Headlines about bioplastics practically write themselves. "Bioplastics market growing," "Bioplastics take root," "Bioplastics set to bloom," etc.

 

That's a good thing, since Plastics News has produced a sizable body of work on those products over the publication's 25-year history. The term  "bioplastics" already has appeared in PN at least 40 times so far in 2014 alone, often in stories focused on firms making those resins or making products made from those materials.

 

The concept of making plastics from renewable materials — mainly crops such as corn or soybeans — seems to have gained new life in recent years as sustainability has become more of a buzzword. By using organic material as a feedstock, bioplastics avoid the environmental spectres of oil and gas — more common plastics feedstocks. Some bioplastics also can be biodegradable, thus removing those products from the waste stream and saving precious space in landfills.

 

The idea of bioplastics is not a new one. Some of the earliest plastics — in the late 19th century — were plant-based cellulosics that soon were used to make rayon fibers and cellophane films. Moving forward, Ford Motor Co. founder Henry Ford was championing soybean-based plastics in auto parts in the early 1940s.

 

The notion was so widespread that it even was mentioned in a pair of classic mid-century movies. In "It's a Wonderful Life," (1946), Jimmy Stewart's character convinces a high school pal to re-open a factory in their hometown to make plastics out of soybeans. In "Sabrina," (1954), Humphrey Bogart's character invests in a method of making plastic from sugar cane.

 

But being able to make bioplastics and being able to make them profitably have proven to be two different tasks over PN's 25-year history. We've often received glowing introductory press releases about startup companies or university research labs that have found new ways to enter the market. But the first time we hear about these efforts often is the last time we hear about them. Very few of them even reach full commercialization.

 

Price and performance often are cited as reasons why bioplastics have fallen short of their true potential. These factors were identified earlier this year in a market study released by Cleveland-based research firm Freedonia Group Inc. "Large scale conversion to bioplastics will not occur until price parity with conventional plastic resins is achieved," analyst Kent Furst wrote.

 

Headlines about bioplastics practically write themselves. "Bioplastics market growing," "Bioplastics take root," "Bioplastics set to bloom," etc.

 

That's a good thing, since Plastics News has produced a sizable body of work on those products over the publication's 25-year history. The term "bioplastics" already has appeared in PN at least 40 times so far in 2014 alone, often in stories focused on firms making those resins or making products made from those materials.

 

The concept of making plastics from renewable materials — mainly crops such as corn or soybeans — seems to have gained new life in recent years as sustainability has become more of a buzzword. By using organic material as a feedstock, bioplastics avoid the environmental spectres of oil and gas — more common plastics feedstocks. Some bioplastics also can be biodegradable, thus removing those products from the waste stream and saving precious space in landfills.

 

The idea of bioplastics is not a new one. Some of the earliest plastics — in the late 19th century — were plant-based cellulosics that soon were used to make rayon fibers and cellophane films. Moving forward, Ford Motor Co. founder Henry Ford was championing soybean-based plastics in auto parts in the early 1940s.

 

The notion was so widespread that it even was mentioned in a pair of classic mid-century movies. In "It's a Wonderful Life," (1946), Jimmy Stewart's character convinces a high school pal to re-open a factory in their hometown to make plastics out of soybeans. In "Sabrina," (1954), Humphrey Bogart's character invests in a method of making plastic from sugar cane.

 

But being able to make bioplastics and being able to make them profitably have proven to be two different tasks over PN's 25-year history. We've often received glowing introductory press releases about startup companies or university research labs that have found new ways to enter the market. But the first time we hear about these efforts often is the last time we hear about them. Very few of them even reach full commercialization.

 

Price and performance often are cited as reasons why bioplastics have fallen short of their true potential. These factors were identified earlier this year in a market study released by Cleveland-based research firm Freedonia Group Inc. "Large scale conversion to bioplastics will not occur until price parity with conventional plastic resins is achieved," analyst Kent Furst wrote.