Developing future visions for bio-plastics substituting PET – A backcasting approach

Abstract

The demand for plastics far exceeds that for any other bulk material and is expected to grow further due to global economic and population growth. Packaging is by far the largest end-user segment for plastics. Interest in bioplastics is increasing as public awareness of plastic waste accumulation in natural environments increases. 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is the key monomer in the production of polyethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate (PEF), a polymer that offers a sustainable solution to replace the commonly used polymer polyethylene terephthalate (PET). A backcasting workshop with 42 experts was held to identify current barriers and challenges that block the commercialization of FDCA-based products and to outline potential pathways toward future market diffusion. Several barriers which are strongly related to technological and market-related aspects are preventing the full potential of FDCA from being unlocked. FDCA products cited in the literature are versatile and cover a wide array of niche applications. In the backcasting workshop, participants described their specific – yet highly divergent – future visions for PEF. Participants with a background in FDCA production referred mostly to developments that would need to take place in the field of FDCA applications to turn their vision into reality, while participants with a background in FDCA product development tended to refer to open issues related to FDCA synthesis. The findings of this study indicate that there is a great need for intensified cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration.