South Korea Biodegradable Cutlery Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Product, Raw Material, Type, Application, Distribution Channel, and Region, 2026-2034

South Korea Biodegradable Cutlery Market Overview:

The South Korea biodegradable cutlery market size reached USD 927.73 Million in 2025. The market is projected to reach USD 1,296.87 Million by 2034, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 3.79% during 2026-2034. The market is driven by government regulations and plastic ban enforcement propelling biodegradable material adoption, rising consumer environmental consciousness and demand for sustainable packaging solutions, and the development of advanced poly-lactic acid (PLA) recycling infrastructure and circular economy initiatives. These factors are collectively expanding the South Korea biodegradable cutlery market share.

South Korea Biodegradable Cutlery Market Trends:

Government Regulations and Plastic Ban Enforcement Driving Biodegradable Material Adoption

The South Korean government has implemented comprehensive regulations to eliminate single-use plastics and transition toward sustainable alternatives in the foodservice sector. In 2025, the Ministry of Environment expanded restrictions on single-use plastics to include plastic cutlery, takeout containers, and other disposable food packaging. Restaurants and cafés must switch to compostable, recyclable, or reusable packaging, with stricter eco-material standards requiring biodegradable materials to meet certifications standards. This enforcement phase represents a significant regulatory push toward eliminating conventional plastic foodservice items in favor of biodegradable alternatives. By 2030, South Korea plans to phase out most single-use plastics altogether, creating a mandatory market for biodegradable cutlery products made from materials like PLA, CPLA, cornstarch, and bagasse. The government's commitment to achieving a plastic-free society by 2050 has established clear timelines and requirements for businesses to adopt compostable alternatives. These regulations are supported by penalties for non-compliance and incentives for businesses that proactively implement sustainable packaging solutions. The Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources mandates that food and beverage services control the use of disposable products unless they are made of biodegradable resin. This regulatory framework has created substantial demand for biodegradable cutlery that can decompose naturally while maintaining the functionality required for foodservice applications. The comprehensive nature of these regulations ensures that biodegradable cutlery manufacturers have a stable and expanding market opportunity as enforcement continues to intensify across all segments of the foodservice industry.

Rising Consumer Environmental Consciousness and Demand for Sustainable Packaging Solutions

South Korean consumers have demonstrated increasingly strong environmental awareness, actively seeking sustainable alternatives to traditional plastic products. This shift demonstrates growing market acceptance of eco-friendly alternatives as consumers actively seek certified compostable and recyclable packaging options while supporting brands that adopt green packaging solutions. The younger demographic, particularly millennials and Generation Z, prioritize sustainability when making purchasing decisions and are willing to support establishments that demonstrate environmental responsibility. Social media campaigns and grassroots movements have amplified awareness about plastic pollution, with organizations educating the public about sustainable alternatives. People now carefully examine product labels to identify certified compostable packaging and actively choose restaurants and cafés that use biodegradable cutlery. This behavioral shift has created market pressure on businesses to adopt sustainable practices not only for regulatory compliance but also to maintain brand reputation and customer loyalty. The growing preference for eco-friendly dining options has encouraged foodservice operators to invest in high-quality biodegradable cutlery that offers comparable performance to conventional plastic while meeting environmental standards. Educational initiatives conducted by NGOs and socially responsible companies have successfully triggered mindset changes at the grassroots level, with consumers increasingly understanding the long-term environmental benefits of biodegradable alternatives. IMARC Gorup predicts that the South Korea food service market size is expected to exhibit a growth rate (CAGR) of 17.8% during 2026-2034.

Development of Advanced PLA Recycling Infrastructure and Circular Economy Initiatives

South Korea is establishing comprehensive infrastructure for PLA recycling and circular economy systems to enhance the sustainability of biodegradable materials. On November 8, 2024, the National Assembly of South Korea's Environment and Labor Committee revealed its consideration of a new amendment proposal for the Act on Promoting Resource Conservation and Recycling. This legislation aims to manage the recycling of products and packaging materials (the Extended Producer Responsibility system, known as the EPR system) and restrict the use of single-use plastics. Moreover, the development of advanced recycling capabilities differentiates South Korea from markets that rely solely on composting infrastructure, offering multiple end-of-life pathways for biodegradable cutlery. The establishment of local reprocessing capabilities accelerates the transition to a circular economy by reducing dependence on virgin materials and lowering the carbon footprint of biodegradable products. This infrastructure development ensures that biodegradable cutlery products have viable end-of-life solutions beyond industrial composting, making them more attractive to environmentally conscious businesses and consumers. The integration of recycling infrastructure with existing manufacturing and distribution networks creates a sustainable ecosystem that supports long-term market growth for biodegradable cutlery in South Korea.

South Korea Biodegradable Cutlery Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the country and regional levels for 2026-2034. Our report has categorized the market based on product, raw material, type, application, and distribution channel.

Product Insights:

• Spoon
• Fork
• Knife
• Others

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the product. This includes spoon, fork, knife, and others.

Raw Material Insights:

• Wood
• Husk
• Paper
• Plastic
• Others

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the raw material have also been provided in the report. This includes wood, husk, paper, plastic, and others.

Type Insights:

• PLA
• CPLA
• Starch Blends

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the type. This includes PLA, CPLA, and starch blends.

Application Insights:

• Hotel
• Catering
• Others

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the application have also been provided in the report. This includes hotel, catering, and others.

Distribution Channel Insights:

• Online
• Offline

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the distribution channel. This includes online and offline.

Regional Insights:

• Seoul Capital Area
• Yeongnam (Southeastern Region)
• Honam (Southwestern Region)
• Hoseo (Central Region)
• Others

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include Seoul Capital Area, Yeongnam (Southeastern Region), Honam (Southwestern Region), Hoseo (Central Region), and others.

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.

South Korea Biodegradable Cutlery Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the South Korea biodegradable cutlery market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea biodegradable cutlery market on the basis of product?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea biodegradable cutlery market on the basis of raw material?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea biodegradable cutlery market on the basis of type?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea biodegradable cutlery market on the basis of application?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea biodegradable cutlery market on the basis of distribution channel?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea biodegradable cutlery market on the basis of region?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the South Korea biodegradable cutlery market?
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the South Korea biodegradable cutlery market?
• What is the structure of the South Korea biodegradable cutlery market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the South Korea biodegradable cutlery market?

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC's industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the South Korea biodegradable cutlery market from 2020-2034.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the South Korea biodegradable cutlery market.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the South Korea biodegradable cutlery industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.