Welcome to the Solutions Database,
a guide to technologies, strategies, and best practices for reducing plastic waste

Choose your solution

eliminate

Eliminate plastic
minimize

Minimize plastic
reuse

Reuse models
paper

Paper
compostable

Compostable
glass

Glass
metal

Metal
more-recyclable

More recyclable formats
enhance-recyclability

Enhance recyclability
biobased

Bio-based content
mechanically-recycled

Mechanically recycled content
chemically-recycled

Chemically recycled content

Bio-based Content

Using bio-based plastics creates another pathway to transition away from fossil-based, finite resources. In making this shift, it is critically important to make sure that the sourcing of raw materials for bio-based plastics is done sustainably and does not generate unintended consequences or impacts related to land use, such as competition for food, water usage, or soil degradation. Bio-based plastics are also still considered virgin material and do not contribute to the “virgin plastic reduction” goals stated in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Global Commitment, the US Plastics Pact, or final targets submitted to Plastic IQ.

Bio-based plastics are made from plant-based or animal-based feedstocks rather than from fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas. However, bio-based plastic content is not the same as biodegradable and does not mean that the plastic biodegrades in nature – many bio-based plastics have the same degradability as fossil-based plastics.

Some bio-based plastics are “drop in” plastics that have the same chemical composition as their fossil-based equivalents and can be used and recycled in the same manner. These plastics are generally neither compostable nor biodegradable. For example, bio-based polyethylene (LDPE / HDPE / PE) has identical properties to fossil fuel-based polyethylene but is derived from sugar cane.

Other (“non drop in”) bio-based plastics are different from the common fossil-based plastics used in packaging (such as fossil-based HDPE or PET). These plastics are not recyclable in most mechanical recycling systems and may contaminate the recycling system. In some formats, they can be either industrially compostable or home compostable, where they have been certified against established compostability standards.

This complexity around bio-based materials creates confusion for consumers, policy makers, and other stakeholders. But, in both cases, the appropriate use of bio-based materials can create environmental benefits and play an important pioneering role in the circular economy.

Bio-based “drop in” content is most widely available for PE, PP and PET. As “drop in” plastics are chemically identical to traditional plastics, the main limits on their use are availability and potential costs. Supply of bio-based plastic is currently still limited. Companies should work with suppliers to evaluate the feasibility of using bio-plastics and their availability.

Bio-based alternatives that are not “drop in” should be used more carefully because they can contaminate recycling systems. Certified compostable plastics should always be used in applications where their disposal could add value to the system. One such example is the use of bio-based plastics that are certified as compostable and can be easily disposed with food waste, where there is a food waste collection and composting system in place that accepts them. Prior to switching to a compostable bio-plastic, companies should understand the local infrastructure of where the product will be used. See the Substitution solution lever on “compostable materials” for further information on compostability.

According to research published in 2020 (2), bio-based plastics are more costly to produce than their fossil counter parts and struggle to gain traction when oil prices are not high. Companies should work with their suppliers to better understand the costs of using bio-based plastics in their application.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with bio-based plastic drop-in feedstock can vary depending on the plastic type, feedstock, geographical region, and the energy sources used in refineries. Studies vary significantly but in general Bio-PE and Bio-PP tend to perform better than Bio-PET, relative to fossil-based alternatives. The performance of bio-based plastic producers will likely continue to improve over time as they reach more mature commercialization scales and enact continuous improvement plans.

Aside from GHG emissions, burden shifting to different environmental impacts than for fossil-based plastics can be a risk of bio-based plastics, in particular regarding the additional amounts of land and water use needed, increasing competition for different land uses, and negative effects on biodiversity. Other environmental impacts can also be caused by the agrochemicals used in the agricultural production (1). Companies should better understand these potential trade-offs as they consider using bio-based plastics.

