Menu
Menu
From the history of bioplasticsBioplastics (as defined by European Bioplastics e.V.) is a term used to define two different kinds of plastics: • Plastics based on renewable resour… More, it is easy to conclude that the prefix bio- does not ensure an environmentally friendly product. The overall sustainabilitySustainability as defined by European Bioplastics, has three dimensions: economic, social and environmental. This has been known as “the triple bott… More of the material must be monitored throughout its life cycle.
extraction of mineral resources, deforestation, competition with food and feed production.
use of hazardous chemicals in bioplastic production – occupational health risks, environmental contamination at the processing site.
material quality must be sufficient – a low lifespan of the product increases its environmental footprint.
recycling of bioplasticsBioplastics (as defined by European Bioplastics e.V.) is a term used to define two different kinds of plastics: • Plastics based on renewable resour… More must be made available. In the case of biodegradableBiodegradation is the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. bioplasticsBioplastics (as defined by European Bioplastics e.V.) is a term used to define two different kinds of plastics: • Plastics based on renewable resour… More, conditions for ideal degradation must be provided – waste management must be addressed even in the case of biodegradableBiodegradation is the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. materials.
Current research and development focus on materials that can prevent all of the issues mentioned above. These are mainly biodegradable materials from renewable sources. The most common are starch-based materials, followed by polylactic acid (PLAPolylactide or Polylactic Acid (PLA), a biodegradable, thermoplastic, linear aliphatic polyester based on lactic acid, a natural acid, is mainly produ… More) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAPolyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) or the polyhydroxy fatty acids, are a family of biodegradable polyesters. As in many mammals, including humans, that hold … More). However, the range of raw materials is wide – sugars, proteins, celluloseCellulose is the principal component of cell walls in all higher forms of plant life, at varying percentages. It is therefore the most common organic … More, lignocellulose, chitin, chitosan, plant residues, fungi, algae. But not all sustainabilitySustainability as defined by European Bioplastics, has three dimensions: economic, social and environmental. This has been known as “the triple bott… More criteria are always met.
PLAPolylactide or Polylactic Acid (PLA), a biodegradable, thermoplastic, linear aliphatic polyester based on lactic acid, a natural acid, is mainly produ… More was discovered in the 1920s but has not been commercially produced due to its high cost. This changed in 1989 when Patrick R. Gruber discovered how to produce PLAPolylactide or Polylactic Acid (PLA), a biodegradable, thermoplastic, linear aliphatic polyester based on lactic acid, a natural acid, is mainly produ… More from corn. This enabled Novamont to develop bioplasticsBioplastics (as defined by European Bioplastics e.V.) is a term used to define two different kinds of plastics: • Plastics based on renewable resour… More under the commercial brand MATER-BI. In 1997, Cargill and Dow Chemicals also started producing PLAPolylactide or Polylactic Acid (PLA), a biodegradable, thermoplastic, linear aliphatic polyester based on lactic acid, a natural acid, is mainly produ… More from corn. In 2001 they started commercial production and since 2005 we know this company as NatureWorks, one of the main producers of PLAPolylactide or Polylactic Acid (PLA), a biodegradable, thermoplastic, linear aliphatic polyester based on lactic acid, a natural acid, is mainly produ… More. PLAPolylactide or Polylactic Acid (PLA), a biodegradable, thermoplastic, linear aliphatic polyester based on lactic acid, a natural acid, is mainly produ… More is durable bio-based polymerA polymer is a substance or material consisting of very large molecules, or macromolecules, composed of many repeating subunits., but it still holds some drawbacks, mainly: 1) competition with food and feed production, 2) insufficient biodegradability and improper waste management.
In 1926, French agronomist Maurice Lemoign discovered polyhydroxybutyrate (PHBPolyhydroxy butyrate (PHB) is a Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a polymer belonging to the polyesters class that are o… More) in the bacterium Bacillus megaterium – a storage polymerA polymer is a substance or material consisting of very large molecules, or macromolecules, composed of many repeating subunits. for microorganisms. It was not until the 1960s that science also focused on other PHAsPolyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) or the polyhydroxy fatty acids, are a family of biodegradable polyesters. As in many mammals, including humans, that hold … More produced by bacteria, P3HV and P3HHx. It took a long time for Lemoigne’s discovery to be put into practice – in 1983, Malborough Biopolymers was founded and introduced a material called Biopol. In 1992, a study describing the production of PHBPolyhydroxy butyrate (PHB) is a Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a polymer belonging to the polyesters class that are o… More in plants was published in Science. This attracted the attention of Monsanto, which bought Biopol in 1996 and began producing it using plants instead of bacteria. In 2001, Metabolix Inc., now known as Yield10 Bioscience, took over the production and dedicated itself to the production of PHAsPolyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) or the polyhydroxy fatty acids, are a family of biodegradable polyesters. As in many mammals, including humans, that hold … More using oilseed plants. It should be noted that the development of technologies to produce PHAPolyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) or the polyhydroxy fatty acids, are a family of biodegradable polyesters. As in many mammals, including humans, that hold … More (whether in microorganisms or plants) was enabled by advances in molecular biology and genome modification. By 2006, about 150 different PHAsPolyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) or the polyhydroxy fatty acids, are a family of biodegradable polyesters. As in many mammals, including humans, that hold … More were known. Commercial production has reduced the cost of these materials and they began to be tested extensively for various applications with great potential in medicine. Current research focuses mainly on the production of PHAsPolyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) or the polyhydroxy fatty acids, are a family of biodegradable polyesters. As in many mammals, including humans, that hold … More from waste sources and their recycling.
