Bioplastics as a sustainable plastics solution
Find out more about bioplastics. Whether you are looking for a material for your specific application or just want to find out more – you've come to the right place.
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What are sustainable plastics?
Bioplastics: environmentally friendly solutions for the future
Bioplastics and sustainable plastics are innovative materials that have been developed to reduce the environmental impact of traditional plastics. They are made from renewable, recycled or biodegradable raw materials and are designed to use fewer resources and have a lower environmental impact.
These materials offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional plastics and play a crucial role in promoting a sustainable economy and reducing plastic waste. By using sustainable plastics, companies and consumers can actively contribute to conserving our natural resources and protecting our environment.
Advantages and properties of bioplastics
We have developed two bioplastic compound series with different properties to suit your needs. We can also supply you with matching masterbatches:
Biodegradable plastics
Under certain conditions, our M·VERA® compounds biodegrade. For a number of applications, biodegradability at the end of the life cycle is the best option.
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Biomass-balanced or biobased plastics
Our M·BIOBASE® compounds are biomass-balanced or biobased. The plant-based raw material, which releases CO2 during growth, gives these materials a lower CO2 footprint than fossil-based plastics.
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Suitable for our sustainable compounds
The colour, black and additive masterbatches have been specially developed for our sustainable compounds.
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What do we mean by sustainable plastics?
There is no single material solution that fulfils all the requirements for the various areas of application for plastics. In addition to the usual mechanical, optical or haptic material properties, the requirements from the area of sustainability also cover a broad spectrum of factors that we deal with in our daily work:
Do the raw materials come entirely or partially from closed cycles?
Are the raw materials fully or partially biobased or renewable?
What is the ecological or CO2-Footprint of a material?
Are the plant-based raw materials GMO-free and do they come from controlled cultivation?
Does the material contain harmful substances? Is the material free of PFAS (per-/polyfluorinated chemicals), heavy metals and BPA, for example?
What happens once the product has reached the end of its life cycle? How can waste be minimised and is it ensured that no microplastics are produced?
Can the material be recycled and does the design of the component support the reuse of the plastic?
Does the product comply with the various legal requirements (PPWR: EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation; REACH: Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals; KWG: Recycling Management Act, DüMV: Fertiliser Ordinance, EU End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation, Disposable Packaging Ordinance, etc.)?
Contact us so that we can find the right material solution for your requirements!
Properties and processing of bioplastics
Bioplastics have similar properties to conventional plastics. They can be stored under comparable conditions and processed on conventional plastics machines without any problems – if necessary by adapting the processing parameters. The product specialists at BIO-FED will be happy to help you here. Our bioplastic compounds are suitable for:
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What are bioplastics?
Bioplastics are innovative materials that have been and are being developed to reduce the environmental impact of traditional plastics. Did you know that plastics can be made from plant starch, sugar cane or cellulose, for example, and that the industry is even researching the production of plastics from greenhouse gases? Find out more about how biobased plastics can lead to a closed CO2 cycle. Many thanks to European Bioplastics e.V. for providing the following video.
Definition and importance of bioplastics
Bioplastics are materials that are biodegradable or made from renewable resources – or both. We differentiate between:
Biobased and biodegradable
Biobased and non biodegradable
Not biobased and biodegradable
Bioplastics offer a more sustainable alternative to conventional plastics and play a crucial role in promoting a sustainable economy and reducing plastic waste. By using them, companies and consumers can actively contribute to conserving our natural resources and protecting our environment.
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Difference between biobased and biodegradable plastics
Biobased plastics are made entirely or partially from renewable raw materials such as plant starch, sugar cane or vegetable oil. They are therefore able to reduce our dependence on fossil resources.
Biodegradable plastics can – depending on the environment, temperature and chemical structure of the plastic – be broken down by microorganisms into their natural components such as CO₂, water and biomass. Therefore, no microplastics are produced during degradation. Biodegradable plastics can be produced from both renewable and fossil raw materials.
Use of bioplastics in industry and economy
Bioplastics are becoming increasingly important in industry and economy. They offer an alternative to conventional plastics and can be used in many areas – from packaging to technical applications. Companies benefit from innovative material solutions that adapt to current sustainability strategies and legal requirements.
