Conventional plastics pose a significant environmental threat, with over 400 million tons produced annually. These plastics take up to 500 years to degrade, and each year, around eight million tons of plastic waste enter the oceans from coastal nations, severely impacting marine life. This widespread use of plastics is a serious threat, driven by the modern lifestyle’s demand for durable and inexpensive packaging materials. However, there is now a promising solution to this pressing issue: bioplastics.
Bioplastics are eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastics, offering biodegradability, renewability, and compostability. Examples of bioplastics include Bio-PET, Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and Polylactic acid (PLA). Their discovery represents a significant step forward for a world seeking sustainable solutions. Although bioplastics currently account for only about 1% of global plastic production, the increasing concerns about traditional plastics are driving a surge in demand for these sustainable materials. This percentage is expected to rise dramatically, from 2.2 million tons in 2022 to an estimated 7.4 million tons by 2028.
The flexible packaging industry is the largest consumer of bioplastics, followed by rigid packaging. The most common types of bioplastics are Polylactic acid (PLA) and bioplastic starch blends, with bio-based PET also gaining recognition as a more sustainable version of widely used plastics.
Bioplastics hold great promise in addressing the environmental challenges posed by conventional plastics. With their increasing demand and expected growth in production, they offer a viable solution to reduce plastic pollution and create a more sustainable future.
Biome Technologies plc (LON:BIOM) is a growth oriented, commercially driven technology group. The Group’s primary activity is the development of its fast growing business in bioplastics. The Group comprises two divisions: Biome Bioplastics and Stanelco RF Technologies.
