Bioplastic is a form of plastics produced by plant from renewable biomass sources such as hemp oil, soy bean oil and corn starch, or from macrobiotic sources, rather than traditional plastics which are derived from petroleum. It is designed to biodegrade.
Bioplastic represent a relatively new class of materials which have much in common with conventional plastics. What differentiates them is
· the use of renewable resources in their manufacture
· The biodegradability and compostability of many bioplastics products.
Definition of Bioplastic
Bioplastic is degradable & renewable because of the reaction of enzymes like fungi or bacteria and micro-organisms. The mineralization of organic structures by microorganisms converts the bioplastics into methane, CO2, biomass and water. Compostable plastics are degradable because of the biological process occurring during composting and are changed into CO2, water, and biomass. There is no toxic side effect like toxic residue for biological elements or living organisms. They have the officially recognized standards EN 13432.
Examples of bioplastics
Bioplastics, produced from plant materials is an interesting & exciting side to research into substances that look, feel and act such as traditional plastics. Some examples of bioplastics are:
- Although aromatic polyesters are almost totally resistant to microbial attack, most aliphatic polyester is biodegradable because of its hydrolysable ester bonds:
- Naturally Produced: Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) like the poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV) and polyhydroxyhexanoate (PHH);
- Renewable Resource: Polylactic acid (PLA);
- Synthetic: Polybutylene succinate (PBS), polycaprolactone (PCL)...
- Polyanhydrides
- Polyvinyl alcohol
- Most of the starch derivatives
- Cellulose esters like acetate and nitrocellulose and their derivatives
Importance of Bioplastic
In the present world, plastics are almost impossible to go far from. There are ways to avoid it, but then it still will creep back into daily life in some way shape or form. For using a computer, there are plastics inside it, the monitor has plastic in it, the mouse, the keyboard, the speakers, printer, scanner, webcam all of it has plastic in it. But all plastics made are made from petroleum, aren't biodegradable and are usually very toxic. Move to the kitchen, and even more plastic items such as children’s spoons and cups, food boxes, a dish rack, plastic colanders and measuring cups, to name just a few. Our lives are surrounded by plastic and items made from oil – dishwashing liquids, paint, hand lotion, panty hose, eyeglasses, movie film, vitamin capsules, boats, curtains, toilet seats, ballpoint pens, transparent tape, contact lenses, glue, tires.
Bioplastic is biodegradable plastic which nowadays attracts increasing interest because of its
· positive environmental impact
· its wide range of properties & elements,
· applications
· Also competitive price.
Bioplastics are being used in agriculture, packaging, medicine, automotive, medicine, textile, cosmetics and many other areas now a day. They are being developed & advanced in various countries and this is reflected in the steady increase of using bioplastic. Estimation from the European Commission predicts that bioplastics will represent 20% of polymer production globally which is also indicating outstanding expansion by 2020-2030.
In the past, plastics from alternate sources were consequentially more expensive than those which using petroleum technology, higher oil prices have made these alternatives cheaper in comparison. On the other hand, arising environmental concerns and legislative incentives, particularly in the European Union (EU), are stimulating keen interest in the adoption of biodegradable plastics. This is in turn spurring research to improve bioplastic technology, and developments in plant breeding and processing are expected to further narrow the cost differential between bioplastics and synthetic ones.
Present & Future for Bioplastic (Bioplastics market worldwide 2007-2025)
Presently, bioplastics are widely being used in less valuable & disposables things such as food service items, bags, and packages. While these are expected to continue to be their main markets, evolutionary changes in bioplastic performance and processability are being aimed at more demanding uses. Main areas of development include polymers produced by bacteria, which are believed to significantly improve biodegradability as well as barrier properties, hydrolytic stability, sealability, printability, and compatibility with other resins. Here are some statistic reports about the growth of using bioplastic & future possibilities,
Ø Bioplastics fast market growth of more than 8-10%
Ø Bioplastics cover more than 10-15% of the total plastic market & will increase share to 25-30% by 2020.
Ø The market itself is huge, it reached over 1 billion US$ in 2007 and will be over 10 billion by 2020.
Ø Over 500 bioplastics processing companies are already available; more than 5000 are expected by 2020.
Ø Currently available bioplastics cover approximately 10-15% of the plastics market & is expected to grow between 8-10% annually.
Ø Europe being one of the most important markets, due to the limited amount of crude oil reserves.
Ø In recent years, bioplastic have been used in the food & packaging industry, medical, toys and textile industries.