Key Benefits

  • Potential for reduced GHG emissions: Sourcing bio-based plastics may reduce GHG emissions, compared to fossil-based equivalents. Sustainably managed (renewable) plant feedstocks should grow back and absorb the same amount of carbon dioxide as is released when the plastic reaches its end of life. Bio-based plastics could have a net-positive impact, as in the best case scenario where the bio-based plastic is recycled and substitutes fossil-based plastic production in its second life.
  • Reduced fossil fuel extraction and consumption: Sourcing bio-based plastics can reduce the extraction and consumption of fossil fuels. As well as the GHG emission reductions noted above, this also provides new pathways to decouple material systems from fossil fuel extraction.
  • Satisfying consumer preference: Bio-based materials may be preferred by some consumers, who are increasingly concerned about the environmental performance of packaging. Companies are encouraged to test the consumer response to bio-based packaging compared to fossil-based.
  • Reduced plastic waste and increased composting: If certified as home-compostable or industrially-compostable, certain bio-based plastics can be disposed in composting systems and so reduce plastic waste and potentially increase the recovery of food-waste for composting, creating additional avoidance of GHG emissions that would have been generated by disposal in landfills.

How to make it work

  • Join collaboratives: The WWF Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance has provided thought leadership and a convening mechanism to help advance the knowledge of bioplastics and their potential impacts (4). The Sustainable Packaging Coalition offers a course on bioplastics in packaging and routinely covers topics on bioplastics in conferences and other educational forums (5).
  • Use established guidelines: The Biodegradable Products Institute has published guidelines to help the labelling and identification of compostable products and packaging. Standards from specialists – including the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), ISCC+, and REDCert – can be used to assure companies and customers that materials are sourced responsibly and tracked through the supply chain with a robust chain of custody standard.
  • Work with suppliers to evaluate options: By working with your suppliers, you can evaluate options and applications that are best suited for your packaging application.
  • Seek assurance for sustainable land use: Whether the feedstock material is derived from a farm or a forest, it is important to make sure that the practices used do not have detrimental impacts on people or planet. WWF’s Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance has developed a Methodology for the Assessment of Bioplastic Feedstocks which describes five foundational goals for feedstock sourcing, supported by specific indicators (6).

Enabling system conditions

  • Stakeholder education: Consumer research and education will be necessary to determine how to best celebrate the use of bio-based materials without confusing people by conveying the message that mate-rials are compostable in cases where they are not.
  • Policy and standards: Policy incentives could help finance the development of bioplastics and strengthen markets.

Examples and case studies

Tekpak: Tekpak is a producer of cast stretched film, shirnk and blown film. They produce high quality multi-layer stretch film. The company has been serving in more than 20 countries around the world: Japan, USA, UK, Ireland, Norway, German, Denmark, France, South Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, and many other countries. They commit to continuously developing an environmentally friendly product. The bio-based resin they develop comes from a bio naphta, which turns into polyethylene resin. Bio-based plastic has a lower carbon footprint and can be a solution toward fossil fuel and energy use. And both conventional & this bio-based plastic are recyclable.

References and Further Reading

  1. The unintended side effects of bioplastics: carbon, land, and water footprints (2020), Brizga, Hubacek and Fenga.
  2. Oil Prices and the Fate of Bioplastics in the Marketplace (2020), Goldsberry
  3. Plastics derived from biological sources: present and future: a technical and environmental review (2012), Chen and Patel
  4. The Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance
  5. Bioplastics in packaging (2019), Kachook
  6. Bioplastic feedstock methodology (2022), Bioplastic Feedstock Aliance
  7. The Chemical Recycling of PLA: A Review (2020), McKeown and Jones
  8. Understanding the Role of Compostable Packaging in North America, Sustainable Packaging Coalition
  9. Plant Based Products Council
  10. Compostable Packaging Collaborative, Sustainable Packaging Coalition
  11. One Step Closer Packaging Collaborative, One Step Closer
  12. I’m green™ bio-based PE Life Cycle Assessment, Braskem
  13. Compost Markets in the U.S. (2020), Goldstein
  14. Compostable plastic packaging guidance (2020), WRAP
  15. Biobased and Biodegradable Plastic (2021), WWF