Definition of bioplastics
As of now, there is no standardised definition of a bioplastic. Within the currently most widely accepted meaning, a bioplastic is a biobased material and/or biodegradable . There are three major categories of bioplastics:
- Biosourced (obtained from renewable resources) and biodegradable materials
- Materials made using fossil fuels (oil) and biodegradable ressources
- Biosourced and sustainable materials (non biodegradable)
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BIODEGRADABLE | PBAT, PCL, PBSA | PBS, TPS, Starch-based compound, biobased TPE | PLA, PHAs, TPS |
NON BIODEGRADABLE | PE, PP, PS, PET, PVC, PUR, PC, ABS, PA, etc. | Biosourced PET, biobased PA 6-10, biobased PC, biobased PUR, biobased TPE, PTT, biobased Copolyesters, Cellulose esters, Hybrids | Biosourced PE, biobased PP, biobased PA-11, biobased PA 10-10 |
Non biobased | Partially biobased | Biosourced |
In addition to their origin and end-of-life properties, bioplastic materials may be split into two categories.
Certain bioplastics are chemically similar to currently used polymers. Thus, by definition a PE manufactured using sugarcane (also called biobased PE and a PE obtained using traditional fossil fuels will have the same technical characteristics. The biobased PE thus has the advantage here in that it is obtained from a renewable resource and no longer from fossil fuels. They can thus easily and immediately replace their petrochemical equivalents. Thus, in this category there are only biobased and non biodegradables polymers such as biobased PE, biobased PET, biobased PA, biobased PU, etc.
Despite styrene-based plastics (PS, ABS), today it is possible to obtain almost all useful polymers at least partially through biosourcing.
In the second case, bioplastics have new chemical structures. In this case there are mostly biodegradable polymers of which most are also biobased. The materials from this category have different properties, and thus it is necessary to select them depending on the characteristics expected from the final product. These materials are also recent to industrial scale operations (less than 10-20 years for most of them) and thus need sustained research and development efforts to improve their properties and adapt them to market expectations.
Certain bioplastics are chemically similar to currently used polymers. Thus, by definition a PE manufactured using sugarcane (also called biobased PE and a PE obtained using traditional fossil fuels will have the same technical characteristics. The biobased PE thus has the advantage here in that it is obtained from a renewable resource and no longer from fossil fuels. They can thus easily and immediately replace their petrochemical equivalents. Thus, in this category there are only biobased and non biodegradables polymers such as biobased PE, biobased PET, biobased PA, biobased PU, etc.
Despite styrene-based plastics (PS, ABS), today it is possible to obtain almost all useful polymers at least partially through biosourcing.
In the second case, bioplastics have new chemical structures. In this case there are mostly biodegradable polymers of which most are also biobased. The materials from this category have different properties, and thus it is necessary to select them depending on the characteristics expected from the final product. These materials are also recent to industrial scale operations (less than 10-20 years for most of them) and thus need sustained research and development efforts to improve their properties and adapt them to market expectations.
Materials | Origin / End of life | Resources | Properties | Applications |
---|---|---|---|---|
Equivalents to oil-based versions (BioPET, BioPE, BioPA, BioPP, etc.) | 20 to ≈ 100 % biobased, not biodegradable nor compostable | Sugar cane, molasses, vegetable oils | Equivalent to standard polymers, remain recyclable and not biodegradable, easy to process | All kind of applications |
PLA | ≈100% biobased and 100% biodegradable and compostable | Corn starch, sugar cane, sugar beet, etc. | Transparent, rigid, low thermal resistance, low barrier properties | Food and cosmetic packaging, consumer goods, fibres , 3D printing |
PHAs | ≈100% biobased and 100% biodegradable and compostable | Corn starch, sugar cane, sugar beet, other biomasses | Opaque to translucent, rigid to very soft, good thermal resistance and barrier properties | Consumer goods, agriculture, packagings, water treatment |
Biopolyesters | Partially biobased and 100% biodegradable and compostable | Corn starch, sugar cane, sugar beet, etc. | Opaque to translucent, rigid to very soft, good thermal resistance , low barrier properties | Bags, agriculture, packagings, consumer goods |
Cellulose based | Mainly biobased and could be biodegradable and compostable | Wood pulpTransparent, rigid, low thermal resistance, low barrier properties | Transparent, rigid, good thermal resistance and barrier properties | Packagings, consumer goods, cosmetic and luxury |
Biobased elastomers | Mainly partially biobased | Biobased polyols (vegetable oils, sugars, etc.) | Very soft, low hardness, good mechanical properties | Consumer goods, construction, automotive, sport and leisure |
Starch based | Partially biobased and could be biodegradable and compostable | Starch (corn, potatoes, tapioca, etc.) | Soft, sensitive to moisture, controled biodegradation | Bags, agriculture, packagings, consumer goods |
Biocomposites | Partially biobased and could be biodegradable and compostable | Natural fibers with standard or biopolymers | Rigid, good mechanical properties, natural aspect | Consumer goods, automotive, construction |