BIOPLASTICBIOPLASTIC

Vikas Singh Vikas Singh

Why Bioplastic?Why Bioplastic? These days plastics are predominantly made These days plastics are predominantly made

from from crude oilcrude oil In this context, In this context, renewable resourcesrenewable resources are are

becoming a more viable and promising becoming a more viable and promising alternative for the plastics industry alternative for the plastics industry

When plastics made from petroleum are burned, When plastics made from petroleum are burned, they release the carbon dioxide contained in the they release the carbon dioxide contained in the petroleum into the atmosphere, leading to global petroleum into the atmosphere, leading to global warming. warming.

The use of bioplastics offers significant The use of bioplastics offers significant advantages not only in an ecological sense but advantages not only in an ecological sense but also in an economical sense. also in an economical sense.

Bioplastics are a form of Bioplastics are a form of plasticsplastics derived from derived from plant sources such as sweet potatoes, plant sources such as sweet potatoes, sugarcane, sugarcane, hemphemp oil, oil, soy beansoy bean oil and oil and corn starchcorn starch. .

Bioplastics are environmentally friendly because, Bioplastics are environmentally friendly because, compared with traditional plastics, their compared with traditional plastics, their production results in the emission of less carbon production results in the emission of less carbon dioxide, which is thought to cause global dioxide, which is thought to cause global warming.warming.

They are also biodegradable, meaning that the They are also biodegradable, meaning that the material returns to its natural state when buried material returns to its natural state when buried in the ground. in the ground.

Enzymes are used to break starch in the Enzymes are used to break starch in the plants down into glucose, which is plants down into glucose, which is fermented and made into lactic acid.fermented and made into lactic acid.

This lactic acid is polymerized and This lactic acid is polymerized and converted into a plastic called polylactic converted into a plastic called polylactic acid, which can be used in the acid, which can be used in the manufacture of products after being manufacture of products after being heated and shaped. heated and shaped.

In addition, bioplastics are biodegradable. In addition, bioplastics are biodegradable. If something made of bioplastic is buried in the If something made of bioplastic is buried in the

ground, microorganisms will break it down into ground, microorganisms will break it down into carbon dioxide and water. carbon dioxide and water.

Bags made of bioplastic can be thrown away Bags made of bioplastic can be thrown away and buried with other biodegradable garbage, and buried with other biodegradable garbage, and there are a growing number of other uses and there are a growing number of other uses for the materials as well, including artificial for the materials as well, including artificial fibers, medical products, and construction fibers, medical products, and construction materials. materials.

Use of BioplasticUse of Bioplastic

Bioplastics are already being used in Bioplastics are already being used in automobile interiors and in cases for automobile interiors and in cases for consumer electronics. consumer electronics.

Toyota Motor Corp. became the first Toyota Motor Corp. became the first automaker in the world to use bioplastics automaker in the world to use bioplastics in the manufacture of auto parts, in the manufacture of auto parts, employing them in the cover for the spare employing them in the cover for the spare tiretire

Toyota Motor is building a plant to undertake test Toyota Motor is building a plant to undertake test production of bioplastic at a factory in Japan, production of bioplastic at a factory in Japan, with production due to begin in August 2004.with production due to begin in August 2004.

The company plans to produce 1,000 tons of The company plans to produce 1,000 tons of bioplastic annually, which will be used not just in bioplastic annually, which will be used not just in car parts but in many other plastic products as car parts but in many other plastic products as well. well.

Toyota also plans to use bioplastics in the Toyota also plans to use bioplastics in the construction of the exhibition pavilions at the construction of the exhibition pavilions at the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan, so that no 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan, so that no construction waste is generated when the construction waste is generated when the pavilions are dismantled at the end of the event. pavilions are dismantled at the end of the event.

Used in Electronic DevicesUsed in Electronic Devices

Mitsubishi Plastics has already succeeded in Mitsubishi Plastics has already succeeded in raising the heat-resistance and strength of raising the heat-resistance and strength of polylactic acid by combining it with other polylactic acid by combining it with other biodegradable plastics and filler, and the result biodegradable plastics and filler, and the result was used to make the plastic casing of a new was used to make the plastic casing of a new version of Sony Corp.'s Walkman released last version of Sony Corp.'s Walkman released last fall.fall.