Global report of Bioplastic
- Bioplastics will grow at a significant pace over the next 5 years. The total worldwide use of bioplastics is valued at 571,712 metric tons in 2010. This usage is expected to grow at a 41.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2010 through 2015, to reach 3,230,660 metric tons in 2015.- By 2010, ready access to crops such as soybeans, corn, and sugarcane moved the United States strongly into bioplastics. North American usage is estimated at 258,180 metric tons in 2010 and is expected to increase at a 41.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach 1,459,040 metric tons in 2015.
- Use of bioplastics got off to a faster start in Europe than in the United States. European usage is now reported at 175,320 metric tons in 2010 and is expected to increase at a 33.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach 753,760 metric tons in 2015.
Market forces, especially increasing focus on environmental threats such as global warming and disposal of products containing toxic materials, have strongly driven development and early use of bioplastics.
Environmental aspects and impacts
Our plastic use is causing many issues with our environment and it is time we all make change.
One simple solution is to use bioplastics. Bioplastics are made from plant sources and are biodegradable. If we were using bioplastic for the past 50 years instead of petroleum based plastic, the garbage patch in the pacific would be very small or even not there.
One simple solution is to use bioplastics. Bioplastics are made from plant sources and are biodegradable. If we were using bioplastic for the past 50 years instead of petroleum based plastic, the garbage patch in the pacific would be very small or even not there.
More than 200 million tons of plastic are produced annually around the world, according to the Society of plastic engineers. Of those 200 million tons, 26 million are produced in the United States. The EPA reported in 2003 that only 5.8% of those 26 million tons of plastic waste are recycled, although this is increasing rapidly.
Most important reason for disappointing plastics recycling goals is that traditional plastics are often mixed with organic wastes which are making it hard to recycle without excessive cleaning and sanitizing. Moreover, composting of these commingled organics including non-recyclable paper is a potential strategy for recovering large quantities of waste and gradually increases community recycling aims. Biodegradable plastics can be replaced with the these traditional plastics in these waste streams & making municipal composting a significant tool to divert large amounts of otherwise nonrecoverable waste from landfills.
On the other hand, supporters of biodegradable plastics propose that these materials offer a solution to this problem. Authorized biodegradable plastics combine the utility of plastics (lightweight, resistance, relative low cost) with the ability to completely and fully biodegrade in a compost facility. Without being worried about recycling relatively less amount of mixed plastics, these supporters argue that biodegradable plastics can be readily mixed with other organic wastes like paper, oil, traditional plastic etc. Commercial composting for all mixed organics then becomes commercially viable and economically sustainable. More municipalities can divert significant quantities of waste from overburdened landfills since the entire waste stream is now biodegradable and therefore easier to process.
If it is thought that if all the plastic in this world was made from plant sources, wouldn't that create a huge strain on our food supply? The simple solution of that can be Hemp (Cannabis) seed which can be used to produce bioplastic because of growing very faster and almost anywhere. Hemp is grown in most of Europe & Asia, but it is illegal to grow in the USA. The seeds of the hemp plant can be used to make plastics while the fiber from this plant can make clothing, some papers and even manufactured wood products. Cannabis (hemp) is very much friendly for the environment and has much less impact on the environment than growing corn. If cannabis (hemp) was able to be grown everywhere in the world, that would provide all the needed for manufacturing the bioplastic which can save our life, livelihood & environment.
If it is thought that if all the plastic in this world was made from plant sources, wouldn't that create a huge strain on our food supply? The simple solution of that can be Hemp (Cannabis) seed which can be used to produce bioplastic because of growing very faster and almost anywhere. Hemp is grown in most of Europe & Asia, but it is illegal to grow in the USA. The seeds of the hemp plant can be used to make plastics while the fiber from this plant can make clothing, some papers and even manufactured wood products. Cannabis (hemp) is very much friendly for the environment and has much less impact on the environment than growing corn. If cannabis (hemp) was able to be grown everywhere in the world, that would provide all the needed for manufacturing the bioplastic which can save our life, livelihood & environment.
Conclusion
In order to meet the increasing demand in the development of bioplastic materials, companies working in bioplastic sectors need highly qualified & skilled researchers trained in polymer chemistry, physics and processing who can concentrate on polymer from biomass sources, and have supplementary informations & knowledge of mathematical modeling, biotechnology, management, environmental and risk regulations.
With the new innovations expected in the near future, there would be more and more applications for bioplastic, no doubt, such as the automobile industry and electronics industry, where play a major role. So, from now, Bioplastic Should be said YES for using our daily life’s plastic materials.
