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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 are not as new as they might first appear. There have been almost 200 years of development and use 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. This has brought successes, but also failures, which together form valuable lessons. The growth of green products across sectors has brought new opportunities 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. However, the prefix bio- does not guarantee the unconditional 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. History offers us deterrent cases where the production 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 has led to environmental disasters. Knowledge of these events helps us to guide the current development of new materials and to keep in mind the wider context of the ecological production 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.
The first commercially used plasticsMaterials with large molecular chains of natural or fossil raw materials, produced by chemical or biochemical reactions. More were 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. Synthetic plasticsMaterials with large molecular chains of natural or fossil raw materials, produced by chemical or biochemical reactions. More (oil-based) appeared at the beginning of the 20th century but did not take off until after World War I. By contrast, 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 began to be used commercially in the mid-19th century.
Ebonite made by vulcanization of natural rubber was first introduced in 1851 as a substitute for ebony wood. Like natural rubber, gutta-percha and latex can also be extracted. Gutta-percha was a key material for insulating the undersea telegraph networks linking the British colonies. Within decades, the gutta-percha trees were almost wiped out. Collecting the gum and latex from the trees was dangerous work, as was the further processing of the rubber – workers were exposed to toxic fumes in the vulcanization process, leading to neurodegenerative disorders. Carbon disulfide gas, which was the main cause of the workers’ diseases, is also used in the production of viscose.
In 1856, celluloid was first made as a cheap substitute for ivory, tortoiseshell and pearl by reacting nitrocellulose with camphor. Celluloid was also used for photographic film manufacturing. The development of photography and cinematography in the late 19th century caused the devastation of Taiwan’s forests where the camphor tree was harvested. Celluloid replaced ivory, but there was still no decline in elephant hunting. Celluloid is highly flammable and explosive – its production has been associated with workplace fatalities.
Viscose, a textile fibre made from 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, was introduced in 1884 to replace silk. Viscose boomed during World War II and is still a popular textile material to this day. The production of viscose was accompanied by deforestation in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska and environmental pollution from dioxins, heavy metalsThe term heavy metal refers to any metallic chemical element that has a relatively high density and is toxic or poisonous at low concentrations. and polychlorinated biphenyls.
In 1897, Galalith was created by the reaction of formaldehyde and casein, a protein abundant in milk, and started a revolution in button manufacturing. Production of Galalith was curtailed during World War II due to milk shortages and subsequently, Galalith was displaced by synthetic plasticsMaterials with large molecular chains of natural or fossil raw materials, produced by chemical or biochemical reactions. More.
In 1907, Bakelite was created from phenols and formaldehyde. Bakelite was the first of a series of synthetic plasticsMaterials with large molecular chains of natural or fossil raw materials, produced by chemical or biochemical reactions. More that gradually displaced the original 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 due to their better material properties and low cost. World War II accelerated the development of the petrochemical industry and the focus on plasticsMaterials with large molecular chains of natural or fossil raw materials, produced by chemical or biochemical reactions. More made from petroleum. The war years highlighted the disadvantage 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 competing with food production – food and feed security was a priority and 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 were replaced by fully synthetic plasticsMaterials with large molecular chains of natural or fossil raw materials, produced by chemical or biochemical reactions. More. The production of plasticsMaterials with large molecular chains of natural or fossil raw materials, produced by chemical or biochemical reactions. More not from petroleum itself but from by-products of the petrochemical industry made production costs even lower. This caused a shift away from 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, whose production costs and material properties could not compete with oil-based products. In recent decades, as society has struggled with the adverse effects of plastic litteringIt is the (illegal) act of leaving waste such as cigarette butts, paper, tins, bottles, cups, plates, cutlery or bags lying in an open or public place… More and plastic production, 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 have experienced a renaissance. In particular, biodegradableBiodegradation is the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. materials are in the spotlight and sustainabilitySustainability as defined by European Bioplastics, has three dimensions: economic, social and environmental. This has been known as “the triple bott… More is the main criterion for their production.
Altman, R. The myth of historical bio-based plastics. Science. 2021, 373(6550): 47. doi: 10.1126/science.abj1003.
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