Research

Biodegradable vs. Compostable Plastic

Biodegradable Plastics are made up of material that can be broken down with the help of microorganisms. There is no time limit for this to occur. These plastics can leave a toxic residue during the process.

Compostable Plastics are made up of material capable of breaking down into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass at the same rate as cellulose. These plastics become part of the compost and cannot leave a toxic residue behind.

Bio-Based Plastics can be Recycled

• Bio-based plastics can either be biodegradable and non-biodegradable. BioPE and BioPET are non-biodegradable. PLA is biodegradable.

• Non-biodegradable bio-plastic can be recycled. BioPE or BioPET are identical to PE and PET can be recyled.

• Biogradable bio-plastic can be collected through biowaste. Some bio-based plastics can be compostable, but this is not the same as biodegradable.

• These plastics are easily broken down by degradation forces and help tremendously with crucial, environmental and waste management issues.

Tensile Strength of Bio-Based Plastics vs. Traditional Plastics

• Tensile strength of both lab fabricated potato starch based plastic and PETE (Polyethylene terephthalate) plastic was tested using ASTM D 886.

• Similar graph shapes and behaviors in testing suggest that mechanical properties of the starch-based plastics behave similarly to traditional fossil-based polymers, just at different magnitudes.