Compostable bioplastics are plastics made from natural, renewable materials—the majority come from corn starch, sugarcane or potato starch – which decompose in an appropriate composting environment into water, carbon dioxide, and organic material that is not toxic to the organic compost pile itself.
With traditional plastics which come from petroleum products and can take hundreds of years to degrade, compostable bioplastics go from the compost pile to a broken-down compostable product in a matter of months after going into a composting environment. There are no microplastics, nor toxins, nor residues remaining.
Bioplastic vs. Compostable Bioplastic
Importantly, not all bioplastics can be composted, and while bioplastics may be derived from natural sources, the end results are still petrochemical plastics in regard to degradation. Compostable bioplastics are derived from natural sources intended to degrade in certain environmental conditions, often with certification from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in India.
How Are Compostable Bioplastics Made?
The basic format for the production of compostable bioplastics is as follows:
- Raw materials are obtained – This can be in the form of cornstarch, sugarcane bagasse, or cassava.
- Fermentation – The raw materials undergo microbial fermentation producing substances such as, polylactic acid (PLA).
- Polymerization- The “bio” compounds are then polymerized to be boom-like products.
- Processing- These bioplastic products can then be molded, extruded, or blown into carry bags, garbage bags, cutlery, and food packaging (i.e., boxes).
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