54 Introduction to Renewable Biomaterials
with properties more comparable to commodity plastics. For instance, packaging and
containers constitute a nearly $500 billion global market. Plastic container sales alone
account for $130 billion worldwide.
The combination of lignocellulose and starch would mean a further step ahead in the
utilization of bio-based materials for challenging applications such as Styrofoam-like
foams, plastics, and packaging made from petroleum resources.
After an extensive literature review on this topic, we have concluded that there is a
great need for systematic and accurate mapping of product structure characteristics.
2.4.1 Rationale and Significance
Plastics industries manufacture has a wide variety of materials, which plastics are
produced or derived from major non renewable energy sources such as crude oil,
natural gas and coal. Nearly 6% of the world’s crude oil production is used for making
approximately 245 million metric tons of plastics globally on an annual basis. These are
used to meet both the requirements of cheap mass production and of highly specific
applications. The worldwide economy dependence on petroleum-based plastics is not
sustainable, based on the extremely volatile oil and energy situation, coupled with
major changes in supply and demand patterns. The fluctuation in costs is a challenge
but in addition, the limited feedstock availability is tightening and impacting supply
and demand worldwide, and putting the industry under tremendous pressure.
Moreover, plastics now make up a significant part of a typical municipal solid waste
(MSW) stream, and represent the fastest growing component. A huge 44 billion pounds
of plastics enter United States’ MSW stream each year, equivalent to^1 / 2 pound per day
per person. In the United States, plastics on average account for 10% by weight of MSW,
more than metals (8%) and glass (6%). The cost of waste management is now a matter
of great public concern. There is more carbohydrate on earth than all other organic
material combined. Polysaccharides are the most abundant type of carbohydrate and
make up approximately 75% of all organic matter. The use of biodegradable, starch-
and wood-based products as proposed here would be a significant improvement to
the economy, environment, and society. Furthermore, starch-cellulosic fibers are viable
feedstocks for enzymatic conversion to ethanol or are high heat value material suitable
for combustion, alternatives to landfilling.
Many industry announcements regarding new and innovative plastic products occur
on an ever more frequent basis.Coca-Colarecently announced that they will begin
utilizing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles containing 30% renewable content
from sugarcane-derived ethylene glycol. They also announced plans to convert all
their plastic packaging to the new material by 2020.Heinzwill use the same material
to make 120 million bottles for their ketchup products this year.PepsiCoclaims to
have developed the world’s first totally bio-based PET bottle. It is made from biomass
including switchgrass, pine bark, and corn husks. Pilot-scale production began in
- Other interesting new materials entering the market include a new family of
resins (Panacea) containing 10–40% finely ground soy-based protein and an injection
mold-grade cellulose-based resin. The cellulose-based resin is being used to make the
first biodegradable tubes for toothpaste.
Much of the focus on renewable and sustainable plastics involves the use of starch
either as a feedstock or as a component for industrial products. Industrial products in
the United States that utilize starch have grown from 13 million metric tons (MMT)
