Cellulose Based Biopolymers
Cellulose Based Biopolymers are bioplastics made from renewable resources. The polymers are derived from the cellulose found in wood pulp, they are biodegradable and mostly home or industrially compostable.
Cellulose-based biopolymers are a natural bio-based substitute for traditional Polypropylene (PP), they are lightweight and often used in packaging and the food industry. The biopolymer has poor mechanical properties, low water vapour, bad processability and is brittle.
Circular Features
Raw Material
The cellulose required to make Cellulose Based Biopolymers are sourced from renewable natural plant-based resources.
Afterlife Plan
Cellulose Based Biopolymers are biodegradable, depending on the supplier they can be home or industrially composted and in some instanced naturally break down in the water supply.
Issues
As with any material, there are issues worth considering before selection, with starch-based biopolymers these are;
- Recent research into the toxicity of bioplastics versus traditional plastics has raised concern over the level found in cellulose-based biopolymers.
- Cellulose-based biopolymers can cause contamination problems when recycled in traditional recycled mechanisms. This is a biodegradable material that needs to be processed correctly afterlife.
Resources
Image source: Christian Gahle, nova-Institut GmbH