6. Bioplastics

6.3 Non-degradable, bio-based plastics

Polyethylene (PE)

widely used plastic (petroleum-based: 30% of the plastic produced worldwide)
Soft, flexible, translucent, odorless
Production of packaging, films, insulating material, bottles
resistant to oils, acids, bases, bio-based PE lower barrier properties
flammable, not weather and UV resistant,
relatively good recyclability
Production based on ethanol from sugar cane in Brazil

Polypropylene (PP)

widely used plastic (petroleum-based: 24% of the plastic produced worldwide)
Relatively hard, strong, high thermal stability, acid-resistant
Production of drainpipes, car parts, housings for electrical appliances, garden furniture, packaging, FFP2
masks (made from PP fibers)
Easily recyclable, but not biodegradable
breaks down into microplastic particles under UV radiation
Bio-based production from vegetable oils without significant change in properties
Price of the bio-based variant 50 to 100 % higher than petroleum-based PP
Commercial production based on hydrogenated vegetable oils currently relatively low (2 plants in Germany and Belgium)

Polyamide (PA)

Plastic made from monomers that are linked via amide bonds to form polymers
high strength, high toughness, abrasion-resistant, good chemical resistance to organic solvents, not acid-resistant
Known as Perlon, Dederon or nylon
Manufacture of clothing, technical fabrics, strings for musical instruments, household items, vehicle parts, insulators
Recyclable, but not biodegradable
Bio-based production of monomers from vegetable oils, without significantly changing the properties of the PA
commercial production based on castor oil currently relatively low (2 plants in Germany and France)

Polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT)

belongs to the polyesters
elastic, dimensionally stable, soft
Used as fibers for carpets or textiles, technical plastics
The starting material is 1,3 propanediol
1,3 propanediol can also be produced biochemically
not biodegradable
Production capacities for bio-based 1,3 propanediol mainly in the USA and China

Rubber

Rubber is a completely natural biopolymer that has been used by humans for a long time. It is obtained from the latex of the rubber tree, which is found in tropical regions in South America, Africa and Asia. Rubber is produced when sulphur is added and heated (vulcanization). Charles Goodyear developed this process in 1839 and tires, seals, gloves, shoe soles and mattresses are still made from rubber today. Unlike the raw material rubber, the product rubber is not biodegradable or compostable.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the history of rubber production was also closely linked to colonization in Africa and South America, where the expected profits from rubber marketing led to exploitation and violence against the original population.