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Bio-based plastics- Feedstocks, Production and the UK market

HGCA and the British Plastics Federation (BPF) have launched a webpage detailing the current feedstocks used for bio-based* plastic (bioplastic) manufacture. Currently, starch is the main feedstock for bioplastic manufacture (c.a. 80% of the bioplastics market). The article introduces the main factors determining the decision of which starch type to use for bioplastic manufacture.

These factors include:

• Price
• Location of starch source
• Starch quality/purity
• Starch characteristics

Other feedstocks are also discussed in brief including: plant oils, cellulose, lignin, proteins and xylans.

*Bio-based plastics (widely known as bioplastics) are environmentally-friendly plant biomass derived, renewable and sustainable plastics that can be engineered to break down to non-toxic compounds in the environment.

Click here to view the article on the British Plastics Federation's website