sources and is biodegradable, thermoplastic, high-strength, and high-modulus. These characteristics make it a plausible alternative to PET or PP.

The application of PLA for industrial purposes include the following:

• Compostable packaging material
• Disposable tableware
• Upholstery
• Diapers
• Polymeric scaffold for drug delivery purposes

Cellulose Acetate

Cellulose acetate is a natural plastic, which is produced from purified natural cellulose from cotton linter or wood pulp. Cellulose acetate must be combined with plasticizers or other polymers during industrial application.

Cellulose acetate is highly biodegradable in soil and seawater. The application of cellulose acetate as a bioplastic source include the following:

• Glasses frames
• Filament yarn
• Cigarette filters
• Cosmetic microbeads
• Protective film in LCD polarizing panels

Plastarch Material (PSM)

Plastarch material, or PSM, is a bioplastic made from plant starch and other biodegradable materials. The cornstarch is modified in order to strengthen the heat-resistant properties of the material, which makes PSM be highly resistant to heat.

The properties of PSM are similar to the ones of polypropylene and CPET, which enables it to be used in thermoforming and injection molding lines.

The applications of PSM in the plastic market include:

• Food packaging
• Disposable utensils
• Plastic bags
• Cosmetic bottles
• Agricultural film
• Window insulation

Biobased PE

Polyethylene (PE) is a petroleum-based polymer. In recent years, bio polyethylenes have arisen in the market as the alternative to oil-based PE. Biobased PE is made out of ethanol, which is transformed into ethylene after a dehydration process. Biobased PE can be made from various agricultural products such as sugarcane, sugar beet, wheat grain, and soybean.

The most common types of bio polyethylene used in industrial purposes include:

• Bio low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
• High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
• Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)

The application of biobased PE include:

• Food packaging
• Consumer goods packaging
• Grocery bags
• Beverage containers

Polybutylene Succinate (PBS)

Polybutylene succinate (PBS) is synthesized by polycondensation between succinic acid and butanediol.

PBS plastic is biodegradable, which means it can decompose into water and carbon dioxide under the soil. In addition, PBS is melt-processable, thermal, and chemical-resistant. Therefore, PBS has potential applications in various fields, including textiles and plastics.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)

Polyhydroxyalkanoates or PHA are polyesters that are produced in nature by bacterial fermentation of sugars or lipids. The fermentation process of PHA can also be produced artificially, using bio-derived feedstocks, including waste. This makes PHA-based plastic become an alternative to fossil fuel-derived plastics.

PHA polymers are biodegradable, biocompatible, thermoplastic, and are, depending on the composition, ductile and more or less elastic.

The application of PHA include:

• Foam packaging
• Carrier bags
• Phone cases
• Disposable gloves and aprons
• Drug delivery and tissue engineering scaffolds

Polybutyrate Adipate Terephthalate (PBAT)

PBAT is partially derived from petroleum. However, it is biodegradable and often combined with PLA to produce plastic packaging, coatings, and foam

Examples of these products include:

• Plastic films and bottles
• Shopping bags
• Plastic coatings for paper and cardboard
• Packaging foams

Which products can be manufactured using bioplastics?

In this section, we list examples of products that can be produced using bioplastic materials.

Food Contact Products

Most of the bioplastic materials we discussed in the previous sections have a history of or are currently applied in the food contact product industry.

However, material property, cost, production difficulty, access ability to raw materials, market acceptance degree, and other factors may affect the production output of certain bioplastic food contact products.

Currently, starch-based PLAs seem to be the most common raw materials used in the biodegradable food contact product industry. Example of products include:

• Disposable tableware
• Disposable utensils
• Drinking straws
• Wrapping films

Bags

Another common application of bioplastics is disposable bags such as shopping bags, T-shirt bags, and grocery bags. Nowadays, the research and development of bioplastic bags are largely stimulated by the overuse of petroleum-based single-use plastic bags.

Eyewear

Some eyewear companies have launched partially or 100% bio-plastic-based eyeglass frames in recent years. These frames can be made from PLA, PHB, and cellulose acetate.

Famous eyewear brands that produce bioplastic glasses:

• Timberland
• Awear
• Banton Frame Works

Toys

Toy companies in recent years also use “made with bioplastic” as a selling point to parents. This is because the idea of bioplastic is often associated with greener material, toxic-free, biodegradability, and other merits.

As a result, toys made with bioplastic materials such as PLA and PHA have become increasingly popular in recent years.

Famous children’s toy brands that produce bioplastic toys:

• Dantoy
• LEGO
• PlayMais
• Mattel

Accessories

Some manufacturers also use bioplastic to produce accessories or other small applications such as:

• Filter bags
• Hand tools
• Magic tapes
• Cigarette filter tows
• Filaments
• Glass frames
• Lacquer

Packaging

Packaging such as wrapping films for food preservation purposes, mulch film for agriculture produce, and plastic packaging for general consumer products can be made with the following bioplastics:

• LDPE
• LLDPE
• HDPE
• PBAT
• PLA
• PHA

List of Bioplastics Manufacturers in China

The following section is a list of Chinese manufacturers that produce bioplastic materials and products. We introduce the company history, business scope, and capability.

