Biodegradable Medical Plastic Market By Material Type (Polylactic Acid (PLA), Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), Polycaprolactone (PCL), Polybutylene Succinate (PBS), Starch-based Plastics, Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and Others), By Application (Surgical tools and equipment, Drug Delivery Systems, Wound Care, Implants and Prosthetics, Tissue Engineering, and Medical Packaging), By End-user (Pharmaceutical Companies, Research & Development, Hospitals and Clinics, Medical Device Manufacturers, and Others), Global Market Size, Segmental analysis, Regional Overview, Company share analysis, Leading Company Profiles And Market Forecast, 2025 – 2035

Industry Outlook

The Biodegradable Medical Plastic market accounted for USD 2.1 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 4.5 Billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of around 7.2% between 2025 and 2035.  Biodegradable medical plastic is one form of implementing environmentally friendly plastics in the health sector, which degrade after some time. Such plastics have been manufactured from renewable resources, some of which might be plant material, which decomposes and has no adverse effects on the environment. They are applied in medical devices, drug delivery systems, sutures, among others, and in packaging. Growing concern over the contribution of plastic waste toward environmental damage, along with intense regulatory pressure for adopting more sustainable practices, has fuelled the demand for biodegradable alternatives in healthcare. These materials represent a very promising solution for reducing medical waste without compromising high standards of hygiene and functionality in medical applications. 

Report Scope:

Market Dynamics

Rising Consumer Demand for Sustainability Drives Growth in Biodegradable Medical Plastic Market

Consumer-led eco-awareness is fast turning out to be one of the highest drivers for the biodegradable medical plastic market as increasing numbers of consumers take sustainability into consideration while making buying decisions. Surveys show more than 50% of consumers in global markets are willing to pay a premium on environmentally friendly products that include medical supplies. A niche area like eco-friendly surgical products and biodegradable packaging incurring high demand for sustainable product lines. The National Institutes of Health reported that the U.S. generates over 1.7 million tonnes of plastic waste per year through this industry. Consequently, many countries are now implementing policies and incentives in order to nudge the healthcare industry into embracing sustainable materials.

Surge in Bioabsorbable Implant Usage Boosts Demand for Biodegradable Medical Plastics in Medical Specialties

The growth for bioabsorbable implants is driving the development of biodegradable medical plastics, especially within specific areas such as orthopedics, cardiology, and dentistry. Production from PLGA and PCL makes such implants dissolve slowly within the body without any additional surgery.  In cardiology, biodegradable stents are increasingly used as an alternative to conventional metal stents. The potential for longer-term benefits may emerge without the need for any further intervention.

According to the National Institutes of Health, almost 275,000 to 300,000 cardiac surgeries were performed yearly in the USA, thereby creating massive possibilities for applications involving bioabsorbable stents and implants in the cardiovascular sector. Due to this, the FDA has approved various kinds of bioabsorbable implants. This allows healthcare providers to have greater access to them. Market growth for biodegradable plastics such as PLGA and PCL is fueled by the rising demand for more eco-friendly and efficient medical solutions.

Performance Limitations of Biodegradable Plastics Hinder Widespread Adoption in Critical Medical Devices

One of the biggest drawbacks of biodegradable medical plastics lies in terms of performance is, some materials fail to compete on a performance level with conventional non-biodegradable petroleum-based plastics. Biodegradable plastics, such as PLA, PLGA, and PCL, as a rule, are weaker in terms of mechanical strength and flexibility compared to their traditional counterparts made from petroleum. For instance, high requirements for outstanding mechanical properties are significantly imposed on surgical instruments, implants, and prostheses in medical devices.

Such performance gaps limit wider acceptance, particularly in risk-intensive fields like orthopedics and cardiology, especially where the reliability and safety of medical devices are of paramount importance. Thus, continuous research and development are required to make the properties of biodegradable plastics stronger so that they may fulfill the stringent demands put forward by the medical industry.

Biodegradable Medical Textiles Present Sustainable Alternative for Wound Care and Surgical Applications

The development of biodegradable medical textiles will offer a great chance for bio-based polymers to replace their conventional synthetic counterparts such as wound care, surgical drapes, and gowns. Such synthetic, petroleum-based materials contribute to increasing environmental concerns since they add to the problem of medical waste. Sustainable alternatives will degrade with natural degradation without leaving any residues behind. To reduce the environmental impact of medical textiles without compromising critical applications, biodegradable medical textiles may eventually find more and more applications in the healthcare sector towards green measures.

Due to further increasing regulatory pressures and increasing consumer demand for sustainability, these innovative materials will definitely play a vital role in transforming medical textiles into a greener tomorrow. In addition, the growing use of circular economy models in healthcare sectors also promotes biodegradable textiles, which will have a healthier lifecycle of medical products. With continuing developments in technology, there will also be an increase in varieties of biodegradable materials available to be used for medical textiles, giving more options for flexibility to the healthcare sector.

Customizable Biodegradable Implants with Tailored Degradation Rates Offer Targeted Medical Solutions

Biodegradable plastics seem to be a promising product for the pharmaceutical industry because they meet the increasing needs for target and controlled drug delivery systems. It means the precision and extended release of drugs improve therapy outcomes and lower side effects. As such polymers as PLGA can break down slowly within the human body, and their removal through surgery is not always essential, a patient is relieved of significant burdens and made more compliant with treatments. Several PLGA-based drug delivery systems have already received approval from the FDA, which speaks to their efficacy and safety.

