1. What Is the Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Market?
The Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Market comprises starch-based biopolymer materials plasticised with water, glycerol, or sorbitol for processing on conventional thermoplastic equipment. The market includes native TPS from corn, potato, and tapioca starch, acetylated and hydroxypropylated TPS, and TPS-blend compounds with PLA, PBAT, and polyvinyl alcohol. These materials serve packaging converters, film extruders, and agricultural film producers requiring biodegradable alternatives to conventional polyethylene and polypropylene. The scope excludes untreated native starch without thermoplastic processing, synthetic bioplastics without starch component, and paper-based packaging without starch biopolymer matrix.
2. Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Market Size & Forecast
3. Emerging Technologies
- Extrusion-blown film processing optimisation for TPS-blend compostable packaging film is advancing to match polyethylene processing parameters on existing equipment. Growing TPS film processability improvement is reducing converter capital investment for compostable film by enabling existing polyolefin equipment use.
- Reactive blending in situ during TPS compounding is advancing for improved TPS-polyester compatibility without separate compatibiliser addition. Increasing reactive compounding is improving TPS-blend mechanical properties and reducing production cost from eliminating separate compatibilisation steps.
- Water-barrier coating application on TPS-based compostable packaging is advancing for expanded food contact moisture resistance without PE laminate. Continued TPS water barrier development is improving compostable packaging suitability for fresh food applications previously requiring PE moisture protection.
- Second-generation TPS from agricultural residue starch rather than food-competing crop starch is advancing for improved sustainability credentials. Expanding residue-derived TPS is improving bioplastic feedstock sustainability by avoiding food versus material competition for starch crop cultivation.
Similar technologies are also transforming adjacent markets. Learn more in our Soy Protein Isolate Market.
4. Key Market Opportunity
One of the major opportunities in the Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Market is EU-compliant compostable flexible packaging film supply for brand owners transitioning away from conventional polyolefin flexible formats under regulatory and retailer pressure. European brand owners facing retailer sustainability packaging requirements and EU plastics regulation need certified compostable flexible film alternatives available at commercial volume. Advances in TPS-PBAT film extrusion processability, EN 13432 compostability certification for heat-seal and print-compatible formats, and converter industrial scale supply are enabling transition. TPS compound suppliers qualifying EN 13432 compostable film converters at industrial volume stand to capture the large EU flexible packaging sustainability replacement programme.
5. Top Companies in the Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Market
The following organisations hold leading positions in the Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Market. The full report provides revenue share, SWOT analysis, and competitive benchmarking for each player.
- Novamont (Mater-Bi)
- BASF (Ecovio)
- TerraVerdae Bioworks
- Biome Bioplastics
- Rodenburg Biopolymers
- Avebe (potato starch)
- Carbiolice
- CJ CheilJedang
- Plantic Technologies (Kuraray)
- PolyNatural
- Biotec
- Starch Tech
6. Market Segmentation
The Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Market is analysed across 6 segmentation dimensions. Revenue data, growth rates, and competitive intensity by sub-segment are available in the full report.
| Segmentation | Sub-Segments |
|---|---|
| By Starch Source | Corn Maize TPS Potato TPS Tapioca Cassava TPS Wheat Starch TPS Rice Starch TPS |
| By Modification | Native Plasticised TPS Acetylated TPS Hydroxypropylated TPS Oxidised TPS Cross-Linked TPS |
| By Blend | Standalone TPS Material TPS-PLA Blend TPS-PBAT Blend TPS-PVOH Blend Starch-Polyester Multi-Layer |
| By Application | Flexible Packaging Film Agricultural Mulch Film Disposable Food Service Loose Fill Packaging Injection Moulded Articles |
| By End User | Packaging Film Converters Agricultural Film Suppliers Food Service Distributors Retail Packaging Brands Garden and Horticulture |
| By Geography | North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East and Africa |
7. Key Market Trends (2026–2034)
Three major forces are shaping the Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Market trajectory over the forecast period:
EU Single-Use Plastics Directive Is Driving TPS Food Service Packaging Adoption.Foodservice operators and packaging converters are adopting TPS disposable cutlery, plates, and bags as compliant alternatives under the EU SUP Directive prohibition on conventional plastic. Novamont progressed its Mater-Bi TPS compound food service packaging expansion in 2024, advancing biodegradable TPS adoption for EU foodservice compliance programmes.
