Are Bioplastics the Answer? Here's What You Need to Know
Last Updated: Mar 29, 2025Our planet is awash with plastic. Since the 1950s, we've produced more than 8.3 billion metric tonnes of plastic globally. And about 60% of it has never gone away. Plastic waste is especially threatening to our oceans, where it traps marine life or kills when ingested. And it's getting worse: A 2020 study by the Pew Charitable Trust estimated that by 2040, plastic released into the oceans will triple to nearly 32 million tons a year. Plastic also damages our environment in ways we can't see. The manufacturing and even the recycling of plastics add tons of CO2 into the air. Most plastics are petroleum-based, continuing our reliance on fossil fuels.
All this has fueled interest in "bioplastics" that use little or no fossil fuels and which – in the best circumstances – will decompose when we're done using them. Research into these products is promising. But the cradle-to-grave journey of that water bottle, or plastic toothbrush, or take-out container is complicated. Unless or until we find a way to dispose of bioplastics wholly and safely, they're unlikely to be the silver-bullet answer to plastic pollution that they're marketed to be. What's more, promoting materials with many of the same bad characteristics as synthetic plastics can distract consumers from the more effective practice of reducing the use of disposable items.
Table of Contents
- Are Bioplastics Different from Ordinary Plastics?
- What are the Pros of Bioplastics?
- What Are The Cons of Bioplastics?
- Are Bioplastics Biodegradable?
- Can Bioplastics Be Added To Compost?
- How Can I Tell If a Bioplastic is Biodegradable or Compostable?
- Can Bio-based Plastics be Recycled?
- What are Common Bioplastics Made of?
- What Companies Make Bioplastics?
- What's the Future of Bioplastic?
Are Bioplastics Different from Ordinary Plastics?
The materials we commonly call "plastic" include various synthetic polymers created by linking together chains of carbon-based units known as monomers. Whether a plastic is hard or soft or flexible or brittle depends on its structure and the types of monomers it contains. Synthetic polymers are typically petroleum-based and highly durable, causing them to remain in the environment for tens to hundreds of years. It's their best attribute and also their worst.
Bio-based plastics, or "bioplastics," are made partly or entirely from biologically sourced materials, which are typically renewable. They may also include some of the same petrochemicals found in synthetic plastics or be structurally identical to them. Some will last just as long in the environment as the petroleum-based plastics they were meant to replace. An example is a bio-PET (polyethylene terephthalate), used for water bottles and packaging.
What Are The Cons of Bioplastics?
Many of the benefits of bioplastics come with strings attached. Critics of bioplastics derived from food crops like corn or soybeans, for example, argue that their use in plastics diverts these crops from the food supply. They also point out that raising plants for bioplastics poses the same environmental hazards as large-scale agriculture, including pesticides and herbicides. To counter these criticisms, some bioplastic manufacturers use agricultural waste in their plastics. This approach not only puts waste to work but also provides an additional revenue stream for farmers.
Like traditional plastics, the manufacture and shipping of bioplastic products use energy and fossil fuels, even if they themselves are not petroleum-based. And like conventional plastic, bioplastics designed as single-use products eventually end up in the waste stream. And that's where things can get complicated.
What are Common Bioplastics Made of?
The two most common bioplastics on the market are PLA (polylactic acid) and PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate). PLA stems from plant sugars and starches, such as those found in corn or sugar cane. PHA comes from microorganisms that react with organic materials. Though both are more expensive than synthetic plastics, PLA is much cheaper than PHA and is used for disposable cutlery and packaging. PHA is also used for packaging, as a coating for the inside of paper cups, and in medical applications.
We will be following this In-Depth Guide on bioplastics with an article on what cool and innovative steps brands are taking to lessen their reliance on plastic and packaging in general - stay tuned!
