Similarly, NatureWorks, a joint venture between Thailand’s PTT Global Chemical and Cargill, is building a 75,000 tonne/year-PLA facility in Nakhon Sawan Province, to be in full production this year. It will be an integrated plant with production sites for lactic acid, lactide, and polymer, to support the Asia Pacific region in sectors such as 3D printing, nonwovens for hygiene, compostable coffee capsules/food serviceware, tea bags and flexible packaging.
Furthermore, Brazilian biopolymer producer Braskem and Thailand’s SCG Chemicals have set up a joint venture, Braskem Siam Company, and are touting the production of the "first of its kind in Southeast Asia" bio-ethylene and bio-based polyethylene to support regional and global demand.
Meanwhile, PTT MCC, a joint venture between PTT Global Chemical and Japan’s Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, has since 2017 produced bio-polybutylene succinate (bio-PBS), which consists of a succinic acid derived from sugar/cassava and 1,4-butanediol.
Challenges to the growth of bio-plastics in Asia
Though the market for bio-plastics in Asia is driven by growing environmental concerns and changing consumer preferences, especially in the packaging sector, its growth could be hindered by a variety of factors.
A key barrier is the lack of coherent government policies related to bioplastics production, usage, and waste management. This regulatory uncertainty makes it difficult for stakeholders to plan strategically or invest in value chain improvements. Another major deterrent is the high costs involved, especially in the processing of sugarcane and cassava bio-plastic resins. In addition, the region has only a limited number of bioplastics manufacturers, most of which operate on a small scale. Unlike conventional plastics, which benefit from mature infrastructure and economies of scale, bioplastics remain structurally disadvantaged.
The price volatility of agricultural feedstocks such as sugarcane and corn also adds to economic uncertainty, as prices are strongly influenced by weather conditions and harvest yields. Meanwhile, not all bio-plastics are biodegradable, and even those that are may require specific conditions to decompose effectively. For instance, some biodegradable plastics require industrial composting facilities to break down, and these are not widely available in most Asian countries.
Boom in recycling investments in Southeast Asia
As plastic waste increasingly pollutes Southeast Asia’s environment, there is a growing emphasis on plastic waste recycling.
Indonesia, where only 10% of plastic waste is currently recycled, is targeting a 70% reduction in marine plastic through a government-backed US$18 billion strategy (2017-2040) to expand collection, boost recycling capacity, and improve disposal systems.
Key initiatives include a 36,000-tonne/year rPET facility by PT Alba Tridi Plastics Recycling (a joint venture with Alba Group Asia) and a large-scale PET recycling plant in East Java by Danone-Aqua and Veolia. Indorama Ventures is also building a site in Karawang to recycle 2 billion PET bottles/year and has secured a US$200 million IFC loan to expand facilities in Nakhon Pathom and Rayong (Thailand).
Thailand has strong demand for recycled plastics and a national recycling infrastructure, especially in Bangkok, Chon Buri, and Rayong - though it still relies on the informal sector for collection. In Rayong, Indorama and Austria’s Alpla jointly produce 30,000 tonnes of food-grade rPET and 15,000 tonnes of rHDPE annually. SCG and Dow target 200,000 tonnes of plastic recycling per year by 2030 through advanced sorting technologies. In Malaysia, the country’s national petrochemical firm, Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad, in partnership with UK-based Plastic Energy Limited, is building an advanced chemical recycling plant in Pengerang, Johor. Expected to be operational by 2026, the facility will process 33 kilotonnes/year of end-of-life plastics.
Vietnam generates around 3.7 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, yet only 11% is recycled. However, this is changing. Duytan Recycling, in cooperation with Ajinomoto Vietnam under the EPR scheme, collected and recycled 94 tonnes of plastic in 2023 and aims to increase its PET recycling capacity from 60,000 to 100,000 tonnes by 2026.
With Vietnam’s strategic location, low labour costs, and tax incentives, it is an attractive hub for recycling operations and fresh investments. Chinese recycler Intco Recycling Resources is investing US$60 million to expand its facility in the country to produce recycled plastics for decorative building materials, primarily for export to Europe and the US. Intco has six plastics recycling bases, including a facility for food-grade recycled plastics in Malaysia.
In 2024, UK-based Cedo acquired Vietnamese recycler Vinatic, boosting its global recycling capacity to 100 kilotonnes. The move strengthens Cedo’s footprint in Asia and complements its operations in the Netherlands.
Elsewhere, countries like Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar face surging plastic consumption but lack sufficient recycling systems. In Phnom Penh alone, 10 million plastic bags are used daily, underscoring the urgent need for action.
Fifty exhibitors from Southeast Asia will be participating in K 2025. Malaysia is the most strongly represented country with 15 exhibitors, followed by Thailand and Singapore with 11 exhibitors each.
K 2025 will be open daily from 10.00 am to 6.30 pm from Wednesday, 8 October, to Wednesday 15 October. 1-day admission tickets cost EUR 60, 3-day tickets are EUR 125. School pupils and students pay EUR 20 for a 1-day ticket.
