Bioplastics provide an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastics. They are made from renewable biological sources rather than petroleum, reducing environmental impacts. Traditional plastics derived from fossil fuels persist in the environment for centuries and release toxic chemicals when burned. In contrast, bioplastics can biodegrade harmlessly and do not leach dangerous substances. While plastic pollution poses severe threats to wildlife and human health, bioplastics offer a more sustainable solution for packaging and other applications.

1. BIOPLASTIC - ON
ENVIRONMENTAL BOON
Dr. K. Pugazhendy
Associate Professor
Department of Zoology
Annamalai University

2. About 100 million tones of plastic is produced each
year.
Plastics are a range of synthetic or semi-synthetic
polymerization products that can be molded into a permanent
object having the property of plasticity.
The word plastic is derived from the Greek (plastikos)
meaning capable of being shaped or molded.
IntroductionIntroduction

3. Composition
Plastics that are made up of polymers
having only aliphatic (linear) C atoms in
their backbone chains. Ex -polypropylene
Polypropylene
Plastics that are made up of heterochain
polymers contain O, N, S in their
backbone chains, in addition to C. Ex -
polycarbonate
Polycarbonate
Plastic behaviour of polymers is influenced by their morphology
(arrangement of molecules ). They’re either amorphous or crystalline.
Most thermosets are amorphous, while thermoplastics may be
amorphous or semi crystalline.

4. Classification
80% of the plastics produced are thermoplastics and of
these Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polystyrene and
Polyvinylchoride (PVC) are most commonly used (70%)
Thermoplastic
Thermosetting
• Plastics that do not undergo
chemical change in their
composition when heated and
can be molded again and
again.
• Thermosets are permanently
"set" once they're initially
formed and can't be melted.

5. Impact on Environment
Careless disposal of plastic bags
chokes drains, blocks the porosity
of the soil, and causes problems
for groundwater recharge. Due to
its non-biodegradable nature, littering
of plastics causes irreversible damage
to the environment.

6. DisadvantagesDisadvantages of Plastic Bottlesof Plastic Bottles
Plastic bags, once ingested, cannot be digested or passed by an
animal so it stays in the gut. Plastic in an animal’s gut can prevent
food digestion and can lead to a very slow and painful death.

7. DisadvantagesDisadvantages of Plastic Bottlesof Plastic Bottles
Difficult To Recycle
Glass bottles can be melted
and easily reused, as can tin
cans. Recycling plastic is not
so simple.
Water bottles are often reused in the
home but become less and less
sturdy over time and are ultimately
thrown away.
Plastic is manufactured using oil by-
products and natural gas, materials that
could be used in numerous other
applications.

8. Disadvantages of Plastic ProductsDisadvantages of Plastic Products
As many as 100,000 whales, turtles
and birds have been reported to die
every year, because of plastic in
environment.
Plastic not only have adverse
effects on our natural habitats, but
also leads to death of many animals,
mainly on account of the suffocation
encountered on eating them.

9. Plastic is 'non-degradable
Plastic does not undergo bacterial
decomposition hence land filling using
plastic would mean preserving the
poison forever.
They won't rot, decay, tear, crack or
dissolve. Even 500 years from now, the
foam cup you throw away will still be a
piece of garbage in a landfill site.

10. Plastic when burn in air
When plastic burned in air it releases
a host of poisonous chemicals into
the air, including dioxin, the most
toxic substance known to science.
1. Dioxins are found throughout the world in the
environment and they accumulate in the food chain, mainly
in the fatty tissue of animals.
2. Dioxins are highly toxic and can cause reproductive and
developmental problems, damage the immune system,
interfere with hormones and also cause cancer.

