Plastic waste has been a huge concern for everyone in the world, conventional plastics if not recycled properly can also tend to hurt the environment and wildlife around us which is why, the usage of compostable plastics has been suggested due to its potential of reaching $3,102.6 million in 2027. (Research, 2022) 

Breaking it down, plastics can either be conventional or bio based. Conventional plastics such as PE, PP or PET are derived from fossil fuels and can also be made with bio-derived sources which are referred to as bioplastics.

These contain a variety of bio-based polymers such as PLA, PHA and uses starch blends derived from plant sources. Bioplastics or compostable plastics can be processed through either, Industrial composting or through anaerobic digestion, moreover, you can also market your product with a home compostable logo so that your consumers can recycle them right at home!

How does Recycling work?

Usually, when there isn’t any separate place for compostable or biodegradable plastics, customers or users usually just toss these into the normal recycling collection bin which can be quite inefficient as it is harder to distinguish these from the other recyclable plastics such as PET, PP or PE and can hence reduce the value and physical properties of these plastics which is why it is necessary to utilize recycling methods such as, automatic sorting systems to help eliminate the problem of bioplastics or compostable plastics to lose their value and efficient properties.

Bioplastics have numerous benefits and are new to the market. With a market growth that is projected to increase in Asia, Europe and North America, the sector is quite innovative, young and new that pushes people towards a circular economy initiative. Moreover, the production for bioplastics will increase to approximately 7.59 million tonnes by 2026.

With benefits such as, reduced carbon footprint, increase resource efficiency and innovative materials for better performance, it’s hard to not dive into bioplastics. Bioplastics also have a unique advantage as compared to conventional plastics as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and some life cycle analyzes also show that bioplastics also save a good amount of CO2. 

Moreover, bioplastics increase efficiency has they been constantly recycled and reused which helps with energy recovery for the material. Lastly, Bio-based PET or PE showcase the same properties as conventional plastics. 

The bioplastics industry has come up with numerous ways to showcase and innovate the product in a way that provides it with not only material strength but also reduced thickness and barrier properties that make it an excellent recyclable material

What makes Bioplastics what they are today?

Bioplastics are used in numerous items such as packaging, containers, straws, bags and so much more. The market is ever-growing and will rapidly keep growing at a faster pace as well. 

For example, PLA is usually made from cassava, corn starch or sugarcane. To be able to transform corn into plastic, corn kernels are first immersed in sulfur-dioxide and hot water where its components then break down into starch, protein and fiber. These kernels are then separated from ground and the corn oil is separated from the starch. The starch is what contains long chains of carbon molecules that are very similar to the ones found in conventional plastics that are obtained from fossil fuels.

Some citric acids are mixed in to form a long-chain polymer that works as the building block for plastic. Moreover, PLA can be used and can behave as something that can be utilized in plastic films, packaging, bottles and so much more.

Reasons we think you should invest!

1. It saves non-renewable sources of energy
It helps conserve the petroleum supplies and comes from natural sources such as corn or cassava.

2. Reduces carbon emission
One of the massive advantages of bioplastics is their capability to produce very less carbon emission during the manufacturing process. Since, it is plant-based, it makes it an ideal choice for you!

3. Consumes Less Energy
The manufacturing process for bioplastics in general consumes and requires very little energy. They also do not need fossil fuels to be recycled and the pollution impact can therefore be decreased.

4. Provides an Eco-Friendly Solution
Bioplastics are an excellent way to move towards an economy that is eco-friendly. The fact that the material has the same properties of plastic and can act as one, it being plant-based and fully recyclable along with composting properties makes it a perfect fit for your products and more