Starch-based Packaging Market By Type (Starch Blended with Biodegradable Polymers, Thermoplastic Starch {TPS}, Foamed Starch Packaging, Coated or Laminated Starch Films, Molded Starch Packaging), By Source of Starch (Corn Starch, Potato Starch, Wheat Starch, Cassava Starch, Rice Starch, Others), By Form (Rigid Packaging, Flexible Packaging, Foams, Films & Wraps, Others), By Processing Technology (Injection Molding, Extrusion, Blow Molding, Thermoforming, Casting), and By End-user (Food & Beverage, Agriculture, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care & Cosmetics, Electronics, Consumer Goods, Others), Global Market Size, Segmental analysis, Regional Overview, Company share analysis, Leading Company Profiles And Market Forecast, 2025 – 2035

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What trends will shape Starch-based Packaging market in the coming years?

The Starch-based Packaging market accounted for USD 8.01 Billion in 2024 and USD 8.54 Billion in 2025 is expected to reach USD 16.23 Billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of around 6.63% between 2025 and 2035. The starch-based packaging market is concerned with the production of packaging materials using natural resources such as corn and potatoes. Starch is a natural source of packaging material which provides an alternative option to the conventional packaging material, which is plastic, which is biodegradable and hence environmentally friendly. This market is picking up as more people are cautious about environmental issues, and plastic waste is subject to tightening laws. The future trend of the industry is to use the starch-based packaging innovation to enhance its durability and water resistance, the increase in the blends with other biopolymers, and the growth of consumer attraction to sustainable products. Moreover, new technologies of manufacturing are helping to lower the prices so that these materials become competitive. In general, the industry is gaining momentum on the governmental level and on the global level, pushing toward establishing circular economies.

What do industry experts say about the Starch-based Packaging market trends?

"For food packaging applications, some starch‑based coatings now offer oil and grease resistance and oxygen barrier performance comparable to traditional synthetics—without PFAS."

• Chris Plant, Senior Director of Industrial Ingredients at Ingredion

"Our CornNext‑17 material is fully biodegradable and certified for home composting. It decomposes within 30 days in natural environments and is even safe for wildlife consumption."

• David Xu, Fractional CFO of Corn Next

Which segments and geographies does the report analyze? 

What are the key drivers and challenges shaping the Starch-based Packaging market?

How does increasing eco-awareness promote starch-based packaging consumption worldwide?

The growth of eco-consciousness is very influential to the use of packaging made of starch across the world since it manages to affect the tendency of both consumers and big companies in favour of sustainable sources. They expect that as individuals become increasingly aware of the problem of plastic pollution and its adverse effects on the environment, the need to use biodegradable materials such as starch-based packaging will increase. This trend has been emphasised by governments and educational institutions, as the Facts and Figures of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) shared that every year there are more than 300 million tonnes of plastic waste, which are hardly recycled at all (9%).

A 2023 report of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) points out that biodegradable packaging limits the amount of waste that can circulate in landfills and carbon footprint significantly when compared to non-biodegradable plastics. Because of this increased level of eco-consciousness, it is expected that companies will shift to the use of starch-based packaging so that they will comply better with the new, harsher environmental targets as well as consumer demand, which is stimulating the growth in the market around the world. Packaging with starch enjoys a new level of investment and innovation in sustainable packaging in line with the international environmental agenda.

Why are food industries rapidly adopting biodegradable packaging for sustainability?

Government regulations, consumer awareness of sustainability issues, and the need to manage and care for the environment are the main drivers behind the food industry's rapid development of biodegradable packaging. The packaging materials used traditionally are a major contributor to pollution, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicating that only approximately 9% of plastics are recycled, with most of them being in landfills or oceans. This has prompted governments all over the world to insist on tighter controls of single-use plastics. For instance, the directive of the European Union on single-use plastics seeks to cut down on the waste of plastic by prohibiting some and promoting biodegradable versions.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. favours the creation of biodegradable food packaging materials such as starch-based films to mitigate the impact on the environment. University research on Cornell and MIT notes the biodegradability and compostability of packaging made of starch, and this explains why the packaging has become an option.

According to a consumer survey by the USDA, more than 70% of consumers purchase products using sustainable packaging, so the food companies will attempt to use eco-friendly packaging materials to satisfy the demand over time and be able to conform to policies aimed at reducing plastic waste. This is a confluence of forces, regulation, environmental urgency, and consumer preference behind the rapid transition toward biodegradable packaging in the food industry.

