Top 10 Companies in the Starch-based Materials Industry (2026): Market Leaders Pioneering the Global Bio-Based Revolution

In Business Insights
April 24, 2026

The Global Starch-based Materials Market was valued at USD 3.37 Billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 5.65 Billion by 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.8% during the forecast period (2025–2032). This robust growth is being driven by intensifying global environmental regulations, a decisive consumer shift toward sustainable products, and the accelerating adoption of biodegradable and compostable material solutions across packaging, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and agricultural sectors.

As the materials industry undergoes a transformative shift away from petroleum-based plastics toward renewable, bio-based alternatives, the spotlight is firmly on the innovators and producers who are reshaping the competitive landscape. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Starch-based Materials Industry—a dynamic mix of chemical giants, specialty bioplastic producers, and pioneering bio-economy companies shaping the future of sustainable materials worldwide.


🕁 1. Novamont S.p.A.

Headquarters: Novara, Italy
Key Offering: Mater-Bi® Starch-based Bioplastics, Compostable Films, and Bio-based Polymers

Novamont is widely recognized as one of the most influential companies in the global starch-based materials market. The company’s flagship product line, Mater-Bi®, is a family of fully compostable bioplastics derived from renewable raw materials including starch. Novamont’s materials are used extensively across shopping bags, food packaging, agricultural films, and food service applications throughout Europe and globally. The company has invested heavily in building an integrated bio-refinery model that links agriculture, chemistry, and the circular economy in a cohesive and scalable framework.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Pioneer of the European compostable bag standard and active participant in EU circular economy policy development

  • Operates bio-refineries that use locally sourced agricultural feedstocks to minimize transportation emissions

  • Committed to producing materials that are certified compostable under EN 13432 and related international standards

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Starch-based Materials Market – View in Detailed Research Report


&#9*️⃣ 2. NatureWorks LLC

Headquarters: Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA
Key Offering: Ingeo™ PLA Biopolymer, Starch-compatible Bio-based Resins

NatureWorks is the world’s leading manufacturer of Ingeo™, a polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymer that is frequently used in conjunction with starch-based materials to produce high-performance compostable blends. The company’s products serve a wide range of applications including flexible packaging, rigid containers, fibers, and coatings. NatureWorks has been at the forefront of commercializing bio-based polymer technology at industrial scale, making it a critical supplier to the starch-based materials value chain.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Produces Ingeo™ using renewable feedstocks with a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to conventional plastics

  • Actively collaborating with starch-based material producers to develop optimized blends that meet industrial composting standards


&#8*️⃣ 3. BASF SE

Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Key Offering: Ecoflex® and Ecovio® Starch-Polyester Blends, Biodegradable Polymers

BASF is a global chemical leader with a well-established portfolio of starch-based and biodegradable polymer products. Its Ecovio® product line combines Ecoflex® (a certified compostable co-polyester) with polylactic acid and starch components to deliver materials suitable for demanding applications including mulch films, shopping bags, and food packaging. BASF’s deep expertise in polymer chemistry and its global manufacturing infrastructure make it one of the most formidable players in this market.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Ecovio® certified compostable under EN 13432 and ASTM D6400 standards

  • Ongoing R&D investments to expand the functional performance of starch-polyester blends for high-moisture and high-temperature applications


&#7*️⃣ 4. Corbion N.V.

Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Key Offering: PLA Resins, Lactic Acid Derivatives, Starch Fermentation Intermediates

Corbion is a global market leader in lactic acid and its derivatives, which are fundamental building blocks for the production of polylactic acid—a polymer frequently blended with starch to enhance mechanical and barrier properties. The company plays an essential role in the starch-based materials value chain by supplying high-purity fermentation intermediates derived from starch feedstocks. Corbion’s integrated approach to bio-based chemistry positions it as a critical enabler of the broader bioplastics industry.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Uses starch fermentation processes that significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to petrochemical equivalents

  • Committed to sourcing 100% sustainably certified feedstocks for its lactic acid production by 2025

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Starch-based Materials Market – View in Detailed Research Report


&#6*️⃣ 5. Braskem S.A.

Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Key Offering: Bio-based Polyethylene, Renewable Starch-derived Polymers

Braskem is Latin America’s largest petrochemical company and a pioneering producer of bio-based polyethylene derived from sugarcane ethanol—a process that draws upon starch and sugar fermentation chemistry. While its core product is bio-PE, Braskem actively works within the broader bio-based materials ecosystem, collaborating with starch-based material developers and packaging producers seeking certified renewable content. Its I’m green™ portfolio has gained traction with global FMCG brands committed to sustainable packaging goals.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • I’m green™ bio-based PE captures and fixes CO2 during the sugarcane growth cycle, resulting in a negative carbon footprint per kilogram of resin produced

  • Strategic partnerships with global retailers and consumer goods companies to accelerate adoption of renewable content in packaging


&#5*️⃣ 6. Toray Industries, Inc.