Henan Green Polymer

Established in 2015, Henan Green Polymer is a manufacturer specialized in R&D, production, and sales of biodegradable materials and packaging products.

The company adopts injection molding and film extrusion techniques to process PBAT and corn-starch-based PLA to manufacture finished products such as disposable shopping bags and tableware.

Main Materials

• PLA
• PBAT

Main Products

• Shopping bags
• Garbage bags
• Cutlery
• Straw

Summary

• Certification: OK Compost Home
• Compliance: EN 13432, ASTM D6400
• MOQ: Not mentioned
• Samples offered: Not mentioned

Location: National Bio-based Industry park, Nanle, Puyang, Henan, China

Sichuan Push Acetati

Sichuan Push Acetati is a Sino-Italian joint venture based in Yibin, Sichuan. The company was founded in 2007 and committed to the R&D, production, and export of cellulose acetate and acetic anhydride.

Push Acetati mainly produces cellulose acetate and cellulose triacetate of plastic and textile grade. According to their description, these materials have a wide scope of application, which can be used as the materials for the following products:

• Glass frames
• Hand tools
• Magic tapes
• Cigarette filter tows
• Lacquer
• Filaments
• Glass frames
• Protective film of polarizers

Currently, Push Acetati has two plants specialized in the production of acetic acid and acetic anhydride, with a capacity of 160,000 tons and 60,000 tons per year. The full-time employees include 50 chemists in addition to 500 staff.

Main Materials

• Cellulose acetate
• Acetic anhydride

Summary

• Certification: ISO 9001, ISO 1400, OHSAS 18001
• Compliance: REACH
• MOQ: Not mentioned
• Samples offered: Not mentioned

Location: Songjiaba Industrial Area, Changing, Yibin, Sichuan, China

BioLogiQ

BioLogiQ is an American technology company that focuses on the research and innovation of plastic materials made with the combination of agricultural products such as potato, corns and cassava, and petroleum-based polymers.

Currently, BioLogiQ has a research center and an experimental plant based in Idaho, US, as well as a factory in Guangdong, China.

BioLogiQ adopts different types of processing techniques during its manufacturing procedure, such as:

• Blown film
• Blow molding
• Sheet extrusion
• Thermoforming
• Injection molding

BioLogiQ undertakes projects designing or producing plastic products of various sorts from different industries, including food contact products, packaging, and agriculture.

Main Materials

• LDPE
• LLDPE
• HDPE
• PBAT
• PLA
• PHA

Main Products

• Trash can liners
• Courier bags
• Boat shrink film
• Single wound sheeting
• Agricultural film
• Produce bags
• Industrial packaging film
• Lotion bottles
• Cups lids
• Electronic component packaging
• Cutlery

Summary

• Certification: OK Compost, USDA
• Compliance: EN 13432, ASTM D6400, ASTM D5338, ASTM D5511, ASTM D5526, ASTM D6400, ASTM D6691
• MOQ: Not mentioned
• Samples offered: Not mentioned

Location: Shaoguan, Guangdong, China

Shandong Landian Biological Technology

Shandong Landian Biological Technology engages in the research and production of succinic- acid-based materials from Shandong. The succinic-acid-based materials supply to industries such as bioplastics, dietary supplements, food preservatives, and cosmetics.

The succinic-acid-based polybutylene succinate (PBS) produced by Landian can be used as the main material to product bioplastic products, such as:

• Garbage bags
• Packaging bags
• Cosmetics bottles
• Pharmaceutical bottles
• Tableware
• Baby diapers,
• Landscaping nets and membranes
• Disposable medical supplies

Currently, the factory of Shandong Landian Biological Technology covers an area of more than 1 million square meters and produces around 25,000 tons of polybutylene succinate annually.

Main Materials

• Polybutylene succinate (PBS)

Summary

• Certification: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001
• Compliance: FDA, REACH
• MOQ: 0.5 ton
• Samples offered: Not mentioned

Location: High-tech Industrial Park, Yangkou Town, Shouguang City, Shandong, China

Zhejiang Biodegradable Advanced Material

Founded in 2019, Zhejiang Biodegradable Advanced Material is a technology company that specializes in the research and production of biodegradable materials and products. The company mainly produces PLA and PBAT-based products.

PLA and PBAT materials are suitable to be processed by different techniques such as film blowing, blister modeling, and injection, to be produced into biodegradable materials or finished products for the industry of medical devices, food catering, agriculture, and household products.