What production limitations affect efficiency in starch packaging manufacturing processes?

The constraints imposed on production, in terms of efficiency in the manufacture of starch-based packages, are linked to the variable qualities of raw materials, processing problems, and size constraints. Agriculturally derived items like starch (corn or potatoes), which are used in packaging, may be of erratic quality and be affected by variations in seasons and localities. The packaging made of starch needs specific moisture conditions and temperature control of extrusion and moulding processes, which may limit productivity in comparison with traditional plastics. There are modifications to equipment that have to be made to process something biodegradable, which usually results in more downtime and maintenance.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) argues that variability of crop production and starch quality has a direct impact on the uniformity of biopolymer feedstocks. Further, the production technology of starch-based packaging today is not very efficient in throughput, and mass-producing starch-based packaging would not be as efficient as petroleum-based packaging. All these limit the scalability and economic scales of starch-based packaging, which affects widespread market uptake.

Will rising e-commerce adoption create new demand for green packaging?

A growing use of e-commerce is a major cause of new green packaging demand, especially starch packaging, because of the advocacy of environmental concerns and governmental regulations. Since online shopping is gaining momentum every year, especially with the 44% e-commerce sales increase in 2021 over 2019, as noted by the U.S. Census Bureau, packaging-related waste increased, and sustainable solutions are in demand. Packaging made out of starch is biodegradable and compostable, a factor that makes it ideal for cutting down plastic pollution in e-commerce practice.

Bio-based materials should be promoted because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emphasises the need to reduce the amount of plastic waste. The European Union's Packaging Waste Directive encourages the use of starch-based solutions in conjunction with recyclable and biodegradable packaging. With consumers' expectations to use green products and environmental targets in mind, the massive growth of the e-commerce market presents a great opportunity for the use of starch-based packaging products as a substitute for traditional plastics.

Are startups innovating better starch-packaging models using regional biomaterials?

The trend is shifting towards a high level of innovativeness by startups in the area of starch packaging, being biodegradable and sustainable through the exploitation of regional biomaterials to come up with sustainable solutions as alternatives to traditional plastics. These companies pack locally available starches, which they find, e.g., cassava in Southeast Asia, corn in the United States, and potatoes in Europe, eliminating emissions and the costs of their transportation systems.

For instance, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicates that there has been a steady increase in the success of starch made out of corn and other crops as demand for bio-based products increases, which portrays the agricultural sector as a non-exhaustive producer of packaging materials.

Further, scientific studies conducted by universities such as Wageningen University in the Netherlands underline the possibility of using new composites with starches improved by local natural fibres to increase mechanical performance and biodegradability. Such a combination of local biomaterial processing and material science innovation makes startups the leading stakeholders in the development of sustainable solutions for eco-packaging.

What are the key market segments in the Starch-based Packaging industry?

Based on the type, the Starch-based Packaging market is classified into Starch Blended with Biodegradable Polymers, Thermoplastic Starch (TPS), Foamed Starch Packaging, Coated or Laminated Starch Films, and Molded Starch Packaging. The Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) is the most influential segment of the starch-based packaging market. One of the most popular reasons to prefer TPS is its high biodegradability, with improved mechanical characteristics of high-performance polymers by blending it with other biodegradable polymers. This multifunctionality enables TPS to substitute the traditional plastics in different packaging uses viably. Its affordability and adaptability with the available processing machinery used in plastics serve only further to enhance its supremacy, thus making it the plastic of preference when it comes to using environmentally friendly packaging worldwide.

Based on the Source of Starch, the Starch-based Packaging market is classified into Corn Starch, Potato Starch, Wheat Starch, Cassava Starch, Rice Starch, and Others. Corn starch is the most outstanding in the starch-based packaging industry. It derives its predominance from being easily obtained and economically feasible, besides being very good as a film-forming agent, which makes it a highly favourable compound in packages that ought to be recycled. Corn starch has good mechanical strength and can be compatible with other biodegradable polymers, which increases the performance of starch-based packaging products. Its significant presence is facilitated by the infrastructure developed for corn production on a large scale.

Which regions are leading the Starch-based Packaging market, and why?

The North American starch-based packaging market is leading due to its active sustainability policies and stringent ecological policies that promote the use of biodegradable materials. Developed manufacturing industries and good US consumer knowledge towards environmentally friendly materials contribute to creating demand for starch-based packaging materials in the region. Major food and beverage industries that need sustainable packaging products to grow contribute to market development. Research and development on innovative starch-based materials is another strength of the market position.

