“Bioplastics” is a term that frequently arises in the media and public domain, and is often touted as the answer to the plastic pollution problem. Unfortunately, the term is often incorrectly used to describe a few different concepts, which can create a lot of confusion in the marketplace. Plastics can be made from either fossil-based (derived from petrochemicals) or … [Read more...]
Bioplastics are not the same as biodegradable plastics
When it comes to plastic alternatives, there are two materials that consumers are likely to encounter; bioplastics and biodegradable plastics. These are separate products that are often confused. People think that bioplastics and biodegradable plastics are one and the same, but in reality, they are not. Both of these materials are fairly new developments that are growing in … [Read more...]
Recycling your PET bottles is as easy as 1, 2, 3
Plastics are an integral part of our modern lives – without them, we wouldn’t be able to build our smart phones, our iPads or our cars. Plastic packaging adds to the convenience of our lifestyles because it is light and strong. More than this, plastics have contributed significantly to the global economy, bringing enormous benefits to many sectors, thanks to their low cost, … [Read more...]
Biodegradable plastics – be careful of misconceptions
Bioplastics currently represent about 1% of worldwide plastic production, and the global market for it is predicted to grow by 20% over the next five years, according to European Bioplastics. In part this growth is fueled by consumers’ increasing awareness that they should take better care of the environment and support sustainable plastic products. “With the fast … [Read more...]
Green plastics: friend or foe?
'Is it possible for biodegradable packaging to really do a great disappearing act or is this just a load of landfill?' This was the big question that was thrashed out recently during the annual breakfast seminar by the Institute of Packaging's Western Cape region. It seems that many people who are concerned about the environmental impacts of plastics on the earth, and … [Read more...]
