Bioplastics are plastics that are manufactured using plant-based materials. This means that they degrade into bio-matter for a process that is eco-friendly and practical.
Corn starch was one of the first varieties of bioplastic, particularly in the US where corn is produced at a high volume for a very low cost. Alternative producers, however, is growing in popularity taking some of the manufacturing away from the US. Raw materials such as rice starch are now attracting a lot more research and investment. Sugar cane has also grown in popularity, with companies starting to produce and sell food packaging using sugar cane based bioplastic.
{Image Credit: http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/environment/plantbottle/plantbottle-packaging-award.html}
There are of course some large enterprises that are starting to work with bioplastics. These include Coca-Cola and their ‘plantbottle’ technology. This has been around since 2009 and provides a recyclable container for Coca-Cola drinks. These containers are even partially made from sugar cane.
Coca-Cola is also currently funding research that may help to create a more eco-friendly and biodegradable selection of packaging. This is because Coke currently uses PET (polyethene terephthalate) which is only part plant based. A popular new trend, however, is making use of PEF (polyethene furoate) which is 100% plant based. The amount of funding that Coca-Cola has pushed towards the research and development of PET does indicate that they intend to implement it, providing it proves to be a likely replacement for their existing PET packaging.
Bioplastics although a great idea is not without their problems. One problem is food packaging manufactured from corn starch. These tend to use GMO (genetically modified organism) corn which is a concern for those who fight against genetically modified produce. They represent a certain portion of the population despite being interested in greener packaging. The solution, of course, is to avoid GMO corn in their food packaging.
Another problem is that while these are marketed as biodegradable, they aren’t something that you can put into a compost bin yourself. They instead have to be composted at a special industrial composter.
{Image Credit: https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2014/06/10/ford-and-heinz-collaborate-on-sustainable-materials-for-vehicles.html}
Bioplastics are quite similar to petroleum-based plastics making it difficult for the general public to appreciate them as an alternative. It may be worth noting that this applies to the PET packaging, which is not entirely manufactured using organic materials. Many of the PET products remain completely biodegradable regardless of whether you send them to a landfill or put them in your own composter.
Some large corporations have taken an interest in the production of bioplastics, including more recently the partnership between Heinz and Ford. Ford, the reputable car dealership, have decided to take tomato by-product from the ketchup manufacturing process and use it to create bioplastics to be manufactured into car parts.
