As we all know by now, plastic is not fantastic. But how can we solve this issue?

Enter bioplastics. Bioplastics, like all plastics, have a base made of macromolecules with some added ingredients. But what makes bioplastics different is that their macromolecules are bio-based and/or the product is capable of biodegrading. Bio-based means that the materials are of biological origin, like animals, plants, bacteria, algae, and fungi. Importantly, just because a product is bio-based does not automatically mean it is also biodegradable.

While bioplastics account for less than 2% of all plastics, up to 90% of fossil-based plastics could technically be substituted with bioplastics.

Let’s explore five unique bioplastics!

Saving The Sea

The world uses over five trillion plastic bags each year, and these bags never fully decompose; they fragment into microplastics. Once in oceans, plastic bags damage ecosystems, hurt organisms, and cause millions of dollars in economic costs.

But these harms do not have to continue. Takuzo Aida and his research team have created a bioplastic bag that dissolves within hours when placed in seawater without leaving microplastics behind, according to the researchers. This bag can be classified as a bioplastic because it is made from cellulose, a type of macromolecule that is naturally-occurring and therefore bio-based.

Waste Not

Bioplastics could help reduce food waste, too. Food waste that contains bio-based macromolecules such as cellulose or starch has the potential to be transformed into bioplastics.

This is an exciting concept because food waste rotting in landfills emits an estimated 58% of the methane gas released from U.S. municipal solid waste landfills. Methane is a type of greenhouse gas that is exacerbating the climate crisis.

Orange Peels

Orange peels have high cellulose levels and are thus well-suited to be converted into bioplastics. Although more research is required, pulverizing and combining orange peels with other materials yields a bioplastic that has similar properties to traditional plastic. This bioplastic should be able to biodegrade in natural conditions in four or more months while being environmentally safe.

Chicken Feathers

The UNLOCK project is experimenting with a bioplastic made from chicken feathers. Chicken feathers are high in a protein called keratin which is known to be both durable and biodegradable. By extracting keratin from these feathers, scientists have been able to create a biodegradable plastic alternative while reducing landfill waste.

Rice Husks

Like orange peels, rice husks have a high cellulose content. Combining cellulose extracted from rice husks with other materials creates a biodegradable bioplastic. 

Importantly, rice husks are often managed by combustion in open air; nonetheless, turning rice husks into a bioplastic is still beneficial. A 2022 study found that using rice husks to create a bioplastic led to a 82% reduction in human health impact and a 74% reduction in environmental cost compared to combusting them.

An Idea We Should Not Swat Away

Many people might view flies as a nuisance, but we shouldn’t be telling them to buzz-off. Scientists are exploring bioplastics made from black soldier flies. The exoskeleton of black soldier flies is reinforced by a sugar-based, biodegradable polymer called chitin. Scientists hope to use a broken-down form of this polymer to manufacture a biodegradable bioplastic. 

A potential issue with bioplastics is that producing their bio-based materials strains land use. Using adult black soldier flies, however, avoids this issue. Black soldier flies are often farmed for the purpose of using their larvae, and adult flies are soon discarded after the completion of their short lifespan. Creating bioplastic from these flies uses a waste stream that already exists, rather than requiring new crops or land.

The Solution Isn’t Clear

These five products exhibit some of the advantages of bioplastics. Bioplastics built from food waste and dead organisms support the idea of a circular economy, where one product’s waste is the material for a new product. Additionally, biodegradable bioplastics can help reduce our impact on the planet.

At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that even bioplastics are still damaging to the environment. 

As briefly mentioned, harvesting plants for bioplastics can strain land use. There are concerns that an increase in agricultural land used for bioplastic materials could impact the food system by causing a jump in food prices. And the fertilizers required to cultivate these materials can cause acidification and eutrophication. 

There are also worries surrounding the disposal of bioplastics. Proper bioplastic recycling facilities are not widespread, and not all bioplastics can be recycled with traditional plastic. For example, as little as 1% contamination of PLA bioplastic in the waste stream of one of the most recycled plastics, HDPE, can negatively affect the quality of recycled HDPE.

Additionally, while bioplastics can be better than conventional plastics, there are still concerns about the ways in which bioplastics contribute to climate change during their life cycle.

Plastic Does Not Have To Be Permanent

When it comes down to it, the type of plastic that should make you the most enthusiastic is simply no plastic at all. And you can help make this a reality!

You can start by exploring our End Plastics campaign to learn more about the threats of plastics and to take action. 

From there, you can calculate your plastic footprint and make yearly plastic reduction goals. You can hold yourself accountable by taking a plastic pledge. And you can sign our Global Plastics Petition to call on the United Nations and Governmental organizations to decrease plastic production worldwide.

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