Plastic Pollution
Let's start with the production of plastics. The industrial production of plastics began in the 1950s. During this decade, the oil industry grew significantly and plastics gradually became an important material with a positive impact on modern human life. Over time, plastic products were manufactured. However, plastic waste soon became known as 'white pollution'.
This has become a major problem in the modern world. Plastic products are mainly made from polymers such as polystyrene, polypropylene and PVS. Researchers have therefore been looking for a solution to reduce this waste. As consumers, we need to consider the negative impact of each product on our health and the environment before we buy.
A Journey towards Sustainable Solutions
The story behind biodegradable tableware is one of innovation, sustainability and environmental awareness. Biodegradable tableware refers to disposable tableware that can be recycled or disposed of after use without harming the environment. Biodegradable tableware is made from a variety of materials including plastic, aluminium, paper and biodegradable substances such as corn starch.
Biodegradable tableware was developed as an alternative to traditional plastic tableware, which is made from fossil materials and does not break down easily, leading to marine litter and pollution problems. According to the report, the global disposable plates market is estimated to be worth $4.5 billion in 2021, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.2% expected from 2023 to 2033. The report states that plastic plates account for 62% of disposable plates. The market share will increase until 2022, but is expected to lose some share to paperboard due to environmental concerns and regulations.
Why corn starch corn?
Of all the starches, corn is an important source of plant residues. It has many advantages such as high starch content, excellent consistency, biodegradability, etc. and is widely used. Corn is also known as the most widely used agricultural cereal in the world. There are six types of corn. They are flour, dent, flint, soda, pod and sweet corn. The characteristics of each type vary greatly due to environmental influences. In 2020, corn production will be almost 4 billion tonnes, accounting for 31% of global cereal production. This makes corn the third most important food cereal in the world.
Corn has a small stem attached to short roots. After harvest, part of the plant is discarded. Corn is the main source of starch. Alpha-glucose is usually a slippery, water-retaining and bulking agent used in food factories. Most corn kernels are a mixture of starch and sugar, protein, oil and ash. Natural fibres such as cobs, stalks and leaves can be extracted from corn. Corn fibre has unique properties compared to other agricultural bioproducts, such as 90% storability and higher availability than other natural fibres.
Corn starch is a semi-crystalline biopolymer. It consists of a combination of linear amylose polysaccharides and simple amylopectin. There has been considerable research into the development of plasticised biopolymer films using thermoplastic corn starch. For example, one study investigated the use of corn starch and urea plasticisers to produce plastic films. The results of this study show that the mechanical properties of starch biopolymers increase with the addition of urea plasticiser.
Features of a highly qualified corn starch based biodegradable tableware
This corn starch-based bioplastic is currently available in the United States, Europe and the Middle East. This starch-based bioplastic has a large share of the food packaging market. Customers should be aware that these products must comply with national and international standards.
The biodegradable tableware packaging industry has many manufacturers around the world. In China, the brand called "SDLVNENG" has all the certificates. Recently, its products have been exported to many countries. These products are simple in design and very affordable. Like other plastic cutlery, cornstarch-based cutlery must be available in different shapes and sizes. Otherwise, consumers of plastic cutlery will continue to use the same containers to meet their needs.
Correctly sized bio-based cutlery allows restaurant owners to estimate the correct portion size of food per person. This avoids additional food waste. All of these factors can have a significant impact on consumer behaviour and the desire to purchase biodegradable cutlery. All of the brand's products are available in bulk on the Biodegradablepack website.