As medical science progresses toward personalization and the necessity of sustainability for healthcare increases, biodegradable drug delivery systems continue to gain attention. With the increasing cases of chronic diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, the usage of drugs therapeutically active for long durations is expected to rise and, hence, will boost the demand for biodegradable medical plastics.

Industry Experts Opinion

“Through our partnership with Digimarc, our customers not only receive packaging made from responsibly sourced materials, but they also receive packaging designed for recycling and reuse, contributing to our goal of a circular economy. Digimarc Recycle represents a revolution in the sortation and recycling of plastic waste, allowing companies to progress against ever-increasing stakeholder demands for action on sustainability while addressing regulatory requirements such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) in Europe.”

• Karri Koskela, Wipak's Chief Executive Officer

Segment Analysis

Based on the material type, the Biodegradable Medical Plastic market has been classified into Polylactic Acid (PLA), Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), Polycaprolactone (PCL), Polybutylene Succinate (PBS), Starch-based Plastics, Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and Others. Polylactic Acid (PLA) is currently the leading material in the biodegradable medical plastic market due to its excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, as well as ease of production from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane. The wide versatility of PLA makes it quite appropriate for so many medical applications, ranging from drug delivery systems, sutures, to tissue scaffolds.

Based on the application, the Biodegradable Medical Plastic market has been classified into surgical tools and equipment, drug delivery systems, wound care, implants and prosthetics, tissue engineering, and medical packaging. The drug delivery systems are leading in the market due to growing demand for targeted and controlled release of medication, especially in chronic diseases and individualized health care. Biodegradable plastics like PLGA and PLA can slowly degrade within the body hence surgical removal can be avoided and patient adherence is boosted.

Regional Analysis

The North American biodegradable medical plastic market is the largest globally, due to its developed healthcare infrastructure, high healthcare expenditure, and emphasis on sustainability. The largest player in this region is the United States, where biodegradable materials, including PLA and PLGA, have been approved by the FDA for use in drug delivery systems, implants, surgical instruments, and wound care products. Growing environmental awareness and pressure on the reduction of healthcare waste force healthcare providers and manufacturers to look at more eco-friendly, petroleum-based plastics alternatives. Further development of biodegradable materials improves their performance and safety while reducing their cost, further fueling their growth in the health sector. With the region constantly looking towards more and more environmental-friendly practices, biodegradable medical plastics will continue to register a steady increase in demand for North America.

Asia Pacific biodegradable medical plastic is the fastest-growing region in the world as it follows rapid growth in healthcare infrastructure, medical device manufacturing, and growing awareness on sustainability. Healthcare spending is increasing considerable amounts of money in China, India, and Japan. Biodegradable plastics find high demand in applications such as drug delivery systems, wound care, surgical products, and medical packaging in the region. Favorable regulations and incentives by governments in the region also strengthen market growth. Accordingly, the further acceleration in the use of biodegradable medical plastics across Asia Pacific is anticipated through both environmental concerns and increasing focus towards waste reduction as the population increases and health care needs continue to expand. In addition, new R&D always improves biodegradable material's performance, making them more suitable for medical purposes, and thus, its usage in the healthcare sector is further pushed.  

Competitive Landscape

Major players and latest entrants that have emerged in the competitive landscape of the biodegradable medical plastic market are: BASF, Dow, DuPont, Covestro, Eastman Chemical Company, among others along with specialized companies, such as BioMed Material and Green Dot Bioplastics, which introduce innovation and partnerships to broaden the product offerings and realize the growing demand for sustainable medical solutions. For instance, BASF recently revealed several biodegradable materials in the market which are to be focused on medical packaging and surgical tools. In addition, because of increased regulatory pressure and consumer demands for environmentally friendly products, these companies heavily invest in research and development to improve the performance, biodegradability, and cost-efficiency of their materials.

Biodegradable Medical Plastic Market, Company Shares Analysis, 2024

To explore in-depth analysis in this report - Request Free Sample Report

Recent Developments:

• In February 2024, Danimer Scientific, Inc. - the leader in next generation bioplastics focused on developing and manufacturing biodegradable materials announced the completion of an expansion of its demonstration plant in Rochester, New York, to enhance its ability to serve partners and test Rinnovo ® polymers.
• In September 2022, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. has created an eco-friendly paper monomaterial packaging sheet that provides high barrier properties. The material is a recyclable material that pushes sustainability in packaging. Designing this way addresses both the impact on the environment and product protection.

Report Coverage:

By Material Type

• Polylactic Acid (PLA)
• Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)
• Polycaprolactone (PCL)
• Polybutylene Succinate (PBS)
• Starch-based Plastics
• Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)
• Others

By Application

• Surgical tools and equipment
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Wound Care
• Implants and Prosthetics
• Tissue Engineering
• Medical Packaging

By End-user

• Pharmaceutical Companies
• Research & Development
• Hospitals and Clinics
• Medical Device Manufacturers
• 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 the Middle East & Africa

List of Companies:

• BASF SE
• NatureWorks LLC
• Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
• Danimer Scientific, Inc.
• TotalEnergies Corbion
• Arkema S.A.
• Toray Industries, Inc.
• Teijin Limited
• Biomer
• Murray Plastics, Inc.
• Fkur Kunststoff GmbH
• BIOPOLYMER GROUP
• Cardia Bioplastics
• Green Dot Bioplastics
• Solvay SA

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)