Bioplastics

Bioplastics are those plastics that are derived from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable oil, corn starch, or algae, rather than plastics produced from fossil fuels. It true that some, but not all bioplastics are designed to biodegrade. 

Biodegradable bioplastics are used for disposable items, such as packaging and catering items (crockery, cutlery, pots, bowls, straws). Biodegradable bioplastics are also often used for organic waste bags, where thay can be composted together with the food or green waste. Some trays and containers for fruit, vegetables, eggs and meat, bottles for soft drinks and dairy products and blister foils for fruit and vegetables are manufactured from bioplastics. 

Non-disposable applications include mobile phone casings, carpet fibres, and car interiors, fuel line and plastic pipe applications, and new electroactive bioplastics are being developed that can be used to carry electrical current. In these areas, the goal is not biodegradability, but to create items from sustainable resources.

Economically viable processes to develop products like those listed above from algae based biomass are important if we are going to get over our addiction to fossil fuel.