There is no doubt that our dependency on petroleum is a major contributing factor to climate change – whether it is the petrol that we put in our car or the polystyrene cup that we use for our take-away coffee. Studies show that a move towards plant-based, biodegradable alternatives to plastics could provide a solution…
Products made from bioplastic look, behave and feel like conventional clear plastic products. The use of bioplastics is becoming increasingly popular. Let’s have a look at the advantages and disadvantages. But first we need to clear up some confusion around the term bioplastic. The term applies to a wide group of materials. According to European…
The Biodegradable Plastic Packaging Conference which is being organised by IntertechPir will be held in Prague, 17-18 in June. According to an article published on Food Production Daily,the conference is set to tackle some difficult issues around biodegradable plastics. Due to the demand for alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, the bioplastic industry has rapidly expanded. While…
Organisers of the Olympics in Beijing are hoping to avoid filling up the city’s landfills with plastic, disposable packaging and food containers and are, apparently, looking to compost sites and biodegradable plastics as a solution. Read more here.
The terms degradable, biodegradable and compostable have started to appear on packaging and bags, but these terms are often used incorrectly and leave the consumer confused. Here is a dummy’s guide to understanding what the terms mean: Biodegradable plastics are bioplastics that degrade, or break down, into harmless substances through the action of naturally occurring…
You may have noticed that Albany Bakeries has started labelling their plastic packaging as being biodegradable. As consumers, we are being duped because their packaging is made from petroleum-based plastic which is degradable rather than biodegradable. It is made from a plastic manufactured by Symphony Environmental Technologies, a UK-based company who recently clinched a deal…
According to a report by trend forecasters, The Future Lab, packaging designers need to think more holistically about the challenges we face in the future with regards to sustainability, cost-effectiveness and waste minimisation.
In response to growing concerns regarding the impact that the biofuel/bioplastic industry has on food security, there have been some exciting developments in the manufacture of biodegradable bioplastic. Research has shown that beetroot pulp can be used in manufacturing biodegradable alternatives to plastic. And, because the pulp is a bi-product, it does not pose the…
People around the world are taking their commitment to the biodegradable revolution to a whole new level and are being buried in biodegradable coffins. Its all the rage in the States and the UK where eco-consumerism is becoming a force to be reckoned with. The seedpod-shaped coffin, known as the Ecopod, is made of recycled…
