Bioplasts

Bioplasts are a category of plastics derived from renewable biomass sources and/or designed to degrade under specific environmental conditions. The term covers two related but distinct concepts: biobased plastics, which are produced from renewable resources, and biodegradable plastics, which can break down in the environment under appropriate conditions. Some materials are both biobased and biodegradable, while others may be biobased but not readily biodegradable, or biodegradable but not biobased.

Common biobased and biodegradable examples include polylactic acid (PLA), produced by fermentation of sugars and polymerized; polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), produced by bacteria; starch blends, cellulose derivatives, and certain polyesters like polybutylene succinate (PBS). There are also biobased versions of conventional plastics (for example, bio-based PET) that may be non-biodegradable.

Production involves fermentation of plant-derived sugars to monomers, followed by polymerization, or direct microbial synthesis for PHAs. Feedstock options include corn, sugarcane, cassava, and other crops, though some projects use non-food biomass.

End-of-life options vary: some bioplastics are compostable in industrial facilities following standards such as EN 13432 or ASTM D6400; others are recyclable within existing streams, and some require dedicated facilities. Degradation largely depends on temperature, moisture, and microbial presence, so there is often limited degradation in home composting or the natural environment.

Environmental impact depends on feedstock, production energy, and end-of-life management; critics note potential land-use impacts and the risk of contamination in recycling streams. Regulation and labeling aim to clarify biobased content and compostability.