11. Styrofoam is one of the most environmental toxins found in
plastic.
Polystyrene, is manufactured using benzene, from coal;
styrene, from petroleum; and ethylene, a "blowing agent"
used in the process since the crackdown on CFCs.
Extracting these raw materials generates air and water
pollution, it can lead to lung cancer and neurological problems
in factory workers.
Like all plastics, polystyrene is non-biodegradable. Even
after a take-out container has dissolved 500 years from now,
its chemical components will still clog the eco-system.
Research on whether polystyrene chemicals "migrate" from
container to food is hotly debated, but it's a fact that styrene
has been present in our fatty tissue and breast milk for the
past 30 years.
Plastic poison - Styrofoam

12. Plastic carry bag: A major source
of pollution
Plastic has replaced the traditional material
(paper/cloth etc) as packing and carry bags
because of its low cost of production, light
weight, strength, easy process of manufacture,
and availability.
Plastic bags are so light and strong that they
can carry normal weight, cheap and is used in all
types of shops in our daily life.
Plastic bags have made it possible for people to
go without bags to market or work place as these
bags are availably for asking and can be thrown
without a second thought.

13. Plastic carry bag pollution
There are numerous hazards of plastic carry bags. The land
gets littered by plastic bag garbage presenting an ugly and
unhygienic seen.
The "Throw away culture" results in these bags finding their
way in to the city drainage system, the resulting blockage,
creates unhygienic environment resulting in health hazard and
spreading of water borne diseases.
This littering also reduces rate of rain water percolating,
resulting in lowering of already low water levels in our cities.
The soil fertility deteriorates as the plastic bags form part of
manure remains in the soil for years

14. Pollution due to plastic bottles
Bisphenol -A
Food and drinks stored in plastic bottles can contain
trace amount of Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic
chemical that interferes with the body’s natural
hormonal messaging system.
Repeated re-use of such bottles—which get dinged up
through normal wear and tear and while being washed
—increases the chance that chemicals will leak out of
the tiny cracks and crevices that develop over time.
BPA has been linked to breast and uterine cancer, an
increased risk of miscarriage, and decreased
testosterone levels.
BPA can also wreak havoc on children’s developing
systems. Even Plastic Water and Soda Bottles should
not be reused.
A tin can that entered the ocean in 1986 is still
decomposing in 2006 but a plastic bottle that entered
the ocean in 1986 is decomposing in 2436.

15. PLASTIC’S EFFECT ON HUMAN LIFE
 Plastic plays the villain right from the stage of its production. The
major chemicals that go into the making of plastic are highly toxic and
pose serious threat to living beings of all species on earth.
 Some of the constituents of plastic such as benzene are known to cause
cancer. Plastic resins themselves are flammable and have contributed
considerably to several accidents worldwide.

16. Once plastic is produced, the harm is done once and for all. Plastic defies
any kind of attempt at disposal – be it through recycling, burning, or
landfilling.
When you recycle a hazard, you create a hazard.
Recycling of plastic is associated with skin and respiratory problems,
resulting from exposure to and inhalation of toxic fumes, especially
hydrocarbons and residues released during the process.

17. Sex hormones
BPA can disrupt normal, physiological levels of sex hormones. It does
this by binding to globulins that normally bind to sex hormones such
as androgens and estrogens, leading to the disruption of the balance
between the two. BPA can also affect the metabolism or the
catabolism of sex hormones. It often acts as an androgen or as an
estrogen, which can cause disruptions in gonadal development and
sperm production

18. Clinical significance
Due to the pervasiveness of plastic products, most of the human
population is constantly exposed to the chemical components of plastics. 95% of
adults in the United States have had detectable levels of BPA in their urine.
Exposure to chemicals such as BPA have been correlated with disruptions in
fertility, reproduction, sexual maturation, and other health effects
Specific phthalates have also resulted in similar biological effects.

19. Thyroid hormone axis
Bisphenol A affects gene expression related to the thyroid hormone axis,
which affects biological functions such as metabolism and development.
BPA can decrease thyroid hormone receptor (TR) activity by increasing
TR transcriptional corepressor activity. This then decreases the level of
thyroid hormone binding proteins that bind to triiodothyronine. By
affecting the thyroid hormone axis, BPA expoure can lead
to hypothyroidism

20. MEASURES
1. Single-use plastic bags have become such a ubiquitous way of life that it
seems as if we simply cannot do without them. However, if we have the
will, we can start reducing their use in small ways.
2. A tote bag can make a good substitute for holding the shopping. You can
keep the bag with the cahier, and then put your purchases into it
instead of the usual plastic bag.

