Bioplastics myths and truths webinar will be presented by Karen Laird and Don Loepp on Feb. 21st 2019 on Plastics News Europe. It will start at 14:00 GMT/15:00 CET and 17:30 Iran standard time.
The term bioplastics is a very broad one that, moreover, can be interpreted in multiple ways. As a result, there is much confusion about what precisely bioplastics are, and even more importantly, what they are not. In this webinar, we will explore the differences between bio-based, biodegradable and compostable materials. We’ll also examine a few of the myths surrounding this group of materials and dispel several common misperceptions regarding their durability, processability and mechanical properties.
Bioplastics today are viewed as a crucial component in the drive to create a fully sustainable and circular bioeconomy, and they will, in the future, play an increasingly important role in plastics product development and the plastics processing industry. Join the first Plastics News Europe Live, a new web series featuring a live chat between our editorial experts.
Some Bioplastics Myths:
Myth 1: Bioplastic is just a biodegradable plastic
Wrong. A bioplastic is a substance made from organic biomass sources. Unlike conventional plastics – which are made from finite fossil resources (oil and gas) – bioplastics are made from a number of renewable resources such as plant oils, cellulose, starches, sugars, carbohydrates, bacteria and algae.
The production of almost all bioplastics emits less CO2 than that of conventional plastics.
Not all bioplastics are biodegradable. The bioplastic we use in BioPak packaging is certified compostable. This means it will completely biodegrade in a compost environment within a defined timeframe and leave behind no toxic residues.
Myth 2: Conventional plastic products with the ‘biodegradable’ additive are compostable
Plastics with a ‘degradable’ additive are not compostable. Marketing campaigns would have us believe that plastic products labelled as ‘degradable’, ‘biodegradable’ or even ‘landfill degradable’ are better for the environment – an extremely misleading claim (aka: greenwashing).
Unlike certified compostable products, there are no marketing restrictions when using the term “biodegradable” to describe the environmental benefits of a product. In addition to a lack of independently verified scientific evidence conclusive proof that the product will completely biodegrade, the main problem with these claims is there is often no defined timeframe for decomposition, and any remaining fragments that do not completely biodegrade could be ingested by micro-organisms and eventually make their way up the food chain.
Biodegradable additives do not address the problem of using fossil resources for single-use packaging and is certainly not a solution for littering. All they do is offer consumers and brand owners a false sense of sustainability and care for the environment.
These claims also create issues for composting infrastructure. Ultimately, they are still made of plastic and cannot produce toxin-free compost. Misinformed consumers who are trying to ‘do the right thing’ inadvertently contaminate compost waste streams with products that are made from conventional plastics.
Myth 3: Bioplastics can contaminate organic waste for commercial composting
Bioplastics do not decrease the quality of the compost created, and bioplastics that are certified commercially compostable do not contaminate compost waste streams. All BioPak compostable packaging has been certified to EN13432 or AS4736. These products are independently and completely tested (inks, glues etc.) and approved for acceptance in suitable commercial compost facilities. Certification gives the composters the confidence that the organic waste they’re accepting will not contaminate their process.
Read more on this at: AORA