Mitsubishi Plastics had previously looked at Mitsubishi Plastics had previously looked at bioplastic as something that would mainly be bioplastic as something that would mainly be used in the manufacture of casings and used in the manufacture of casings and wrappings, but the company now feels confident wrappings, but the company now feels confident that this revolutionary material has entered a that this revolutionary material has entered a new phase in its development in which more new phase in its development in which more complex applications will be found. complex applications will be found.

NEC Corp., meanwhile, is turning its attention to NEC Corp., meanwhile, is turning its attention to kenaf, a type of fibrous plant native to tropical kenaf, a type of fibrous plant native to tropical areas of Africa and Asia that is known to grow areas of Africa and Asia that is known to grow more than five meters in just half a year. more than five meters in just half a year.

A mixture of polylactic acid and kenaf fiber that A mixture of polylactic acid and kenaf fiber that is 20% fiber by weight allows for a plastic that is is 20% fiber by weight allows for a plastic that is strong enough and heat resistant enough to be strong enough and heat resistant enough to be used in electronic goods. used in electronic goods.

The goal is to begin using this new plastic in real The goal is to begin using this new plastic in real products, such as computer cases, within two products, such as computer cases, within two years. years.

Applications Applications

PackagingPackaging The use of bioplastics for shopping bags is The use of bioplastics for shopping bags is

already very common. already very common. After their initial use they can be reused as bags After their initial use they can be reused as bags

for organic waste and then be composted. for organic waste and then be composted. Trays and containers for fruit, vegetables, eggs Trays and containers for fruit, vegetables, eggs

and meat, bottles for soft drinks and dairy and meat, bottles for soft drinks and dairy products and blister foils for fruit and vegetables products and blister foils for fruit and vegetables are also already widely manufactured from are also already widely manufactured from bioplastics. bioplastics.

Catering productsCatering products Catering products belong to the group of Catering products belong to the group of

perishable plastics. perishable plastics. Disposable crockery and cutlery, as well Disposable crockery and cutlery, as well

as pots and bowls, pack foils for as pots and bowls, pack foils for hamburgers and straws are being dumped hamburgers and straws are being dumped after a single use, together with food-after a single use, together with food-leftovers, forming huge amounts of waste, leftovers, forming huge amounts of waste, particularly at big events. particularly at big events.

GardeningGardening Within the agricultural economy and the Within the agricultural economy and the

gardening sector mulch foils made of gardening sector mulch foils made of biodegradable material and flower pots made of biodegradable material and flower pots made of decomposable bioplastics are predominantly decomposable bioplastics are predominantly used due to their adjustable lifespan and the fact used due to their adjustable lifespan and the fact that these materials do not leave residues in the that these materials do not leave residues in the soil. soil.

This helps reduce work and time (and thus cost) This helps reduce work and time (and thus cost) as these products can simply be left to as these products can simply be left to decompose, after which they are ploughed in to decompose, after which they are ploughed in to the soil. the soil.

Plant pots used for flowering and vegetable Plant pots used for flowering and vegetable plants can be composted along with gardening plants can be composted along with gardening and kitchen litter. and kitchen litter.

Medical ProductsMedical Products In comparison to packaging, catering or In comparison to packaging, catering or

gardening sectors, the medical sector sets out gardening sectors, the medical sector sets out completely different requirements with regards to completely different requirements with regards to products made of renewable and reabsorbing products made of renewable and reabsorbing plastics. plastics.

The highest possible qualitative standards have The highest possible qualitative standards have to be met and guaranteed, resulting in an to be met and guaranteed, resulting in an extremely high costs, which sometimes exceed extremely high costs, which sometimes exceed 1.000 Euro per kilo. 1.000 Euro per kilo.

The potential applications of biodegradable or The potential applications of biodegradable or reabsorbing bioplastics are manifold. reabsorbing bioplastics are manifold.

Sanitary ProductsSanitary Products Due to their specific characteristics, bioplastics Due to their specific characteristics, bioplastics

are used as a basis for the production of are used as a basis for the production of sanitary products. sanitary products.

These materials are breathable and allow water These materials are breathable and allow water vapor to permeate, but at the same time they are vapor to permeate, but at the same time they are waterproof. waterproof.

Foils made of soft bioplastic are already used as Foils made of soft bioplastic are already used as diaper foil, bed underlay, for incontinence diaper foil, bed underlay, for incontinence products, ladies sanitary products and as products, ladies sanitary products and as disposable gloves.  disposable gloves. 

Product of BioplasticProduct of Bioplastic