Bioplastics are biodegradable materials that come from renewable sources and can be used to reduce the problem of plastic waste that is polluting the environment. Does it make any sense to continue using packaging that can take centuries to disappear to pack products that only last days or months?
Plastic is the third most commonly used petroleum derivative in the world; each year over 200 million tons of plastic are consumed on the planet. It comes from a non-renewable source – petroleum and it is polluting and not biodegradable. Plastic can take more than 1000 years to decompose.
Biobased plastics have the unique advantage over conventional plastics to reduce the dependency on limited fossil resources and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or even be carbon neutral. Bioplastics can make a considerable contribution to increased resource efficiency, especially if biobased materials and products are being reused or recycled and eventually used for energy recovery (i.e. renewable energy).
Now there is a bioplastic alternative to almost every conventional plastic. Bioplastics currently have the same properties as conventional plastics such as, thermoplastics, and often offer additional advantages, such as compostability and natural breathability.
Bioplastics are also being improved continuously with increased heat resistance, enhanced moisture barriers, greater stiffness and flexibility or improved durability.
Bioplastics are available in a wide variety of types and compounds that can be converted on the standard equipment generally used for processing conventional plastics.
Biobased plastics help reduce the dependency on limited fossil resources, which are expected to become significantly more expensive. Slowly depleted fossil resources are being gradually substituted with renewable resources.
Biobased plastics also possess the unique potential to reduce GHG emissions
or even be carbon neutral. Plants absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide as they
grow. Using this biomass to create biobased plastic products constitutes a temporary removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. This carbon fixation can be extended for a period of time if the material is recycled.
Bioplastics are moving out of the niche and into the mass market. Although
they have not captured the entire market yet, bioplastic materials and products are multiplying continuously.