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Ecodear® Bio-based PLA Films, Starch-compatible Polymer Films

Toray Industries is a leading Japanese advanced materials company with a significant presence in bio-based polymer films and fibers. Its Ecodear® product line includes PLA-based films that are compatible with starch-blend formulations and are used in food packaging, labels, and industrial films. Toray’s strengths in polymer processing technology and its extensive presence across Asian markets make it a key player in the regional starch-based materials ecosystem, particularly as demand surges in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Advancing the development of high-clarity, high-barrier bio-based films to replace conventional PET packaging

  • Committed to expanding bio-based content across its polymer film product portfolio in alignment with Japan’s Green Innovation Strategy


&#4*️⃣ 7. Biome Bioplastics Ltd.

Headquarters: Southampton, United Kingdom
Key Offering: High-performance Starch-based Bioplastics, Injection-moulded Bio-based Components

Biome Bioplastics is a specialist UK-based developer of high-performance bio-based and biodegradable plastics, with a particular focus on applications where conventional bioplastics often fall short—such as hot-fill food packaging, single-serve coffee capsules, and industrial components. The company’s proprietary starch-based formulations are engineered to withstand elevated temperatures and mechanical stresses, addressing one of the most commonly cited limitations of standard starch materials. Biome Bioplastics has built a reputation for technical innovation and works closely with brand owners to customize material solutions.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Developing starch-based materials that meet the performance demands of hot-beverage applications, reducing dependence on fossil-fuel-based alternatives

  • Active collaboration with UK research institutions to develop next-generation starch composites with enhanced thermal and moisture resistance


&#3*️⃣ 8. Plantic Technologies Ltd.

Headquarters: Altona, Victoria, Australia
Key Offering: Plantic® High-barrier Starch-based Films and Trays

Plantic Technologies is an internationally recognized innovator in high-barrier starch-based packaging materials. The company’s flagship Plantic® technology uses high-amylose starch to create rigid and flexible packaging formats with exceptional oxygen barrier properties, making them suitable for fresh food, meat, and dairy applications. Plantic has successfully deployed its technology with major European and Australian retailers and food processors, demonstrating that starch-based materials can compete directly with conventional multi-layer plastic laminates in demanding food packaging environments.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Plantic® packaging is certified compostable and uses up to 80% renewable starch content in its formulations

  • Partnered with major supermarket retailers in Europe and Australia to roll out starch-based food trays as part of broader plastic reduction commitments

Download FREE Sample Report:
Starch-based Materials Market – View in Detailed Research Report


&#2*️⃣ 9. BioBag International AS

Headquarters: Askim, Norway
Key Offering: Compostable Starch-based Bags, Films, and Food Waste Collection Solutions

BioBag International is one of the world’s leading producers and distributors of compostable and biodegradable bags and films made from starch-based raw materials, including Mater-Bi® and other certified biopolymers. The company serves municipalities, grocery retailers, and food service operators across more than 40 countries, providing certified compostable solutions for organic waste collection, food packaging, and consumer bags. BioBag has played a pivotal role in enabling the shift to source-separated organic waste collection in European cities and is expanding its presence in North American and Asian markets.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • All products certified under EN 13432, ASTM D6400, and Australian AS 4736 composting standards

  • Actively supports municipal composting programs and advocates for policy frameworks that mandate the use of compostable bags for organic waste collection


&#1*️⃣ 10. Rodenburg Productie B.V.

Headquarters: Oosterhout, Netherlands
Key Offering: Solanyl® Starch-based Bioplastic Compounds

Rodenburg Productie is a Dutch specialist in starch-based bioplastic compounds, producing its proprietary Solanyl® product line from potato starch—including residual starch recovered from potato processing industry by-products. This approach gives Rodenburg a distinct sustainability advantage, as it transforms agricultural waste streams into high-value bio-based materials. Solanyl® compounds are used in injection moulding, extrusion, and film applications across packaging, horticulture, and consumer goods sectors. The company’s commitment to using non-food-competing, residual feedstocks resonates strongly with brands and manufacturers seeking credible, circular bio-based solutions.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Utilizes potato starch by-products from the food processing industry, effectively valorizing agricultural waste and supporting circular economy principles

  • Solanyl® is certified compostable and is increasingly being adopted in horticulture for biodegradable plant pots and agricultural trays

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Starch-based Materials Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🌍 Outlook: The Future of Starch-based Materials Is Greener and More Innovative

The starch-based materials market is undergoing a profound and accelerating transformation. While conventional plastics still dominate by volume across most end-use sectors, the industry is channeling substantial investment into bio-based alternatives, advanced material formulations, and circular end-of-life infrastructure. The companies profiled above represent the vanguard of this transition—combining deep material science expertise with strategic commercial vision to scale solutions that the planet urgently needs.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Rapid capacity expansion for starch-based bioplastics in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, driven by regulatory mandates and brand owner commitments

  • Growing adoption of starch blends and composites that overcome traditional performance limitations such as water sensitivity and low thermal resistance

  • Expansion of starch-based materials into high-value sectors including pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and textiles beyond conventional packaging

  • Increasing investment in bio-refinery models that integrate agricultural feedstock sourcing, starch processing, and biopolymer manufacturing within circular value chains

Get Full Report Here:
Starch-based Materials Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only leading the global starch-based materials industry—they’re spearheading the green transition of the materials economy, one compostable product at a time.