Global demand for biodegradable and bio-based plastics will more than triple to over 1 million metric tons in 2015, valued at $2.9 billion. Gains will be fueled by a number of factors, including consumer preferences for environmentally sustainable materials, improved performance of bioplastic resins relative to traditional plastics, and the introduction of commodity plastics produced from bio-based sources. Ultimately, however, price considerations will be the primary determinant of bioplastic market success, and it is expected that rising petroleum costs will allow some bioplastic resins to be able to achieve price parity with conventional plastics by the end of the decade. These and other trends are in a new study from The Freedonia Group.