[medhahegde]

Increasing and sustainable use of bioplastics is possible in various industrial segments due to the fact that the biodegradable property of the bioplastics doesn’t depend upon the raw materials used but on the molecular structure.

Bioplastics are currently playing important role in the fields of packaging, agriculture/horticulture, gastronomy, consumer electronics/durables and automotive to name a few. In the above mentioned fields, products used for short term or single use like, mulch films or catering products (spoons, plates etc) utilize bioplastics. Even consumer durable products like mobile phone covers or automobile interior parts are increasingly made out of bioplastic materials.

The application of bioplastics is growing steadily. Fields like building and construction, clothing, household items, toys are increasingly made of bioplastic materials. Due to the increasing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable material is leading to higher growth and capacity addition of bioplastic materials. This is also leading to increase in the variety of the bioplastics being offered in the market. The material properties of the bioplastics such as durability, flexibility, heat resistance, printability, transparency, chemical resistance etc are being improved to match that of current materials.

Bioplastics are improved and sustainable solution to the plastic industry. The bioplastic material can be used in all the fields where plastics are currently being used and even extend to some of the newer fields. Some products produced using bioplastics have an advantage at end of life as they are biodegradable and can be easily disposed confirming to strict environmental laws in some countries. These materials are also environmentally friendly, reducing fossil fuel utilization and hence conserve precious non-renewable resources. These bioplastics also help in reducing green house gas such as carbon dioxide emissions. Another major environmental benefit by switching to bioplastics is the reduction in emissions like dioxins, which are harmful to environment as well as health and are currently being emitted due to burning of the plastics. Use of bioplastics can turn out to be a necessity in regions, such as European countries, which are heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels.