Managing the technology transition towards biopolymers: a study of cross-sector experts among German wholesalers

ABSTRACT

Many industries are coming under increasing pressure to replace their petrochemical plastics in products and packaging with biopolymers. Retailers have a key role here because they determine the products to be marketed, but there is little research on how change processes differ between sectors. To guide wholesalers with broad product portfolio on how to effectively plan a plastics transition, this study interviewed 48 experts from the food, pharmaceutical, automotive and technics retailing. From the answers, sector-independent context factors were derived and finally their individual transition strategy for bioplastics was compared. Packaging is the main object for transition and the food and automotive sectors prefer the greatest possible standardisation of the plastics change. Largest group differences are in the recovery method of bioplastics products and in the assessment of the innovation potential. The results guide wholesalers and policy makers for an effective technology change.

KEYWORDS:

• Bioplastics
• expert interview
• context factors
• innovation strategy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Research data

The research data are still confidential because they are included in further analyses of other projects.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Daniel Friedrich

Daniel Friedrich is Researcher and Lecturer at three universities and Author and Reviewer for various Peer-Review Journals. In addition, he is Science Communications Manager of the COST ACTION CA 16114 ‘Restorative Economy’, Delegate in the COST ACTION CA 19124 ‘Circular Packaging’, and in the Standardization Committee CEN TC 249 ‘Wood-Plastic Composites’, and founder of the research label ‘Compolytics – Composite Polymer and Policy Analytics’. His research focuses on innovative biobased materials for the internalisation of environmental damage and their economic and business impact in various industries, such as construction, packaging and textiles.