Bio-based materials for packaging application

There are various bio-based materials available in the packaging market and continuously
being innovated. Few of them are being criticized/banned by research institute and
government because of its negative impact on environment and misleading the market.
Whereas, many of them have written success stories, being commercialized and holding a
significant share in the packaging industry.

The bio-based material should be originating from renewable resources completely and
should have enough strength to get processed in to packaging product. Various parameters
like melt strength, tensile strength, elongation, processability, flexibility, thermal stability,
biodegradability and composability decide the market acceptability and make any bio-based
material to be commercially viable.

PLA (Polylactic acid)

It is one of the most successful and commercially viable bio-based and biodegradable polymer
for sustainable packaging industry so far. It was being marketed commercially since 2012 by
Natureworks. Currently there are commercial plants to manufacture PLA worldwide and
being used in sustainable packaging industry significantly. It can be seen in food packaging,
carry bags, medical textile/product, 3D printing, etc. and requires industrial composting
facility for adequate end of life scenario. Industry and research institutes are claiming the
technological development for PLA recycling, but not yet seen in the market. Commercial
technology to convert sugar into PLA is also available as turnkey solution by industry expert.

Starch:
Starch has been used in most of the sustainable packaging applications, as it is easily available
in various renewable resource like corn, tapioca, potato, etc. and cost effective. In addition,
its better thermal processability and plasticization make it suitable for processing. It can also
be blended with other polymers and/or biopolymers. The starch based packaging product are
mostly water soluble, that limits the packaging applications where moisture is available.
Mostly, it can be seen in extrusion/blown films like, carry bags and very few in other packaging
applications.

Bio-PBS (Poly Butylene succinate)

It is bio-based and biodegradable polymer and can be used in food packaging like, disposable
tableware, paper cups and gas barrier packaging. It has high compatibility with fiber, one of
the best example is PLA-PBS blend used to manufacture nonwoven fabric. Moreover,
improved properties can be achieved by blending different biopolymers and building desired
compound.

Bio-PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)

Bio-PET has similar mechanical and chemical properties as petrochemical based PET. Sourcing
it from bio-based feedstock makes it more sustainable and lower carbon footprint due to
renewable carbon content. Though, it needs be recycled adequately for sustainable end of
life scenario. Currently, PET has wider use in food and beverage packaging, although being
criticized heavily for creating plastic pollution.
PHA (Polyhydroxy alkenoates)
It is a natural bio-based and biodegradable polymer, produced from bacterial fermentation.
It is used for biomedical applications and food packaging widely. Limitation on fermentation
polymerization scale-up to large commercial scale has made it less popular in biopolymer
packaging industries. Though the development on the technology to manufacture it
commercially has been ongoing by research institutes and industries.

Still biopolymer industry is on the developing stage and growing rapidly. Innovations on the
commercial scale technology has been coming briskly. End of life scenario like adequate
plastic waste segregation, collection and industrial composting facility are being developed.
Environmental predicament forces government and large corporates to divert towards
sustainable solutions, gives the motivation to invest in sustainable packaging solutions and
biopolymers research & development. No one can deny that the future of packaging industry
will be in the hand of biopolymers only.