Bioplastic
Bioplastics are plastic materials that are made from biomass sources. These include vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, straw and food waste. Some bioplastics are made directly from natural biopolymers such as polysaccharides (e.g., starch and cellulose) and proteins (e.g. gluten, and gelatin). Others are chemically synthesised from sugar derivatives and lipids. In contrast, common plastics, also called petro-based polymers, are made from petroleum or natural gas.
One good thing about bioplastics is is that they are not made from fossil fuel. This is good because there is only a limited amount of fossil fuels. They also can not be found everywhere. This leads to petroleum politics and affects the environment. Studies show that some bioplastics can be made with a lower carbon footprint. Other bioplastics' processes are less efficient and cause a higher carbon footprint than fossil plastics.[1][2][3]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ Rosenboom, Jan-Georg; Langer, Robert; Traverso, Giovanni (2022-02-20). "Bioplastics for a circular economy". Nature Reviews Materials. 7 (2): 117–137. Bibcode:2022NatRM...7..117R. doi:10.1038/s41578-021-00407-8. ISSN 2058-8437. PMC 8771173. PMID 35075395.
- ↑ Walker, S.; Rothman, R. (2020-07-10). "Life cycle assessment of bio-based and fossil-based plastic: A review". Journal of Cleaner Production. 261: 121158. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121158. ISSN 0959-6526. S2CID 216414551.
- ↑ Pellis, Alessandro; Malinconico, Mario; Guarneri, Alice; Gardossi, Lucia (2021-01-25). "Renewable polymers and plastics: Performance beyond the green". New Biotechnology. 60: 146–158. doi:10.1016/j.nbt.2020.10.003. ISSN 1871-6784. PMID 33068793. S2CID 224321496.