Plastic is a very versatile material as it is lightweight, cheap, and durable. However, plastics take hundreds of years to decompose in nature, leading to the problem of plastic pollution. Furthermore, most commercially available biodegradable plastics are unable to be used as complete replacements for single-use plastics as they have weaker mechanical properties such as strength and temperature resistance. Therefore, a new biodegradable alternative is necessary to mitigate the serious environmental pollution problem brought about by conventional single-use plastics.
The technology consists of up to 50% bio-based materials from a renewable source and is food-grade, non-toxic, non-polluting, and does not contain any harmful additives or inorganics.
Other features of the material include:
The degradation of this environmentally friendly bio-based polymer also plays a role in soil fertility, contributing to a circular economy.
The use of this bio-based 100% degradable polymer has application in industries requiring a direct replacement of single-use plastics.
Potential applications include (but are not limited to):
The global market for biodegradable polymers is expected to grow exponentially with a CAGR of 4.59% by 2025. With major countries such as US, China and EU announcing legislations on banning conventional single-use plastics in the coming years and increased environmental awareness, the technology will be able to provide a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics, particularly for disposable plastics used in the food and beverage industry.