The Promise of Bioplastics - Bio-Based and Biodegradable-Compostable Plastics

The Promise of Bioplastics -Bio-Based and Biodegradable- Compostable Plastics 

Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, United States 

Plastic materials are the dominant materials used in applications from agriculture, to electronics, to medical devices to packaging. Starting from a mere 1.65 x 10 tons in 1950 they reached 280 x 10 tons in 2011 and continue to show explosive growth as populous countries like India and China become more industriaUzed and consume more plastic materials. 

Two major issues that arise from this extensive use of plastics, especially in relation to short-life disposable packaging, are its carbon footprint and end of life - what happens to the product after use when it enters the waste stream. This chapter describes how bioplastics can provide a value proposition to address the twin issues of carbon footprinting and end of Ufe. 

Bio-Based Plastics Materials and Applications, First Edition. Edited by Stephan Kabasci. 2014 John WQey Sons, Ltd. Published 2014 by John WQey Sons, Ltd. 

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