Plastics : The Bioplastics Challenge, Promise and Reality

Addressing the scope of plastics management challenges:

The Bioplastics Solution?

• Innovators are developing alternatives called "bioplastics" that are:
• Made from renewable organic sources (corn, seaweed, sugarcane)
• Designed to have smaller carbon footprints
• Often engineered to biodegrade

Some promising examples include:

• BioPak (Australia): makes home-compostable takeaway packaging from sugarcane waste
• Loliware (US):  creates biodegradable seaweed drinking straws
• Sparxell (UK): develops plant-based pigments to replace plastic coloring additives that may have some environmental impact

Growth trajectory:

Bioplastics are growing but remain a tiny fraction of the market:

• Current production: About 2.2 million tonnes (2022)
• Projected growth: 7.4 million tonnes by 2028
• Market value expected to increase more than fivefold to $105 billion in a decade

Policy support:

Governments are encouraging this transition:

• The US aims to replace 90% of conventional plastics with bio-based alternatives within 20 years
• The EU has established a cautious but supportive policy framework for bioplastics

The reality check:

Not all bioplastics are truly environmentally friendly:

• Many "compostable" bioplastics require industrial facilities rarely accessible to consumers
• Some bioplastics are chemically identical to conventional plastics
• Many contain additives that may present health and environmental concerns when exposure occurs at certain levels or durations
• A 2020 study found that bio-based/biodegradable materials and conventional plastics raise the same environmental concers

Compostable: materials that break down completely into natural elements (water, carbon dioxide, and biomass) under specific composting conditions, leaving no residue with environmental or health impact.

Biomass: organic material from plants and animals that can be used as an energy source or broken down into simpler biological elements.

The definition problem:

The terms "bioplastic," "biomaterial," and "bio-based" lack clear definitions:

• This "regulation vacuum" allows companies to make misleading or exaggerated claims
• The main issue isn't the source material but whether chemicals, that may have environmental implications, are added for functionality

Leading innovators:

Some companies are developing truly nature-friendly alternatives:

Shellworks (UK):

• Created "Vivomer" derived from soil microbes
• Forms solid containers that microbes recognize as food when returned to nature
• Breaks down without producing microplastics

Sway (California):

• Makes compostable packaging from seaweed
• Seaweed regenerates rapidly, requires no land or chemical inputs
• Products are home-compostable

The market reality:

Despite innovation, bioplastics account for just 1% of total plastic production, because:

• Conventional plastics receive government subsidies (directly and through oil/gas subsidies)
• Fossil fuel feedstocks remain cheaper and more available than bio-based alternatives
• Without regulation, the economic incentive to switch remains weak

The path forward:

Key changes suggested:

Experts suggest exploring a more focused approach to polymer regulation that includes suitable bioplastic alternatives.

This framework could help address several key aspects:

• Developing pricing mechanisms that better reflect environmental impacts
• Creating clearer standards to verify biodegradability claims
• Working through international agreements to establish consistent definitions
• Supporting promising innovations in alternative materials
• Balancing thoughtful policy adjustments with market realities will be important as we work toward materials systems that meet both economic and environmental objectives.