Bio-based Foam Market Report

Currently, polyurethane foams are considered a leading segment of the bio-based foam market due to their use in various sectors such as construction, furniture, and automotive applications, including insulation, soundproofing, interior components, and seating. According to the National Library of Medicine, polyurethane consumption in Europe and the United States of America is estimated to be above 10% of the total plastic usage, and the worldwide consumption of polyurethane foams is predicted to be over US$80 billion over the forecast period. Also, the opportunity for polyurethane foams can be anticipated in the aerospace sector. Due to its feature of shock absorption, it can protect the passenger in aircraft as well as the aircraft from shock and benefits in extreme temperature fluctuations. According to the International Trade Administration, civil aviation is considered one of the fastest-growing sectors in developing countries like India according to the projections, the country is expected to have more than 500 million international and domestic travelers by 2030 and has the potential to become the world's largest aviation market by 2047. The rising automotive and aeronautics sector can also be considered an opportunity market.

Despite having various advantages, bio-based foam manufacturers face challenges in cost competitiveness. The production of bio-based foam is considered more expensive due to factors such as production processes, economies of scale, and raw material cost. To overcome these cost constraints, manufacturers should think about efficient supply chain management, unique innovation, and technological advancement. Also, bio-based foam is manufactured with the help of natural raw materials such as sugarcane-based, soy-based, etc., which, when exposed to air and moisture, start to degrade; hence, making the bio-based foams unsuitable option for operations where long life of cover is required. Also, after comparing bio-based foams with conventional foams due to the inconsistent performance provided by bio-based foams, conventional foams are preferred. Furthermore, consistency and availability of raw materials act as a challenge as bio-based foams depend on certain feedstocks, such as sugarcane, soybeans, etc., which depend upon the weather. Therefore, one of the biggest issues facing the bio-based foam market is the availability of raw materials.

In October 2022, Braskem invested over US$ 60 million to boost the production of its I'm Green biopolymer, a bioplastic made from sugarcane. Such efforts to attain carbon neutrality can increase the usage of sugarcane biopolymers in all types of foams, which in turn can improve the outlook for the sector. Therefore, shifting toward bio-based feedstock to produce foam is expected to increase the demand for the Global Bio-Based Foam market during the projected period. In November 2022, Huntsman launched the ACOUSTIFLEX VEF BIO system, a cutting-edge bio-based viscoelastic foam technology with up to 20% bio-based content made from vegetable oils for molded acoustic applications in the automobile sector. When compared to current Huntsman methods, this novel approach could have reduced the carbon footprint of automobile carpet back-foaming by up to 25%. Additionally, the method could have been used for wheel arch and dash insulation.

List of companies operating in the bio-based foam market include Huntsman Corporation, INOAC Corporation, BASF SE, Cargill, Woodbridge Foam Corporation, Nomaco, Sealed Air Corporation, RAMPF Group, Stora Enso, Bewi Group, Braskem, Trocellen GmBh, DomFoam, Ecoglobal Manufacturing and Sinomax USA

The European market is expected to witness significant growth in the bio-based foam market. According to the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking; they have funded a project for creating bio-based foams for vehicle interiors and building insulation with an aim to boost the European construction and automotive market. Considering the current scenario, both sectors are experiencing steady growth and have the potential to contribute to the growth of Europe’s bioeconomy. According to the ACEA European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, in 2022 Europe manufactured a total of 13.1 million units, which amounts to 15.3% of global vehicle production.

Also, according to the European Commission in 2021, the gross value added was recorded, where Finland saw a gross value added of 7.7% and Romania experienced a gross value added of 7.3%, followed by Austria and Lithuania. Growth in both the construction and automotive markets in Europe will boost the growth of bio-based foam. Asia Pacific and especially India can be seen as a lucrative market, as according to the International Trade Administration, the civil aviation sector in India experiences 50% growth in domestic passengers and 150% growth in international passengers. Further, in the first half of 2023, domestic airlines served over 76 million passengers, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The aviation industry grows by 32% a year on average. The number of airports in India has increased significantly, and more than 150 airports were registered following 2022, where it is anticipated that India will have 220 airports by 2025, which acts as a green signal to the bio-based foam market as it is used in the aviation industry for cushioning.