The critical role is played by the government incentives and the policies that promote green package alternatives. Furthermore, alliances among major players in the industry and educational institutions complicate the faster development of technology in this industry. North America has a perfect blend between regulatory pressure, consumer preference, and industrial preference, and North America will lead in the starch-based packaging market.

The Asia Pacific starch-based packaging market is leading because of its emphasis on sustainability and a growing consciousness in both consumers and companies about the environment. There is a sufficient supply of raw materials in the form of starch-food crops like corn, cassava, and potatoes in the region, hence making production economically viable and large-scale. The governments of such countries as China, India, and Japan are taking the necessary measures so that eco-friendly packaging solutions can be supported by regulation and incentives, which is one more boost for the market.

E-commerce, the growing food and beverage industry, and the growing pharmaceutical industry also create the demand to use biodegradable packaging solutions to minimise plastic waste. The Asia Pacific has been placed to take the lead in starch-based packaging in the rest of the world, combined with the increasing disposable income level and the middle class that is fond of green products.

What does the competitive landscape of the Starch-based Packaging market look like?

The competition in the starch-based packaging market has been growing, with world markets concerned about the issue of plastic waste and a move towards more sustainable packaging material. Major players like BASF SE, NatureWorks, Novamont, and Tate & Lyle are pouring huge investments into R&D to make the starch-based material sturdier, moisture-resistant, and scalable. Meanwhile, Bioeconomy Incorporated and start-up companies such as Biome Technologies and Green Dot Bioplastics are targeting niche and high-performance applications, including compostable films and moulded packaging products.

The pace of the market has also boosted with the new partnerships between packaging companies and food delivery companies in the recent past, especially in Asia and Europe. Further, beginners and local manufacturers are getting into the market with somewhat cheaper materials locally available, which puts pressure on the prices and promotes innovation. The market environment is defined by the combination of technical progress, regulatory compliance, and the growing consumer demand for environmentally friendly options. The success of the competition will now depend on the material performance, cost estimating, and the circular economy principles.

Starch-based Packaging Market, Company Shares Analysis, 2024

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Which recent mergers, acquisitions, or product launches are shaping the Starch-based Packaging industry?

• In May 2025, Cargill introduced an advanced cationic starch called C☆iBond™ to improve corrugation strength and barrier coatings in paper-based packaging. The new solution aimed to boost production speed and enhance the quality of packaging boxes. It also served as a potential replacement for latex in coatings. This innovation supported more efficient and sustainable packaging processes.
• In January 2025, Corn Next launched CornNext‑17, a compostable material made from corn starch using fermentation. The material retained its natural polysaccharide structures and decomposed within 30 days in natural environments. It also offered strength, heat, and moisture resistance. CornNext‑17 proved suitable for packaging, single-use items, and industrial uses.

Report Coverage:

By Type

• Starch Blended with Biodegradable Polymers
• Thermoplastic Starch (TPS)
• Foamed Starch Packaging
• Coated or Laminated Starch Films
• Molded Starch Packaging

By Source of Starch

• Corn Starch
• Potato Starch
• Wheat Starch
• Cassava Starch
• Rice Starch
• Others

By Form

• Rigid Packaging
• Flexible Packaging
• Foams
• Films & Wraps
• Others

By Processing Technology

• Injection Molding
• Extrusion
• Blow Molding
• Thermoforming
• Casting

By End-user

• Food & Beverage
• Agriculture
• Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
• Personal Care & Cosmetics
• Electronics
• Consumer Goods
• Others

By Region

North America

• U.S.
• Canada

Europe

• U.K.
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• South Korea
• Singapore
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Mexico
• Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

• GCC Countries
• South Africa
• Rest of Middle East & Africa

List of Companies:

• Novamont S.p.A.
• Rodenburg Biopolymers B.V.
• Tate & Lyle PLC
• Biopac India Pvt. Ltd.
• Futerro S.A.
• Rengo Co., Ltd.
• Panyaden Bioplastics Co., Ltd.
• Green Dot Bioplastics
• TOMRA Systems ASA
• Ecopack Industries
• Grain Processing Corporation
• Uflex Limited
• SK Chemicals Co., Ltd.
• BASF SE
• Mondi Group

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)