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Apurva Gosavi

Bioplastics


Fossil resources are limited, and that the demand for plastic packaging is not decreasing at all- highlighting how important it is to consider bioplastic alternatives seriously!


What are bioplastics, and how do we benefit from them?


According to Britannica, ”Bioplastic is a moldable plastic material made up of chemical compounds that are derived from or synthesized by microbes such as bacteria or by genetically modified plants”. Unlike traditional plastics, which are derived from petroleum, bioplastics are obtained from renewable resources, and they are biodegradable.




There are three groups of bioplastics, each with their own characteristics:


Bio-based (or partly bio-based), non-biodegradable plastics, such as bio-based polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (so-called drop-in solutions), bio-based technical performance polymers, such as numerous polyamides (PA) or polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT);

Bio-based and biodegradable plastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), and starch blends are promising bioplastics with bio-based feedstocks and property of biodegradability.

• Plastics that are based on fossil resources and biodegradable, such as polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), but that may well be produced at least partly bio-based in the future.


Advantages of Bioplastics:

  • They reduce carbon footprint.

  • They providing energy savings in production.

  • They do not involve the consumption of non-renewable raw materials.

  • Their production reduces non-biodegradable waste that contaminates the environment.

  • They do not contain additives that are harmful to health, such as phthalates or bisphenol A .

  • They do not change the scent of the food contained.

  • Bioplastics also contributes in improving waste management.


Quick Fact:


According to the latest market data compiled by European Bioplastics in collaboration with the nova-Institute, the global production capacities of bioplastics are predicted to grow from around 2.11 million tonnes in 2019 to approximately 2.42 million tonnes by 2024.


And in 2019, 45 percent of bioplastics were produced in Asia itself.

Heard of Magnetic Bioplastics?


A recent research in 2019 by a scientist Nery Aguilar concluded that Magnetic bioplastics based on isolated cellulose from cotton and sugarcane bagasse can be synthesized which find potential applications in the field of biomedicine, wastewater treatment and electronics. Cotton and sugarcane bagasse were used as natural sources to obtain the cellulose biopolymers. Magnetic bioplastics were fabricated by immersion of the biopolymers in a MnFe2O4 ferrofluid.

Wondering, where all we use bioplastics?

They are a part of your everyday life!



Global Market:

Bioplastics are used in an increasing number of markets, from packaging, catering products, consumer electronics, automotive, agriculture/horticulture and toys to textiles and a number of other segments. Packaging remains the largest field of application for bioplastics with more than 53 percent (1.14 million tonnes) of the total bioplastics market in 2019.


Bio-based plastics do not only help to make cars lighter in order to save fuel, but they provide additional means to reduce carbon emissions and the impact on the environment.


Bioplastics are a major of part of global bioeconomy as this is a fast-growing, innovative industry that has the potential to decouple economic growth from resource depletion and negative environmental impact, and to help deliver better economic and environmental outcomes by replacing fossil feedstock with bio-based feedstock, while continuing to harness the benefits of plastics!


There is nothing that bioplastics can‘t do: Today, there is a bioplastic alternative for almost every conventional plastic material and corresponding application. Therefore, BIOPLASTICS are the key for driving the evolution of plastics and they make this earth a better place to live in.

Content and infographic by - Apurva Gosavi, 2nd year.

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