The term “biobased” is almost always used when talking about bioplastics. Often perceived as synonymous with biodegradable or environmentally-friendly, it is nevertheless a regular source of confusion. Understanding what biobased really means is essential.
Meaning:
A biobased material is one in which all or part of the carbon comes from renewable resources, such as biomass (cellulose, sugar or starch sources, etc.), or certain vegetable oils.
This concerns the origin of the raw material, not its end-of-life. A biobased plastic can have equivalent properties and performance to a conventional petroleum-based plastic.
Biobased does not mean biodegradable.
This confusion is very common. A biobased material is not necessarily biodegradable.
A bioplastic can be both :
- Biobased and non-biodegradable
- Non-biobased and biodegradable
- Biobased and biodegradable
For example:
- Bio-PE is biobased (derived from sugarcane ethanol), but not biodegradable.
- PBAT is fossil-based, but biodegradable under certain conditions.
- PLA is both biobased (derived from plant resources) and biodegradable under industrial composting conditions.
How do you measure biobased content?
The biobased content of a material is measured according to specific standards such as EN 16640, EN 16785-1 or ASTM D6866.
They can be used to determine the percentage of biobased carbon present in the material by carbon-14 dating.
This rate varies from formulation to formulation, ranging from a few percent to 100%.
Today, there is no minimum rate to qualify for the “Biobased” label. Nevertheless, it is important to communicate as transparently as possible on the exact rates and nature of the biomass used.
The challenges of biobased products
Using renewable resources to manufacture polymers has several objectives:
- Reduce dependence on fossil fuels
- Diversifying supply sources
- Reducing our carbon footprint
Biobased products do not guarantee low environmental impact.
It’s important to avoid simplifications.
Biobased materials are not always “greener”.
Its environmental impact depends on a number of parameters:
- Biomass type
- Cultivation of agricultural resources
- Industrial processing
- Transport
- Product lifetime
- End-of-life scenario
- Etc.
The only way to objectively assess these impacts is to carry out a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
LCA makes it possible to analyze all the stages in the life of a product, from the extraction of raw materials to its end-of-life, in order to obtain a global, quantified vision.
In a nutshell:
The term biobased refers only to the origin of the material.
It does not prejudge its biodegradability, recyclability or environmental impact.
A clear understanding of this concept provides a more precise and objective understanding of bioplastics, and helps avoid frequent confusion.