21. 3.Recycling the plastic bags you already have is another good idea. These
can come into use for various purposes, like holding your garbage,
instead of purchasing new ones.
4. While governments may be working out ways to lessen the impact of
plastic bags on the environment, however, each of us should shoulder
some of the responsibility for this problem, which ultimately harms us.

22. Plastic bags litter the landscape
Once they are used, most plastic bags go into landfill, or rubbish tips. Each
year more and more plastic bags are ending up littering the environment.
Once they become litter, plastic bags find their way into our waterways, parks,
beaches, and streets. And, if they are burned, they infuse the air with toxic
fumes.

23. Plastic bags kill animals
About 100,000 animals such as dolphins, turtles whales, penguins are
killed every year due to plastic bags. Many animals ingest plastic bags,
mistaking them for food, and therefore die. And worse, the ingested plastic
bag remains intact even after the death and decomposition of the animal.
Thus, it lies around in the landscape where another victim may ingest it.

24. WHAT IS A BIOPLASTIC?
A bio plastic is a plastic that is made partly or wholly from polymers derived
from biological sources such as sugarcane, potato starch or the cellulose from
trees, straw and cotton. Some bio plastics degrade in the open air, others are
made so that they compost in an industrial composting plant, aided by fungi,
bacteria and enzymes. Others mimic the robustness and durability of
conventional plastics such as polyethylene or PET. Bio plastics can generally be
directly substituted for their oil-based equivalent. Indeed, they can generally be
made to be chemically identical to the standard industrial plastics.

25. Bio plastics are plastic derived from renewable biomass sources,
such as vegetative fats and oils, corn starch or micro biota. Bio
plastic also can be made from agricultural byproducts and also
from used plastic bottles and other container using
microorganisms.

26. Polylactic acids (PLA)
Similar to regular plastic
Polyhydroxyalkanoic acids
(PHAs)
Aliphatic polyester that
does not require
synthetic processing
Uses bacteria/enzymes
Better heat resistance
than PLA
Broader range of
materials can be used to
make PHAs
Polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate
(PHBVs)
Polyols
Plant oil
Variety of other Bioplastics
Extracted or Used
oil, starch, sugars, lactic acid,
fatty acids, proteins,
bacteria, fibers
Composition
Confectionery packaging made of PLA-
blend bio-flex

27. PRODUCTION

28. There are two types of bio plastics-
I.Oxo-biodegradable which is ordinary plastic which converts into a
biodegradable material.
II.The second type of bio plastics are derived from sources such as
vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, pea starch, potato starch or
macrobiotic.
TYPES OF BIOPLASTICS

29. Bio plastic may be different types
Starch based bio plastic: Thermoplastic starch currently represents
the most widely used bioplastic, constituting about 50 percent of the
bioplastic market.
Cellulose based bio plastic: They are mainly the cellulose
esters(including cellulose acetate and nitrocellulose)and their
derivatives including celluloid.
Aliphatic polyesters: They are mainly polyhydroxy
butyrate(PHB),polyhydroxy alkanoate(PHA),polylactic acid(PLA)

30. TYPES OF
PLASTIC PRODUCTS
• PLASTIC BAGS
• PLASTIC COATINGS
• PLASTIC FURNITURE
• PLASTIC SHEETS
• PLASTIC FITTINGS
• PLASTIC TANKS
• PLASTIC TOYS
• PLASTIC BUCKETS
• PLASTIC SANITARYWARE
• PLASTIC STATIONERY

31. Two types of use
Items that might eventually become litter
E.g.: such as shopping bags or food packaging

32. Permanent bio plastics
Eg: such as polythene manufactured from sugar cane

33. 33
Agriculture
100% Ingeo draperies
Body of Sony Walkman

34. 34
Food Service & Product Packaging
Automotive
Components,
Coatings,
Interiors

