From carbon to carbohydrates: Corporate strategies for biopolymer technology development

Abstract

Since a few years the worldwide demand for biopolymers is increasing significantly. Many firms are trying to avoid the price spiral of fossil fuels by utilising renewable resources and simultaneously aim to contribute to the fight against climate change. Although market reports on biopolymer technology propose that with technological progress, economies of scale in manufacturing and hence lower costs the potential to substitute petrobased polymers by biopolymers will grow in the coming years, the extent of corporate strategies for industry-wide development of biopolymer technology are not well understood. This article evaluates the chances and risks of biopolymers by presenting results of a case study conducted with 10 German and Swiss firms active in the polymer industry. On the one hand the article demonstrates which importance biopolymers have gained meanwhile in the industry. On the other hand it also shows the different strategies firms apply in order to develop biopolymer technology successfully.