Bioplastics are plastics that are made wholly or partly on the basis of renewable raw materials. Bioplastics are more environmentally friendly than traditional plastics. First, because it emits less CO2. This is because bioplastic can be produced at a lower temperature. In addition, our bioplastic is completely manufactured in the Netherlands, so there are fewer emissions from transport. Moreover, it also ensures less plastic waste, because it can be composted or recycled. These bioplastics can be compostable or non-compostable. We have both biobased and biodegradable plastics in our range.
Biobased
Biobased means that the bioplastic type is made from natural and renewable raw materials. In short, it says something about the origin of the bioplastic. Biobased products are made from residual flows from various industries. Some examples of this are: starch, cellulose from wood and sugars from corn and sugar cane. Some biobased plastics consist of natural raw materials and traditional plastics, so that the end product acquires specific properties. Usually the ratio of these is indicated with a percentage. PLA, for example, is 100% biobased, while Biopet is only 30% biobased. Biobased products are not always biodegradable, but they are excellent for recycling.
Biodegradable
Biodegradable is a term to indicate the degradability of bioplastic. Traditional plastics do not completely degrade in the environment. These plastics break down in nature through the influence of heat, moisture and bacteria into small particles. The so-called microplastics. Recycling is often possible with these plastics.
Biodegradable bioplastics do break down into natural substances, such as water, minerals and gases. Breakdown occurs through a combination of heat, moisture and micro-organisms. How quickly this breaks down depends on the environment and the breakdown process. Some examples are:
- in fresh or salt water
- in the soil (garden soil, forest, sandy soils, clay)
- fermentation
- composting at home
- industrial composting
Bioplastic developments
The market for bioplastics is developing rapidly. Because the aspect of sustainability is playing an increasingly important role in our society and economy, you see that various manufacturers and suppliers like us are busy finding new environmentally friendly solutions. Biobased and biodegradable plastics present a major challenge. On the one hand we are looking for sustainable and environmentally friendly plastics, on the other hand our customers need to get the properties that belong to the fossil plastic counterpart. After all, you want a biobased plastic to be available in colour, to be vacuum-formed and to be laser-cuttable.
How do we do it with gluing? Biobased glue or not? How is the storage of biobased plastics going? These issues concern us now and we are continuously looking for solutions and improvements together with our manufacturers and customers. With this site we want to give an impetus to drawing attention to bioplastics and to transfer knowledge and materials.