35. PLASTIC’S ADVERSE EFFECTS ON OUR
ENVIRONMENT
Plastic pollute beaches &oceans
Garbage has been discarded into the oceans for as long as humans
have sailed the seven seas or lived on seashores or near waterways
flowing into the sea. Since the 1940s, plastic use has increased
dramatically, resulting in a huge quantity of nearly indestructible,
lightweight material
floating in the oceans and
eventually deposited on
beaches worldwide

36. Plastic bags litter the landscape
Once they are used, most plastic bags go into landfill, or rubbish tips. Each year
more and more plastic bags are ending up littering the environment. Once they
become litter, plastic bags find their way into our waterways, parks, beaches, and
streets. And, if they are burned, they infuse the air with toxic fumes.

37. Plastic bags kill animals
About 100,000 animals such as dolphins, turtles whales, penguins are killed
every year due to plastic bags. Many animals ingest plastic bags, mistaking
them for food, and therefore die. And worse, the ingested plastic bag
remains intact even after the death and decomposition of the animal. Thus,
it lies around in the landscape where another victim may ingest it.

38. Plastic bags are
non-biodegradable
And one of the worst environmental effects of plastic bags is that
they are non-biodegradable. The decomposition of plastic bags takes
about 1000 years.

39. Use of Bioplastic
• Bioplastics are already being used in automobile
interiors and in cases for consumer electronics.
• Toyota Motor Corp. became the first automaker in the
world to use bioplastics in the manufacture of auto
parts, employing them in the cover for the spare tire

40. • Toyota Motor is building a plant to undertake test production of
bioplastic at a factory in Japan, with production due to begin in
August 2004.
• The company plans to produce 1,000 tons of bioplastic annually,
which will be used not just in car parts but in many other plastic
products as well.
• Toyota also plans to use bioplastics in the construction of the
exhibition pavilions at the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan,
so that no construction waste is generated when the pavilions
are dismantled at the end of the event.

41. Used in Electronic Devices
 Mitsubishi Plastics has already succeeded in raising the heat-
resistance and strength of polylactic acid by combining it with
other biodegradable plastics and filler, and the result was used
to make the plastic casing of a new version of Sony Corp.'s
Walkman released last fall.
 Mitsubishi Plastics had previously looked at bioplastic as
something that would mainly be used in the manufacture of
casings and wrappings, but the company now feels confident
that this revolutionary material has entered a new phase in its
development in which more complex applications will be found.

42. • NEC Corp., meanwhile, is turning its attention to kenaf, a type of
fibrous plant native to tropical areas of Africa and Asia that is
known to grow more than five meters in just half a year.
• A mixture of polylactic acid and kenaf fiber that is 20% fiber by
weight allows for a plastic that is strong enough and heat
resistant enough to be used in electronic goods.
• The goal is to begin using this new plastic in real products, such
as computer cases, within two years.

43. BIOPLASTIC vs. CONVENTIONAL
PLASTIC
Conventional plastic
• Unsustainable
• Eco-toxic
• More energy usage
during production
(about 65%)
• Increases global
warming
• Leads to abiotic
depletion
• Reduces soil fertility
Bioplastic
• More sustainable
• Non-toxic
• Less usage of
energy
• Eco friendly
• No harm to abiotic
6

44. BIOPLASTICS- GLOBALLY
10

45. BIOPLASTICS- THREE CIRCLES OF
SUSTAINABILITY
• Bottle you can use and throw away without any
guilt.
• You leave a cleaner earth to your siblings.
• Products get the bioplastic aesthetic,
thereby more sales.
• Less expensive, absence of oil usage.
• Less waste produced at the production.
• Eco friendly.

46. Applications
 Packaging
 Catering products
 Gardening
 Medical Products
 Sanitary Products

47. Packaging
The use of bioplastics for shopping bags is already very common. After their
initial use they can be reused as bags for organic waste and then be
composted.
Trays and containers for fruit, vegetables, eggs and meat, bottles for soft
drinks and dairy products and blister foils for fruit and vegetables are also
already widely manufactured from bioplastics.

