Bioplastics can help companies reduce their carbon footprint but they need more work to become competitive with fossil fuel-based polymers.
Those were some of the conclusions of speakers on the May 17 Bioplastics Live, presented by Plastics News and Sustainable Plastics.
“Bio-based polymers could assist in replacing fossil ones. Still, research must be further encouraged to fully understand the environmental footprint of these decisions and technology, and true cost must become competitive,” said Rafael Auras, a professor at Michigan State University’s School of Packaging.
Bio-based plastics have been in the news since March 22, when the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
outlined bold goals for helping the U.S. become a leader in biotechnology and biomanufacturing.