According to a paper published by Nature Communications, researchers at China’s Northeast Forestry University have discovered a bamboo-based bioplastic said to ‘outperform’ most commercial plastics and bioplastics in mechanical and thermo-mechanical metrics and be fully biodegradable.
Researchers Hongying Tang, Zhihan Tong, Rui Zhang, Xiaona Li, Suqing Zeng, Dawei Zhao and Haipeng Yu reportedly created a molecular engineering strategy to fabricate high-strength bamboo molecular plastics (BM-plastics) through a solvent-regulated shaping process. By using solvents to disassemble bamboo’s hydrogen-bond network and molecular stimulation to reconstruct dense hydrogen-bond interactions, the researchers achieved a bioplastic with ‘exceptional mechanical strength’ (tensile strength: 110 MPa, flexural modulus: 6.41 GPa), thermal stability (over 180 °C), and versatile processability via injection, moulding and machining techniques.
The BM-plastic apparently maintains full biodegradability in soil within 50 days and closed-loop recyclability with 90% retained strength. The paper states that this development will establish a method for transforming bamboo cellulose into high-performance materials, seeking to offer a viable pathway to mitigate plastic pollution and fossil resource dependence.
In similar news, a research team at the College of Natural Resources and Environment in Virginia Tech University, USA claim to have proved that biodegradable bioplastics can form durable, protective films on paper using a spray-coating technique, improving strength and barrier properties. Young-Teck Kim from the Macromolecules Innovation Institute led a team that used a spray-coating method that replaces the extrusion process typically used to apply bioplastics such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA).
Earlier this year AIMPLAS, Potato Bioplastics and Gaviplas launched a project set to bolster the mechanical and barrier properties of flexible bioplastic packaging in the food, cosmetics, personal hygiene, detergent, and cleaning sectors. The project seeks to improve the protective qualities and extend the shelf life of biodegradable and/or compostable bioplastics, assisting in the phase-out of fossil-based, non-biodegradable plastics.
If you liked this story, you might also enjoy:
The ultimate guide to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation in 2025
How are the top brands progressing on packaging sustainability?
Everything you need to know about global packaging sustainability regulation in 2025
The key to increasing the use of reusable packaging in supermarkets
No comments yet