Bioplastics

What are Bioplastics?

Bioplastics are bio-based OR biodegradable insoluble polymers carrying similar properties as oil­‑based plastics. This is a broad group of materials with distinct origins, properties and end-of-life. You might imagine PLA or starch-based composites, which are both bio-based and biodegradable. However, also bio-PP or bio-PE are members of the big group of bioplastics. These bioplastics are made from alcohols that originated in the fermentation of crop or crop waste, but their chemical composition is the same as of oil-based polypropylene or polyethylene. Thus, these bioplastics are not biodegradable and they contribute to plastic waste accumulation. On the other hand, there are also biodegradable oil-based plastics like PCL (polycaprolactone). To make things even a bit more complicated, some bioplastics can be derived partly from renewable sources and partly from petrol like bio-polyurethan or bio-epoxy resins. To complete the list of possibilities, plastics are very often blended in order to gain the best properties for the final material – one composite material can be formed from several polymers.

Bioplastics are bio-based OR biodegradable insoluble polymers carrying similar properties as oil­‑based plastics. This is a broad group of materials with distinct origins, properties and end-of-life. You might imagine PLA or starch-based composites, which are both bio-based and biodegradable. However, also bio-PP or bio-PE are members of the big group of bioplastics. These bioplastics are made from alcohols that originated in the fermentation of crop or crop waste, but their chemical composition is the same as of oil-based polypropylene or polyethylene. Thus, these bioplastics are not biodegradable and they contribute to plastic waste accumulation. On the other hand, there are also biodegradable oil-based plastics like PCL (polycaprolactone). To make things even a bit more complicated, some bioplastics can be derived partly from renewable sources and partly from petrol like bio-polyurethan or bio-epoxy resins. To complete the list of possibilities, plastics are very often blended in order to gain the best properties for the final material – one composite material can be formed from several polymers.

References

1 Fojt, J., J. David, R. Přikryl, et al. A critical review of the overlooked challenge of determining micro-bioplastics in soil. Science of The Total Environment. 2020, 745: 140975. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140975.