Renewable Packaging in the form of Bioplastics and Biomaterials are now making their way into the mainstream. Plant based packaging takes off!

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.greenbiz.com

Continuing our theme on sustainable and renewable packaging we are taking a look at some of the interesting bio alternatives now making their way into the mainstream!

Seaweed pods for holding drinking water, banana leaves to protect fresh food produce, corn starch 3D printing and nappies made from eucalyptus trees.

These are just some example of plant based packaging solutions that brands are now considering to meet consumer demands. With brands taking advantage of new technological innovations associated with plant based packaging there is more incentive than ever before. Not only does it please environmentally aware consumers but it also allows for brands to save on costs with their impressive eco friendly credentials. Particular tax which now focuses heavily on single use plastics.

The source of these new packaging solutions is very varied. Most uses focus focus around the retail markets and consumer goods but increasingly we are seeing them adopted in other areas like building materials.

Companies are intensifying their searches for viable alternatives to petroleum based plastic and foil packaging products. They are now discovering that often these plant based packaging products are actually forming a type of ‘bioplastic’.

Let me explain!

The materials we currently derive the carbon containing compounds from are most often sourced from oil and gas. It has long been known though that plants contain the same or similar carbons. Take sugar, rice and vegetable oil as the most obvious examples.

The current debate focuses around whether these bioplastics actually reduce the overall carbon footprint compared to conventional means of production. Also these crops are predominantly raised for food, does this not just divert output away from valuable food production?

Increasingly important too is the consideration that not all bioplastics are biodegradable and/or compostable.

Market data sourced from the nova institute and European Bioplastics research agencies suggests that global bioplastics production is set to increase from approximately 2.11 million tons in 2018 to about 2.62 million tons in the 2023,

Compare this to a whopping 335 million tons of petroleum based plastic produced each year. There is no comparison, Bioplastics represent less that 1% at present. The good news is though the market is expected to grow at between 20-30% each year as more brands adopt this method of production due to pressure from both consumers and government regulatory changes.