Bio-plastics? Bio-based plastics? Biodegradable plastics? What’s the difference!

Although plastic products—lightweight, strong, corrosion-resistant, and easy to transport—are hailed as one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century, plastic pollution has become a major threat to the human living environment. Due to their stable physical and chemical structures, plastic products may persist in nature for decades or even centuries without decomposing; most plastics are used once—as packaging—and then discarded; waste plastics, especially plastic bags, are ubiquitous: microplastics have been detected even in the Arctic and Antarctic. Consequently, the plastic bag has been dubbed 'the worst invention of the 20th century.' China is vigorously promoting the use of bio-plastics to address plastic pollution. The 10th meeting of the Central Committee for Deepening Reform approved the 'Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control.' Jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the document explicitly mandates: 'Promote the use of biodegradable packaging films and shopping bags, as well as bio-based alternatives meeting performance and food-safety requirements—such as straw-coated food containers—and other biodegradable plastic bags.' These alternatives collectively constitute bio-plastics. Bio-plastics According to definitions from the European Bioplastics Association and the Japan Bioplastics Association, 'bio-plastics' is an umbrella term encompassing both bio-based plastics and biodegradable plastics. 'Bio-based plastics' is defined by the origin of raw materials, whereas 'biodegradable plastics' emphasizes environmental assimilation—i.e., how plastics break down after disposal. Based on raw material origin and biodegradability, bio-plastics fall into three categories: 1. Fully or partially bio-based: Examples include polyethylene (PE) derived from bio-ethanol (produced from corn starch), and partially bio-based polyethylene terephthalate (PET), also originating from bio-ethanol—both classified as bio-based bio-plastics. 2. Bio-based and biodegradable: Examples include thermoplastic starch (starch rendered thermoplastic with additives), polylactic acid (PLA—produced by fermenting corn starch into lactic acid, followed by polymerization), and cellulose acetate (derived from plant cellulose via hydroxyl acetylation). These qualify as both bio-based and biodegradable plastics. 3. Petroleum-based but biodegradable: Examples include poly(butylene succinate) (PBS—polymerized from succinic acid and butanediol) and polycaprolactone (PCL—formed via condensation of 6-hydroxyhexanoic acid), both classified as biodegradable plastics. Thus, bio-based plastics are not necessarily biodegradable, and biodegradable plastics are not necessarily bio-based; 'bio-plastics' is not a single material but rather a family of diverse materials with distinct properties and applications. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) established standard ASTM D6866, which is equivalent to the European CEN/TS 16137 standard. Independent third-party certification bodies typically assess and certify packaging materials made from bio-plastics according to these standards, awarding certification marks (see Figure 1). Such certification helps guide public consumption toward products made from bio-based plastics. Biodegradable plastics refer to plastics capable of biological decomposition under natural environmental conditions—or under composting conditions. Among them, plastics that decompose completely into carbon dioxide and water under composting conditions—and exert no adverse effects on plant growth—are specifically termed 'compostable plastics.'

The New Plastics Economy Supporting Climate Change Mitigation

[China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation News] On March 1, 2024, during the Sixth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) held in Nairobi, an expert meeting focused on plastics was held to advance global economic transformation—aimed at curbing the existential threats posed by plastics to nature and humanity—and to enhance member states’ and stakeholders’ understanding of how existing multilateral environmental agreements—including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Basel Convention, the Rotterdam Convention, and the Stockholm Convention—can synergize with the ongoing intergovernmental negotiations on a global plastics treaty. Climate change and plastic pollution are deeply interconnected. Over recent decades, plastic production and consumption have grown exponentially, inflicting widespread consequences and costs on marine and terrestrial ecosystems, human health, and the climate. Plastic waste contaminates food, water, and oceans (accounting for 85% of marine debris); meanwhile, plastic production, use, and waste management generate approximately 4% of total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The plastics industry is now the fastest-growing source of industrial GHG emissions globally. Under a business-as-usual scenario, plastics’ full life-cycle emissions could account for 19% of global GHG emissions by 2040—rendering unattainable the Paris Agreement’s core objective of limiting global average temperature rise to below 1.5°C. At this expert meeting—co-organized by the UNFCCC Secretariat and the Global Resource Information Database–Arendal (GRID-Arendal) in Norway—participants emphasized the urgent need to transition toward sustainable lifestyles and sustainable patterns of consumption and production as a critical strategy for climate change mitigation. This transition rests upon shifts in individual lifestyles and consumption habits, supported by robust legal and policy frameworks. Currently, 99% of the raw materials used to produce plastics are fossil-fuel-based.

Verpact Announces 2027 Eco-Modulation Discounts – Including Bio-Based Plastics for the First Time

1 day ago

Verpact announced 2027 EPR discounts including bio-based plastics for the first time, offering up to €1.18/kg savings. This policy aims to incentivize Dutch brand owners to adopt bio-based materials amidst weak European demand driven by regulatory gaps.

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2026-09-29

Verpact Announces 2027 Eco-Modulation Discounts – Including Bio-Based Plastics for the First Time

Verpact Announces 2027 Eco-Modulation Discounts – Including Bio-Based Plastics for the First Time

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