Advantages of bioplastics for companies
The use of bioplastics can help companies to improve their environmental footprint and position themselves as sustainable market players. Bioplastics offer the following advantages, among others:
Reduction of dependence on fossil raw materials
Improvement of the CO₂ balance of products
Fulfilment of regulatory requirements and sustainability goals
Improved image through innovative and resource-saving materials
Additional "end-of-life" options for disposal and recycling reduce the burden on waste systems and therefore the environment
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Application examples: From packaging to technical components
Bioplastics are used in many industries. They are particularly widespread in
Food packaging
Packaging
Films such as carrier bags, pouches, etc.
Agricultural industry: mulch film
Automotive industry: interior parts, technical components
Medical technology: resorbable implants, biocompatible materials
Electrical industry: housings, insulation materials
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Processing of bioplastics
Our M·VERA® and M·BIOBASE® bioplastics can be used for a wide range of applications. They are suitable for various processing technologies, such as injection moulding, blown film extrusion and extrusion, and can be processed on standard plastics machinery. They can also be easily coloured with our matching masterbatches.
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CO₂ emissions and life cycle analyses of bioplastics
A life cycle analysis (LCA) shows that bioplastics can have lower CO₂ emissions than conventional plastics in certain scenarios. The raw material origin, production process and end-of-life scenarios such as recycling or composting are decisive factors. For some products, biodegradability at the end of life is the best option, such as compostable coffee capsules or biodegradable mulch films.
Biodegradability under real conditions
No product is made to last forever. At some point, the question arises as to what happens to it when it reaches the end of its life cycle. There are various end-of-life scenarios for bioplastics. One of these is biodegradability in different environments, such as in an industrial composting plant in household compost or in the soil.
Potential microplastic formation
A critical point is the possible formation of microplastics, especially in the case of incomplete degradation, as is likely with conventional plastics. Environmental influences such as UV radiation and mechanical stress affect the decomposition process. However, the formation of microplastics can be prevented by complete biodegradability. In order to confirm complete biodegradability, bioplastics can be certified in independent testing laboratories.
Independently tested!
Regulations and certifications
Independent testing institutes are commissioned by manufacturers or distributors to measure degradability or the biobased content and to confirm this by awarding a certificate. Degradability can be tested and certified in different environments. The certifications create market transparency and trust and provide guidance for customers and consumers.
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Certification of degradability by TÜV AUSTRIA or DIN CERTCO
Independent testing institutes measure the degradability or the biobased content on behalf of the customer and confirm this by awarding a certificate. This ensures market transparency and provides guidance for customers and consumers. In Europe, TÜV AUSTRIA (Belgium) and DIN CERTCO (Germany) are among the most important certification institutes. In North America, it is the BPI Institute.
Importance of certificates for companies
Certificates offer companies security in communication and facilitate the marketing of biobased and biodegradable products. They signal to the customer tested environmental standards and enable differentiation in the market.
EU legislation
The EU promotes sustainable materials through various regulations, including the Single-Use Plastics Directive and the Packaging Regulation. Companies should familiarise themselves with the requirements at an early stage to ensure compliance.
Challenges in the environmental friendliness of bioplastics
The term "environmentally friendly" is not fully applicable to bioplastics. Factors such as cultivation area, water consumption and end-of-life options must be considered critically. Only a holistic view can assess the actual environmental impact.
Raw material production for bioplastics is mostly based on renewable raw materials such as corn or sugar cane. This is often equated with competition for land for food production. However, only around 0.02% of the world's agricultural land is actually used for the cultivation of bioplastics (source: European Bioplastics e.V., 2019).
It is also argued that many bioplastics are not compatible with existing recycling structures, which makes the circular economy more difficult. As bioplastics currently account for less than 2% of total plastics production, the quantities available are simply too small, making the collection and recycling of bioplastics (still) uneconomical. This is likely to change in the future with suitable regulatory measures.
Bioplastics for a bright future
Sustainability and environmental benefits
To summarise, it is clear that bioplastics help to conserve resources and reduce environmental pollution. They offer many advantages that contribute to sustainable development.
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Reducing the CO₂ footprint with bioplastics
By using renewable raw materials and optimised manufacturing processes, bioplastics can help to reduce CO₂ emissions. This is particularly relevant for companies that want to improve their carbon footprint and fulfil legal requirements for CO₂ reduction.
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Contribution to the circular economy in production
Bioplastics can be specifically integrated into recycling systems. Recyclable or biodegradable variants enable sustainable use and reduce waste. In addition, innovative recycling strategies promote the reuse of materials.
Contact us for customised bioplastics solutions.
Would you like to use bioplastics in your company? We offer customised solutions that are tailored to your specific requirements.
