Bioplastics are plastics that are similar in properties to traditional plastics but are derived from renewable biomass sources rather than petroleum, and many are designed to biodegrade. They can be used for both disposable and non-disposable applications like packaging, cups, and phone casings. While bioplastics have benefits like reducing fossil fuel usage and being safer for medical use, they also have drawbacks like higher costs and potential issues with quality, composting, and recycling. As oil prices rise and bioplastic usage increases, they represent an opportunity for crop-producing countries but need to ensure consistency and address issues like methane emissions from composting.

1. Bioplastics

2. What?A form of plasticSimilar propertiesBiodegradable/compostableUsed for disposable itemsPackaging, cateringNon disposable non biodegradable but sustainablePipes, phone casing

3. How?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLZVbmkmV7I

4. Why?Reduce fossil-fuel use and CO2 release during manufacturingMade from renewable raw materialsSome are nontoxic and safe for medical and internal use

5. Why not?Higher cost—although this is relative to oil prices, which fluctuateIn some cases, lower quality and performance compared to standard plasticsComposting may be possible only in industrial composting processesCould interfere with standard plastic recyclingUse of plant sugar and starch sources could negatively impact food prices

6. Bioplastics for the futureRising oil pricesBioplastic consumption expected to reach 5 million tonnes in 2015Potential for crop producing countries

7. PerspectiveA potential summit opportunity for crop producing countries.More can be done to ensure consistency of bioplasticsDisposabilityMethane gas contributing to greenhouse gasesAn effort to increase usage of bioplastics to reduce dependency on petroleum made plastics

8. DiscussionWhat are the consequences of using more bioplastics in our lives?If you were given a choice between regular plastic and bioplastic, which would you choose? Why?

9. Referenceshttp://ecohearth.com/eco-zine/science-and-technology/1242-bioplastics-rumors-facts-and-future-potential.htmlhttp://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/03/27/business/Bioplastic-the-wave-of-the-future-30125659.htmlhttp://plasticsandtheplanet.com/archives/182http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioplastic#Bioplastics_and_biodegradation