The Great Pivot: Recycling Traditional Plastics vs. Transitioning Towards Bioplastics

Plastics have transformed the modern world, providing convenience, durability, and adaptability across industries. However, their environmental costs -- pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and the persistence of microplastics -- have driven the urgent search for alternatives. Recycling traditional plastics has not lived up to expectations, prompting increased interest in bioplastics as a sustainable solution. Despite their promise, transitioning toward bioplastics presents both opportunities and challenges requiring systemic change and innovation.

The Problem with Plastic Pollution

Plastics are one of the most persistent pollutants in the environment. Over 14 million tons of plastic enter the oceans every year, breaking down into microplastics that harm ecosystems and human health. Additionally, the plastic industry is a significant contributor to climate change, responsible for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions - a figure projected to reach 19% by 2040 if current trends continue.

Recycling has long been promoted as a solution, but traditional recycling systems are failing to keep up with the scale of the problem. Only about 9% of plastic ever produced has been recycled. Most petrol-based plastics degrade in quality during recycling, making them unsuitable for high-value applications after one or two cycles. Mechanical recycling methods often generate low-value products that cannot be reintroduced into the production loop, perpetuating dependency on virgin fossil-based plastics. Furthermore, plastic waste contamination, poor sorting, and a lack of infrastructure exacerbate the inefficiency of recycling efforts.

What Are Bioplastics?

Bioplastics are materials derived from renewable biomass sources such as corn, sugarcane, seaweed, and even food waste. Unlike conventional plastics, which are fossil-fuel-based, bioplastics can be biobased, biodegradable, or both. Popular types include polylactic acid (PLA), starch-based blends, and microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). These materials are increasingly used in packaging, consumer goods, medical devices, and automotive components.

The production of bioplastics is not new. Henry Ford experimented with plant-based car parts in the 1940s, but it wasn’t until recent decades that bioplastics gained significant traction. Today, they comprise less than 1% of global plastic production due to high costs and technical limitations, but global interest is rapidly increasing. Notably, governments like the U.S. are setting ambitious goals to replace conventional plastics with bioplastics over the next 20 years and one can wonder what is the EU doing?

Advantages of Bioplastics

1. Reduced Environmental Footprint

Bioplastics offer several environmental benefits. Their production often generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions than traditional plastics. Biodegradable bioplastics can decompose into natural elements, reducing long-term pollution. Unlike fossil-based plastics, they do not contribute additional carbon to the atmosphere at the end of their lifecycle.

2. Versatility

Bioplastics have found applications across various industries. PLA is commonly used in food packaging, while bio-polyethylene (BioPE) is prevalent in cosmetics and industrial products. Innovations like protein-based bioplastics and microbial PHAs are unlocking possibilities in medical and biodegradable applications.

3. Improved Waste Management

Bioplastics’ compatibility with organic recycling processes like industrial composting offers a circular alternative for waste management. For instance, compostable bioplastics reduce contamination in food waste streams and facilitate higher compost yields.

Challenges Facing Bioplastics

1. Production and Economic Barriers

The cost of bioplastic production remains a significant hurdle. Manufacturing bioplastics can cost 20% (like LAM’ON’s products) to 10 times more than conventional plastics, limiting their market competitiveness. Additionally, the narrative that the production process often requires arable land for raw materials is alive and well and is raising concerns about food security and environmental impacts like deforestation and pesticide use. Of course, it is not quite based in reality as less than 1% of the raw material crops are used towards biopolymer production. The rest is used for feedstock and cosmetics. The biggest problem in that area is the fact that we consume way too much meat and dairy products, not the compostable box they could be sold in. If we are worried about food scarcity, let’s all go vegan tomorrow.

2. Performance Limitations

The common understanding is that bioplastics often fall short of conventional plastics in durability, strength, and heat resistance. Some, like starch-based plastics, have limited shelf lives, making them unsuitable for long-term applications. This however is being disproven time and time again by innovative companies like Natureflex, Earhfirst, NatureBioFilms and, of course, LAM’ON, developing and manufacturing easy-to-use and durable alternatives to the crude oil-based packaging solutions on the market. Yes, I am mentioning our “competitors”, but I do stand behind the idea that we are indeed partners in ideology and there is more than enough space for us all. We actually need a few thousand more companies producing sustainable packaging in order to really move the needle in the green direction.

3. End-of-Life Complexities

Disposing of bioplastics remains a challenge. While many are biodegradable, most require industrial composting facilities, which are scarce in many regions. Improper disposal can lead to contamination of recycling streams or the release of methane in landfills. Marine degradation of bioplastics can be as slow as conventional plastics, raising concerns about their impact on ocean ecosystems.

A Path Forward

Researchers are exploring novel feedstocks like seaweed, food waste, and microbial synthesis to reduce reliance on agricultural land. Advancements in chemical recycling technologies, such as depolymerization, could improve the recyclability of bioplastics while maintaining high material quality.

Policymakers play a crucial role in promoting bioplastics. Incentives for bioplastic adoption, investments in recycling and composting infrastructure, and clear labelling standards for biodegradability can drive growth. The European Union’s push for a circular economy offers a model for integrating bioplastics into waste management systems.

Developing large-scale facilities for bioplastic recycling and industrial composting is essential. Advanced sorting technologies like Near Infrared (NIR) systems can separate bioplastics from mixed waste streams efficiently. Collaborative efforts, such as closed-loop recycling platforms, can help businesses adopt sustainable practices.

While bioplastics are promising, reducing reliance on single-use products remains vital. Public awareness campaigns can encourage sustainable consumption patterns, emphasizing the importance of reuse and responsible disposal.

Recycling traditional plastics alone has proven inadequate in addressing the global plastic crisis. Transitioning toward bioplastics offers an opportunity to reduce environmental impacts, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and promote a circular economy. However, the full potential of bioplastics depends on overcoming production costs, improving performance, and scaling up waste management infrastructure. As governments, industries, and individuals work together, a combination of bioplastics and sustainable practices can help reshape our relationship with plastics for a cleaner, more sustainable future.

So let’s get it together, while we still have time!

Gergana Stancheva, Co-Founder and COO