Researchers at the University of Oulu in Finland have recently developed a new synthetic bioplastic made of derivatives of dehydrated cellulose, a sugar molecule produced by plants. Bioplastics differ from traditional carbon-based plastics because they are not produced from petroleum, but rather from renewable sources (such as plant trimmings). Several types of bioplastics are also biodegradable.
This specific bioplastic trumps its carbon-based counterparts in many ways. The plastic is able to prevent ultraviolet (UV) radiation from passing through it; normally, UV radiation harms plastic overtime, causing it to yellow and become brittle in a process called UV degradation. In addition, this new material boasts 3-4 times the air-tightness of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, which is the most common material used in plastic water bottles. However, bottles aren’t the only application of this material. The UV ray protection of this bioplastic could be useful in production of any materials that might be in direct sun contact for extended periods of time, giving them a longer lifespan and increased performance.
Finland isn’t the only country making strides in the field of bioplastics, however. In 2018, researchers from Tel Aviv University in Israel used a microbe to create a bioplastic in a unique way. They cultivated a species of sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) and fed it to a single-celled archaebacterial species (Haloferax mediterranei). The waste product of H. mediterranei was a bioplastic polymer called polyhydroalkanoate (PHA). Not only is PHA biosynthetic, it is also completely biodegradable.
Every year, over eight million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean, leeching chemicals into seawater and harming ocean life. As such, there have been many pushes in recent decades to develop a more sustainable solution to synthetic plastics. However, many current biodegradable products aren’t as eco-friendly as we might think. Often, they still require large amounts of natural resources, like fertile soil and fresh water as opposed to petroleum. Searching for an alternative to plastics made of fossil fuels is important, but any product that hopes to make a lasting impression must also not put strain on current land resources. For this reason, it’s crucial that plastics are being grown in labs from agricultural plant waste, rather than in fields themselves.
The European Union has been sponsoring several bioplastic initiatives in recent years, such as the Circular Economy Action Plan and the Bioeconomy Strategy (click on each for links to fantastic videos explaining the concepts). The US has a bit of room to catch up in regards to public policy on this subject, possibly due to the foreboding presence of the fossil fuel industry here. Innovation and successful trials are the first steps to make bioplastics environmentally and commercially relevant.
References
- Kainulainen TP, Hukka TI, Özeren HD, Sirviö JA, Hedenqvist MS, Heiskanen JP. 2020. Utilizing Furfural-Based Bifuran Diester as Monomer and Comonomer for High-Performance Bioplastics: Properties of Poly(butylene furanoate), Poly(butylene bifuranoate), and Their Copolyesters. Biomacromolecules 21:743–752.
- Torikai A, Shirakawa H, Nagaya S, Fueki K. 1990. Photodegradation of polyethylene: Factors affecting photostability. Journal of Applied Polymer Science 40:1637–1646.
- Ghosh S, Gnaim R, Greiserman S, Fadeev L, Gozin M, Golberg A. 2019. Macroalgal biomass subcritical hydrolysates for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) by Haloferax mediterranei. Bioresource Technology 271:166–173.
- Stimolo S. 2019. Europe: the relevant policies to support bioplastics. The Cryptonomist.
American Biologist 