Innovative processes for bioplastics Packaging materials are one of the leading causes of pollution, and all this non-biodegradable litter causes great harm to the environment and eventually to human health as well. As this is a severe problem within the European Union, a research group addressed this issue and devised a method of testing the biodegradability of bioplastics (an alternative to mainstream plastic) by utilising specific cultures of microorganisms. Climate Change and Environment Packaging materials, such as plastic, are an essential part of everyday life, yet these same plastics put the environment at risk. In response to this crisis in the EU, consumers and policy-makers alike should actively promote the use of bioplastics, which are biodegradable packaging materials. Bioplastics are advantageous alternatives to conventional plastics as they can be composted without contamination and they do not result in semi-permanent litter when carelessly disposed of at beaches, in forests, or even by the side of the road. Yet, the term bioplastics comprises a vast array of materials with diverse chemical characteristics that do not all biodegrade in the same way. Therefore, it is necessary to have adequate assessment techniques that accurately determine the level of biodegradability of plastics. To this effect, researchers from Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy designed innovative, rapid in vitro tests using cultures of microorganisms that determine the biodegradability of plastics. In fact, this consortium discovered specific microorganisms that can degrade bioplastics, and then used these microorganisms to design standardised in vitro tests that rapidly analyse biodegradability. Furthermore, these tests are versatile as they can assess diverse bioplastics, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates, polycaprolactone, polycaprolactone based plastics (MaterBi), synthetic polyesters (Bionolle) and polyurethanes. In essence, these innovative tests could prove essential in preserving the environment and ensuring that bioplastics are biodegradable in the most effective way.