Polyethylene is the most abundantly used plastic in the world. EthyleneFree of colour and odour gas, made e.g. from, Naphtha (petroleum) by cracking or from bio-ethanol by dehydration, monomer of the polymer polyethylene … More, monomerMolecules that are linked by polymerization to form chains of molecules and then plastics. More of PEPolyethylene, thermoplastic polymerised from ethylene. Can be made from renewable resources (sugar cane via bio-ethanol). [bM 05/10] More, is generally produced from petroleum. However, new approaches allow to produce ethyleneFree of colour and odour gas, made e.g. from, Naphtha (petroleum) by cracking or from bio-ethanol by dehydration, monomer of the polymer polyethylene … More from bio-ethanol. This Bio-PE based in crop fermentationBiochemical reactions controlled by microorganisms or enzymes (e.g. the transformation of sugar into lactic acid). More has the same chemical and material properties as oil-based PEPolyethylene, thermoplastic polymerised from ethylene. Can be made from renewable resources (sugar cane via bio-ethanol). [bM 05/10] More, also with regards to the mechanical recycling process. This is a big advantage as the waste management of Bio-PE and Bio-PP is already established and these materials can be fully recycled. However, they are not biodegradableBiodegradation is the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. as much as oil-based plasticsMaterials with large molecular chains of natural or fossil raw materials, produced by chemical or biochemical reactions. More, so they contribute to plastic waste pollution. Production of Bio-PP requires bio-isobutanol. With respect to the production of Bio-PE, the process followed to obtain bio-PP has been less explored. Thus, Bio-PP is just entering the market.
The following table summarizes the most important plasticsMaterials with large molecular chains of natural or fossil raw materials, produced by chemical or biochemical reactions. More used. It evaluates the polymers based on their origin (bio-based, biosynthesized) and their end-of-life (compostable, home compostable). Biosynthesized materials are those that gained their chemical structure in living organism like celluloseCellulose is the principal component of cell walls in all higher forms of plant life, at varying percentages. It is therefore the most common organic … More or starchNatural polymer (carbohydrate) consisting of amylose and amylopectin, gained from maize, potatoes, wheat, tapioca etc. When glucose is connected to po… More from plants or PHAPolyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) or the polyhydroxy fatty acids, are a family of biodegradable polyesters. As in many mammals, including humans, that hold … More from bacteria. Other bio-based polymers originate in renewable sources, but their chemical structure is man-made. These are bio-PE or PLAPolylactide or Polylactic Acid (PLA), a biodegradable, thermoplastic, linear aliphatic polyester based on lactic acid, a natural acid, is mainly produ… More. Biodegradability is very complex term which must be further specified. Here you can compare biodegradability in two conditions most important for bioplasticsBioplastics (as defined by European Bioplastics e.V.) is a term used to define two different kinds of plastics: • Plastics based on renewable resour… More waste management – compostingComposting is the controlled aerobic, or oxygen-requiring, decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms, under controlled conditions. It reduc… More and home compostingComposting [bM 06/08] More. Industrial compostingIndustrial composting is an established process with commonly agreed upon requirements (e.g. temperature, timeframe) for transforming biodegradable wa… More allows temperature and humidity regulation with higher temperature for decomposition. Home compostingComposting [bM 06/08] More cannot be regulated and the temperature and other conditions for biodegradationBiodegradation is the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. vary.
* Industrially compostable: “Industrially compostable packaging” refers to the ability of packaging to biodegrade and decompose only in a commercial compostingComposting is the controlled aerobic, or oxygen-requiring, decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms, under controlled conditions. It reduc… More facility. Industrial compostingIndustrial composting is an established process with commonly agreed upon requirements (e.g. temperature, timeframe) for transforming biodegradable wa… More facilities treat the packaging at high temperatures (above 55 °C, much higher than can be achieved in home compostingComposting [bM 06/08] More) to accelerate degradation of the material. In accordance to the norm EN 13432European standard for the assessment of the compostability of plastic packaging products. More. Home compostable: Packaging labeled as “home compostable” means that the customer can simply place the packaging in the home compostA soil conditioning material of decomposing organic matter which provides nutrients and enhances soil structure. [bM 06/08, 02/09] More bin. No EU-wide norm available yet! Fully bio-based PETPolyethylenterephthalate, transparent polyester used for bottles and film. The polyester is made from monoethylene glycol (MEG), that can be renewably… More has been long presented by manufacturers, but never commercialized. PGLA – lactic acid is bio-based but glycolic acid is usually synthesized artificially. CA and silicone rubbers can slowly degrade, the biodegradability of PETPolyethylenterephthalate, transparent polyester used for bottles and film. The polyester is made from monoethylene glycol (MEG), that can be renewably… More and PU has been established under specific laboratory conditions.
1 Koller, M. and A. Mukherjee. Polyhydroxyalkanoates – Linking Properties, Applications and End-of-life Options. Chem. Biochem. Eng. Q. 2020, 34(3): 115-129. doi: https://doi.org/10.15255/CABEQ.2020.1819.
Na Strži 1702/65, 140 00 Praha 4 – Nusle
ID: 24166855, VAT: CZ24166855