Biopolymers are polymers that are produced by living organisms, containing monomeric components which get covalently bonded to form larger structures. In our packaging industry, these are made from biomass which is produced by crops like wheat, corn, potatoes or sugar beet. To name a few we have PLA & poly-3-hydroxybutyrate which can be used rather than polystyrenes or polyethylenes.
The beauty of these polymers is that they can cut carbon emissions & be sustainable, carbon-neutral and are always renewable as they can be grown indefinitely. Biopolymers have the potential to cut carbon emissions and reduce CO2 quantities in the atmosphere making them close to carbon neutral.
Some Biopolymers are biodegradable, few of them are also compostable. Some plastics are now referred to as being 'degradable', 'oxy-degradable' or 'UV-degradable'. This means that they break down when exposed to light or air.
Biodegradable polymers are materials that break down on their own when exposed to a landfill or other natural conditions by bacterial decomposition resulting in natural byproducts such as gases (CO2, N2 ) or biomass, water & inorganic salts. The properties & breakdown mechanisms determine the extent & time required for degradation. These materials are generally synthesized using metal catalysts, condensation reactions & ring-opening polymerization.
These materials have been introduced in recent times & are generally very expensive. A lot of research is being conducted across the globe & economically viable options will be available very soon.
Compostable materials are materials that are biodegradable through the process of composting. Popularly used materials are sugarcane bagasse which returns to being earth element within a very small time period. Plates, boxes & other tableware are made using bagasse.
There are different materials being innovated like Algae extracts which are used to make packing material. After its intended use, it can be dissolved in water & consumed without any side effects. Certain edible spoons & trays can be eaten along with the food item they are packed in. PLA is another material which is showing the best economically viable results. Many companies have already incorporated PLA in their coffee lids, spoons, etc.
USK BALAJI is now sourcing such materials from our overseas channel partners. We can provide biodegradable & cornstarch-based PLA material for trays which are plant-based & are a complete shift from traditional polymers.
We are now heading to a CIRCULAR ECONOMY from the earlier Linear model of “ Take, make, use, dispose & pollute”. We are now using a percentage of recycled materials in our production process for treasury or non-food packaging. As a part of our social obligations, we have engaged in Extended Producers Responsibility thereby successfully recycled 40% of our companies post-consumer waste. In the next two years, we will achieve a figure of 100%.
Traditional plastic packaging is lighter & stronger requiring lesser fuel costs in transportation & also requires 40% less energy to make in comparison to paper bags which cause deforestation. We believe that proper segregation & awareness against littering is the permanent solution towards handling any packaging material.
Finally, we need to recycle plastic products responsibly as It’s imperative that we all reduce carbon footprint to save our planet.
