BUYING INTO BIOPLASTICS: STARCH BASED BIOPLASTIC FOR FOOD PACKAGING

Maya Román, Reagan Dowling, John Christiano

PLASTICS IN FOOD STARCH BASED PLASTICS Petroleum-Based Plastic Starch-Based Bioplastic ● The first plastic used in FCMs was Cellophane ● Bioplastic: plastic derived from natural Base Natural gas or crude oil: Corn and other vegetables: based on celluloid, the first synthetic materials and degrades when exposed to Materials Non-Renewable Renewable polymer, in 1927. environmental conditions ● Bakelite was the first completely synthetic ● Starch bioplastic derived from starch-based Disposal Limited recycling Landfills, Composting, plastic, used in a wide range of applications. polymers found in vegetables like corn and Landfills/Oceans Potentially Recyclable ● Plastic disposables became mainstream by potatoes the 1960s, as Saran Wrap, Styrofoam, Ziploc ● Fully biodegradable - Have little to no Post Breaks down extremely slowly Compost, off gassing methane (a bags, and microwave dinner trays, among environmental impact Disposal and harmfully greenhouse gas) other applications. ● Strong, lightweight, malleable ● Plasticware is a cheaper, safer alternative for Water Immense amounts of water in Still uses large amounts of water ● Number of food companies using starch restaurants compared to reusable options. Use both fuel extraction and to grow the crops bioplastic growing exponentially. Ex: Ecoware ● Plastics make up the sixth largest industry, in processing into plastic the US, consisting of 989,000 employees, and PRODUCTION STEPS: with a shipment value of $432.3 billion in Cost Extremely cheap for food Still in development, much 2016. Extraction Production of Polymer processing packaging pricier than petroleum of starch polymers (with extruder) counterpart FOOD PACKAGING’S Food BPA and similar chemicals can Excessive water in or on the BEST CHOICE Safety leach out of containers into packaging will lead to food and drink breakdown Neither petroleum-based nor bioplastics are perfect solutions. They both individually fall short in different ways. Both types are (TYPICAL EXTRUDER) independently bad for the planet and the populace. PETROLEUM-BASED PLASTICS This is not to say that bioplastics are not a better option. All consequences must be ● The most popular FCM’s, used in almost all consider especially for each specific use. food products ECOWARE Starch Bioplastics do offer what could be a ● Cost effective, flexible, fair elements well, the more sustainable solution, but it needs more current standard Ecoware is an up and coming company research, development, and infrastructure. ● Made from non renewable crude oil and in the bioplastic industry. They offer a This also opens the door for further natural gas, through processes like fracking variety of food consumption products that solutions, these two plastics are not the only ● Break down into smaller harmful pieces that are cost competitive to petroleum-based option and more must be done to find further get into food, air, and humans (BIOPLASTIC LIFE CYCLE) alternatives. solutions.