Bioplastic

Bioplastics are plastics derived from

renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable fats
and oils, corn starch, or microbiota. Bioplastic can be
made from agricultural byproducts and also from
used plastic bottles and other containers using
microorganisms. Common plastics, such as fossilfuel plastics are derived from petroleum or natural
gas. Production of such plastics tends to require
more fossil fuels and to produce more greenhouse
gases than the production of bioplastics.
Biodegradable bioplastics can break down in either
anaerobic or aerobic environments, depending on
how they are manufactured. Bioplastics can be
composed of starches, cellulose, biopolymers, and a
variety of other materials.
Application
Bioplastics are used for disposable items, such
as packaging, crockery, cutlery, pots, bowls, and
straws.They are also often used for bags, trays, fruit
and vegetable containers and blister foils, egg

cartons, meat packaging, vegetables, and bottling

for soft drinks and dairy products.
These plastics are also used in non-disposable
applications including mobile phone casings, carpet
fibers, insulation car interiors, fuel lines, and plastic
piping. New electroactive bioplastics are being
developed that can be used to carry electric current.
[4]
In these areas, the goal is not biodegradability, but
to create items from sustainable resources.
Bioplastic types
Starch-based plastics
Thermoplastic starch currently represents the most
widely used bioplastic, constituting about 50 percent
of the bioplastics market. Simple starch bioplastic
can be made at home.[7] Pure starch is able to
absorb humidity, and is thus a suitable material for
the production of drug capsules by the
pharmaceutical sector.
Cellulose-based plastics
Cellulose bioplastics are mainly the cellulose esters,
(including cellulose acetate and nitrocellulose) and
their derivatives, including celluloid.
Environmental impact

The production and use of bioplastics is sometimes

regarded as a more sustainable activity when
compared with plastic production from petroleum
(petroplastic), because it requires less fossil fuel for
its production and hence produces low greenhouse
gases
Petroleum is often still used as a source of materials
and energy in the production of bioplastic. Petroleum
is required to power farm machinery, to irrigate
crops, to produce fertilisers and pesticides, to
transport crops and crop products to processing
plants, to process raw materials, and ultimately to
produce the bioplastic. However, it is possible to
produce bioplastic using renewable energy sources
and avoid the use of petroleum.