Bioplastic Innovations: Tackling Global Plastic Pollution

In Woburn, Massachusetts, a laboratory transforms small pellets into environmentally friendly products like forks and films. These pellets, known as bioplastics, are made from plant-based polymers produced by CJ Biomaterials. By fermenting sugar, microbes consume these polymers, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics.

Composting and Biopolymers

At CJ Biomaterials’ Woburn facility, technicians craft forks and packaging films from the pellets. Some forks are compostable at home, while others resemble regular plastic utensils. The lab uses these biopolymers to create strong food packaging films, which differ in flexibility from standard cling wrap. Products undergo compostability testing, with bacteria breaking down forks and showing signs of decomposition on knives.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time and the compostability has always been a driver. But understanding microplastics may change how people think about materials.” — Marketing Director Leah Ford

The longevity of traditional plastics raises concerns due to fragmentation into harmful microplastics and nanoplastics, found in various ecosystems and even within the human body.

Bioplastic Characteristics

Bioplastics, either biobased or biodegradable, stem from renewable resources like corn or sugar cane. Some, like CJ Biomaterials’ products, boast both qualities. Their polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) degrade in marine and soil environments.

Conventional single-use plastics often contaminate waste streams. By contrast, CJ Biomaterials encourages composting, where biodegradable pellets can break down alongside organic waste, reducing potential methane emissions from landfills.

Successes and Challenges

Various compostable products line the Woburn lab’s shelves, including cutlery, straws, cups, and paper towels. These products are shelf-stable until exposed to microorganisms. CJ Biomaterials’ bioplastics garner attention globally, and the company feeds sugar to microbes and harvests PHA. These granules are further molded into diverse items, with decomposition occurring within months in composting environments.

As part of South Korean conglomerate CJ Group, CJ Biomaterials produces PHA at its facility in Pasuruan, Indonesia, since 2022. This endeavor aligns with the World Wildlife Fund’s vision of lessening fossil fuel dependency and addressing climate change by reducing overall plastic production.

Global Impacts and Concerns

Bioplastics are acknowledged as a potential solution to the plastic pollution crisis, spurring nations to seek comprehensive treaties to manage plastic waste. Though environmental groups express concerns about maintaining a single-use culture and limiting agricultural resources for food production, bioplastics continue to occupy a growing segment of the market.

Around 0.5% of the global plastic production comprises biobased plastics. This percentage is expected to increase with rising demand and innovative applications. Countries like China, Sweden, and the United States are prominent producers of natural polymers. The actual adoption of bioplastics faces cost barriers and limited municipal composting infrastructure. However, organizations like Black Earth Compost in Massachusetts illustrate enhanced capabilities for processing bioplastics with organic waste.

Research and Development

The 5 Gyres Institute conducted studies across the U.S., testing various plastic and biodegradable materials. Their findings revealed that biodegradables often disintegrated or showed signs of wear, unlike traditional plastics, which remained mostly unchanged.

Researchers, including Marcus Eriksen of 5 Gyres, advocate for biodegradable products to minimize micro- and nanoplastic pollution. They are currently evaluating new packaging’s end-of-life scenarios to inform sustainable practices.