Main Materials

• Corn-starched-based PLA modified resin
• PBAT modified resin

Main Products

• Packaging films
• Plastic bags
• Non-woven bags
• Disposable tableware

Summary

• Certification: ISO1183, ISO1133, ISO527
• Compliance: EN 13432, AS 4736
• MOQ: 1 ton
• Samples offered: Not mentioned

Location: Shunyang Technology Industrial Park, Qingshan Lake Science and Technology City, Lin’an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

PSM (HK) Limited

PSM (HK) Limited was established in 2005 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wuhan Huali Environmental Technology Co. Ltd. The company focuses on the research and production of bioplastic resins to supply various industries including food-contact products, packaging, and products.

PSM’s full service packages include

• Product design
• Tooling, extrusion
• Injection
• Absorption
• Flexography
• Gravure printing
• Quality assurance
• Logistics management

According to the information shown on the official website of PSM, the resin materials have obtained the following GB and ISO standards to certify the density, elongation strength, elongation at break, and bio-carbon content:

a. GB T1033 / ISO 1183: Methods for determining the density of non-cellular plastics

b. GB T1040 / ISO527: Determination of tensile properties of plastics

The industrial application of PSM’s biodegradable resins include:

• Filter bags
• Preservation bags
• Disposable gloves
• Tablecloths
• Aprons
• Raincoats
• Home appliance packaging film
• Automotive interior packaging film
• Dust-proof packaging film
• Medical sanitary film
• Agricultural mulch film

Main Materials

• Biodegradable resins

Main Products

• Biodegradable resins
• Packaging films
• Plastic bags
• Non-woven bags
• Disposable tableware

Summary

• Certification: Not mentioned
• Compliance: REACH, EN 13432, ASTM D6400, ASTM D6866, GB T1033/ISO 1183, GB T1040/ISO527
• MOQ: 1 ton
• Samples offered: Not mentioned

Location: No. 1, Xingfu 3 Road, Miaoshan Economic Development Zone, Jiangxia District, Wuhan, Hebei, China

Suzhou Hanfeng New Material

Founded in 2004, Suzhou Hanfeng New Material is a high-tech enterprise specialized in R&D, production, and sales of biodegradable materials and products. Suzhou Hanfeng New Material has established a subsidiary based in Suzhou that has an annual output of 35,000 tons of cassava starch.

And the company works with local university labs to conduct research to modify and combine the cassava starch with petroleum-based plastics such as PP, and polyolefin resins into bio-based and biodegradable materials.

Main Materials

• Starch-based masterbatch
• Cassava-based masterbatch

Main Products

• Tableware
• Film bags

Summary

• Certification: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 14855, OHSAS 18001, OK Compost
• Compliance: ASTM D6400, ASTM D6866,
• MOQ: Not mentioned
• Samples offered: Not mentioned

Location: No.6, Xinsheng Road, Huaqiao Economic Development Zone, Kunshan City, Jiangsu, China

Jiangsu Longjun Environmental Protection Industrial Development

Jiangsu Longjun Environmental Protection Industrial Development is a manufacturer that produces biodegradable plastic resins and products supplying the hotel, catering, and supermarket industry.

The company mainly crops such as corn, sweet potatoes, wheat straws, rice husks as the main material to modify them into bioplastics.

Currently, the company currently has nearly 150 employees, including over 50 engineers and technical personnel.

Main Materials

• PLA plastics
• PHA plastics
• PHBV plastics

Main Products

• Containers
• Tableware
• Bags

Summary

• Certification: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 14855, ASTM D6866
• Compliance: Not mentioned
• MOQ: 20,000 pcs
• Samples offered: Not mentioned

Location: No.6, Xinsheng Road, Huaqiao Economic Development Zone, Kunshan City, Jiangsu, China

Anhui Jumei Biological Technology

Anhui Jumei Biological Technology was founded in 2012 with a focus on producing cornstarch-based plastic materials and products. The application of Jumei’s materials includes biodegrading shopping bags, disposable tableware, and food packaging films.

Main Materials

• PBAT corn starch material
• PLA injection molding grade material
• PLA blown film material

Main Products

• Wrapping films
• Disposable food trays
• Straws

Summary

• Certification: DIN CERTCO
• Compliance: EN 13432, ASTM D6400
• MOQ: Not mentioned
• Samples offered: Not mentioned

Location: No.28, Southern part of the high & new technology park, Wuhu city, Anhui, China

Guangdong Huazhilu Biomaterial

Guangdong Huazhilu BioMaterial was founded in 2008 in Puning as a biodegradable plastic bag manufacturer.

The company has a factory of more than 50,000 square meters, producing starch and cassava-based food-graded injection molded resins, which are mainly used as the material to produce refrigerated storage of food packaging and microwavable packaging.

Main Materials

• Starch-based biodegradable resin (additive type)
• Starch-based biodegradable injection-molded resin

Main Products

• Biodegradable shopping bags
• Freezer bags
• Biodegradable gloves

Summary

• Certification: Not mentioned
• Compliance: EN 13432, ASTM D6400
• MOQ: Not mentioned
• Samples offered: Not mentioned

Location: Qilin Industrial Zone, Puning, Guangdong, China