48. Catering products
•Catering products belong to the group of perishable
plastics.
•Disposable crockery and cutlery, as well as pots and
bowls, pack foils for hamburgers and straws are
being dumped after a single use, together with food-
leftovers, forming huge amounts of waste,
particularly at big events.

49. Gardening
•Within the agricultural economy and the gardening sector
mulch foils made of biodegradable material and flower pots
made of decomposable bioplastics are predominantly used
due to their adjustable lifespan and the fact that these
materials do not leave residues in the soil.
•This helps reduce work and time (and thus cost) as these
products can simply be left to decompose, after which they
are ploughed in to the soil.
•Plant pots used for flowering and vegetable plants can be
composted along with gardening and kitchen litter.

50. Medical Products
•In comparison to packaging, catering or gardening sectors, the medical
sector sets out completely different requirements with regards to
products made of renewable and reabsorbing plastics.
•The highest possible qualitative standards have to be met and
guaranteed, resulting in an extremely high costs, which sometimes exceed
1.000 Euro per kilo.
•The potential applications of biodegradable or reabsorbing bioplastics
are manifold.

51. Sanitary Products
•Due to their specific characteristics, bioplastics are used as a
basis for the production of sanitary products.
•These materials are breathable and allow water vapor to
permeate, but at the same time they are waterproof.
•Foils made of soft bioplastic are already used as diaper foil,
bed underlay, for incontinence products, ladies sanitary
products and as disposable gloves.

52. Packaging
• Food packaging --
- PLA foil and paper has turned out to be a great
match for the packaging of cheese.
- Carrots in starch based packaging.
- Biodegradable trays for milk tray
chocolates.

53. Cont…
- Water vapour transmission of the crystal
clear PLA film can provide fresh products
with a longer shelf life (9 days).
- Polylacticacid can replace PET in certain
applications.
- Single use cold drink cups, plates,
containers and cutlery, which are all based
on renewable raw materials and are
compostable after use.

55. Cont…
Electrical packaging
- An optical media made from cornstarch,
“bio-disk” is 1.2mm thick, has a capacity
of maximum 25 gb and is biodegradable.
- The cover comes with an embedded
sunflower seed, which grows a sunflower
once it is composted. According to
experts 10% of the plastic in electricals
will be able to be replaced by bioplastics.
- Sticky tape made from cellulose

56. • Pharmaceuticals packaging -
Thermoplastic starch in the form of capsule
material, for instance, can substitute conventional
gelatin capsules.
- These materials are breathable and allow
water vapor to permeate, but at the same
time they are waterproof.
• Sanitary Products -

57. • Renewable.
• Degrade faster.
• Reduce carbon footprint.
• Lower fossil fuel consumption.
• Lower energy cost in manufacture.
• Do not contain additives harmful to health,
such as phthalates or bisphenol A.
• No greenhouse gas emission.
8

58. Bioplastics demand will continue to grow:
Continued research and development in bioplastics is creating high quality
products for a wide variety of industries.
Now that the benefits of biologically sourced plastics are well-understood,
their market share is likely to rise sharply.
The three drivers of growth – the importance of brand image to consumer
goods companies, the value of joint composting and the reduction of litter – will
provide the spur for continued growth in bioplastics across the world.

60. Bioplastics are an important part of the move to a more
sustainable world.
Bioplastics, currently accounting for less than half of one per cent of all
plastics manufacture, are growing rapidly because of the clear advantages they
have in many applications. As oil supply tightens, these advantages will grow.
Their carbon footprint can be much lower than oil-based equivalents.
Bio plastics can provide excellent biodegradability, helping the world deal
with the increasing problems of litter, particularly in the world’s rivers and
seas. Durable plant-based bioplastics can also be recycled as well as their
conventional equivalents, assisting the growth of a more sustainable world
economy.

61. Thank you