The Organization for Economic Co-operation
and Development projects that worldwide plastic
consumption will grow from 250 000 kilotons currently
to about 1 million kilotons 2020. Five petro
polymers currently make up two thirds of the plastics
market: low-density polyethylene (LDPE),
high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene,
poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) [12]. Bio-based analogs to
these plastics and novel bioplastics are being developed,
either through fermentation of building
blocks [such as ethanol or polylactic acid (PLA)]
or direct metabolic production of new types of
plastics [such as polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)],
and these could eventually shift market con -
sumption [7].