The plastic products that we can hardly live without have a dirty secret: More than 99% are made from fossil fuels. One solution to our petroleum-fueled pollution problem could be using less harmful ingredients in our everyday products. Bioplastics, which are materials made from already mass-produced plants like corn and soy, could replace the conventional varieties that fill our daily lives, and could prove easier to break down and compost.
But in reality, nature-based plastics may not live up to their lofty promises—and it’ll take major policy and industry shifts to wean us off petroleum-based plastics.
What are bioplastics?
Bioplastics, also known as biobased polymers, are plastic-like materials made from plants like corn, sugarcane, wheat, and potatoes. They can also be made from recycled food waste, like banana peels and coffee grounds. They’re therefore often (but not always) biodegradable, meaning that they can be broken down by living organisms like bacteria and fungi.1 Bioplastics can be used for similar applications to their petroleum-derived counterparts, such as packaging, cutlery, electronics, and medical equipment.
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.
