Sustainable alternatives to plastics on the anvil

The world is drowning in plastics that are often non-biodegradable and non-recyclable. But a new range of compostable bioplastics created from seeds and even fish scales could liberate us from plastic waste. Around 1.3 bn plastic bottles are sold daily around the world. That’s just the tip of the fossil-based plastic iceberg. Plastic preserves our food. It’s in the nylon and polyester we wear, and it protects medical staff from the coronavirus. Petroleum-based plastics dominate the market because they’re durable, light-weight and cheap, but most of them can’t be recycled or reused. Of the 6.3 bn tons of plastic waste produced between 1950 and 2015, only 9% was recycled. The rest of it ended up in landfills, was incinerated or, all too often, landed in the ocean.

A raft of new bioplastic innovations is starting to catch up, though. And, unlike unsustainable fossil fuels, they are derived from renewable sources. While bioplastics have the same molecular structure as petroleum-based plastics, which take hundreds of years to decompose, research shows that biomass-based polymers are also more likely to bio-degrade and break down, including in industrial compost facilities. Bioplastic proponents believe they are key to making plastic part of a circular economy. Here’s a look at ingredients that could make bioplastics competitive with traditional plastics.

Olive pits: Countries that produce a lot of olive oil have a by-product that can be used for plastic: olive pits. A Turkish start-up called Biolive began creating a range of began creating a range of bioplastic granules created from olive seeds that result in bio-based, partially biodegradable products that can decompose in a year. The active ingredient oleuropein found in olive seeds is an antioxidant that extends the life of the bioplastic while hastening composting of the material into fertiliser in a year.

Sunflower hulls: Like olive seeds, the husks of sunflower seeds used for oil production is a waste product also being used to created bioplastics. And luckily, they’re in near endless supply. The German start-up Golden Compound has created a unique Sustainable Sunflower Plastic Compound bioplastic – referred to as S²PC. It’s reinforced with sunflower hulls, which they claim are 100% recyclable. The S²PC bioplastic is being moulded into everything from office furniture to recyclable transport and storage boxes and crates.

Fish waste and algae: The growing attempt to transform organic waste into plastic now includes fish processing refuse. A UK initiative called MarinaTex is using fish skin and scales – 500,000 tons of which are generated annually in the UK alone – bound with red algae to make a compostable plastic alternative that can replace single-use plastics such as bakery bags and sandwich packs. MarinaTex claims the biopolymer creates stronger packaging than a conventional plastic bag — flying in the face of perceptions that bioplastics lack strength and durability.

Plant sugars: While PET is one of the most recyclable fossil-based plastics it takes hundreds of years to decompose. In response, Amsterdam-based Avantium has created a revolutionary “YXY” plants-to-plastics technology that converts plant-based sugars into a new biodegradable packaging material, polyethylene furanoate or PEF. A trial of PEF biodegradability in the natural environment is showing promising signs. “PEF degrades faster than PET under industrial composting conditions,” Caroline van Reedt Dortland, Director Communications at Avantium said. Degrading in 250-400 days as opposed to 300-500 years is significant.