Biodegradable Agricultural Mulch Film Using TPS Blends Is Avoiding Plastic Recovery Issues.Vegetable and soft fruit producers are adopting TPS-PBAT mulch film that degrades in soil after harvest without the film recovery and disposal challenge of conventional PE mulch. BASF Ecovio progressed its TPS-PBAT biodegradable mulch film in 2024, expanding biodegradable agricultural film adoption across European and North American growers.
Compostable Flexible Packaging Certification Is Expanding TPS-Blend Film Market Access.Packaging brand owners seeking EN 13432 certified compostable claims are adopting TPS-PLA and TPS-PBAT films replacing conventional fossil polyolefin flexible packaging. Novamont progressed its home-compostable TPS film range certification and converter adoption in 2024, advancing compostable flexible packaging supply for brand owners seeking certification.
For related market intelligence, see the Plant Based Protein Ingredient Market.
8. Segmental Analysis
By Application, flexible packaging film dominated the Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Market in 2025, driven by compostable flexible packaging as the highest-value conversion application for TPS compounds. Brand owners continue directing the largest TPS procurement toward flexible film owing to the regulatory compliance and retailer sustainability requirement driving conversion priority. Agricultural mulch film is the fastest-growing Application category, driven by soil-degradable mulch adoption reducing post-harvest plastic film recovery burden for growers. Agricultural film suppliers are advancing biodegradable TPS mulch as removal cost and plastic film regulation make in-field degradation financially justified.
By Blend, TPS-PBAT blend dominated the Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Market in 2025, reflecting TPS-PBAT as the primary commercial compound for agricultural and flexible film applications. Film converters continue specifying TPS-PBAT owing to the mechanical performance for agriculture and flexible packaging alongside the EN 13432 compostability certification pathway. Standalone TPS material is the fastest-growing Blend category, driven by food service applications where full starch content supports compostability without polyester blending. Food service operators are advancing standalone TPS for cutlery and containers as certification bodies progress home-compostable approval for high-starch content articles.
9. Regional Analysis
Regional demand patterns across the Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Market reflect differences in regulation, technological maturity, and capital investment.
Largest Market Share
Asia Pacific accounted for the largest share of the Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Market in 2025, holding 38.4% of the global market. Largest starch production volumes, growing biodegradable packaging demand, and government bioplastic promotion programmes across China, Thailand, and Australia anchor Asia Pacific revenue. Chinese starch producers and packaging converters are the largest Asia Pacific TPS buyers for food service and agricultural film applications driven by government sustainability mandates. Thai cassava starch production and South Korean bioplastic development investment are advancing regional TPS compound and film production capability.
Highest CAGR Region
Europe is expected to register the highest CAGR of 19.40% during the forecast period. EU SUP Directive compliance driving TPS food service adoption, EN 13432 compostable packaging retail sustainability requirements, and agricultural mulch film biodegradation demand across Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, and Belgium are the primary European drivers. European brand owners and food service operators facing mandatory single-use plastic restrictions are the largest TPS demand source by regulatory compliance volume. Novamont Italian TPS compound production and BASF Ecovio German programme generate the primary European TPS supply and biodegradable film converter development.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Market was valued at USD 1.84 Bn in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 5.03 Bn by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 11.80% over the 2026–2034 forecast period.
The Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.80% from 2026 to 2034.
Asia Pacific accounted for the largest share of the Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Market in 2025, holding 38.4% of the global market.
The leading companies in the Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Market include Novamont (Mater-Bi), BASF (Ecovio), TerraVerdae Bioworks, Biome Bioplastics, Rodenburg Biopolymers, Avebe (potato starch), Carbiolice, CJ CheilJedang, Plantic Technologies (Kuraray), PolyNatural, Biotec, Starch Tech.
Eu single-use plastics directive is driving tps food service packaging adoption.
By Application, flexible packaging film dominated the Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Market in 2025, driven by compostable flexible packaging as the highest-value conversion application for TPS compounds.
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