Bio-based plastics: An important contribution to sustainability?

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Bio-based plastics: An important contribution to sustainability?

09.09.2025

Bio-based plastics: The key to greater sustainability?

Bio-based plastics are considered a promising alternative to petroleum-based plastics. They are said to protect the environment, consist of renewable raw materials and contribute to CO₂ reduction and sustainability. But how sustainable are these materials really? And how do they differ from biodegradable plastics?

What are bio-based plastics?

Bio-based plastics are the environmentally friendly alternative to conventional plastics and are made – either entirely or partially – from renewable raw materials such as corn starch, sugar cane, or cellulose. However, they are not automatically biodegradable. This is a common misconception – and the corresponding communication is a typical indication of greenwashing.

Bio-based vs. conventional plastics: A comparison

At first glance, bio-based and conventional plastics often appear identical – in appearance, function, and processing. But the difference lies in the origin of the raw materials and often also in their environmental impact.

Criterion	Bio-based plastics	Conventional plastics
Raw material source	Renewable	Fossil
CO2-balance	Potentially lower (depending on the manufacturing process)	Usually higher due to fossil emissions
Biodegradability	Possible – usually only under industrial conditions	Generally not biodegradable
Recyclability	Varies – limited or also integrated into standard systems	Well established
Raw material and production costs	Often higher	More cost-effective due to optimized processes
Availability & infrastructure	Still under development	Globally established
Areas of application	Niche & sustainable applications, increasingly widespread	Already industrial spectrum

Conclusion: While conventional plastics are still the standard, bio-based plastics offer the opportunity to decarbonize raw materials and break new ground in material development. In the long term, however, actual sustainability depends on how these materials are integrated into cycles and used responsibly.

Biodegradable plastics vs. bio-based plastics

Bio-based: made from plant-based or organic materials.
Biodegradable: Biodegradable plastics can be completely broken down by microorganisms, regardless of the source material.

Not everything made from plants automatically decomposes in nature. Conversely, not everything that is biodegradable is also bio-based.

An example: Shopping bags made from corn starch are made from bio-based polymers (such as PLA) and are biodegradable, but only in industrial composting facilities. A bottle made from bio-PE, e.g. from sugar cane, is bio-based because it is made from plants, but it is not biodegradable. It does not decompose naturally and must be recycled or incinerated like conventional plastic.

Advantages of bio-based plastics

Raw material origin – renewable instead of fossil:

produced – such as corn, sugar cane, starch, cellulose, or algae. This reduces dependence on oil and natural gas.

Reduced carbon footprint:

Plants absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere as they grow. In the production of bio-based plastics, this can lead to a better climate balance – especially if transport and processing are also optimized.

Options for biodegradability:

Some (e.g., PLA, PHA) are biodegradable – especially under industrial conditions. This can reduce certain environmental problems (e.g. with disposable products) if they are disposed of correctly.

Innovation potential:

Bio-based plastics enable new applications, e.g., in medical technology, 3D printing, or smart packaging. They are often lighter and more versatile.

Positive public image:

Bio-based plastics are made entirely or partially from renewable raw materials bio-based polymers. The use of bio-based materials can improve a company's sustainability profile – provided that it is communicated transparently how environmentally friendly the product actually is.

Disadvantages of bio-based plastics

No automatic biodegradability:

Many bio-based plastics are not biodegradable (e.g. bio-PE, bio-PET). Conversely, some degradable plastics are not bio-based. This differentiation is often consumer-unfriendly and leads to misinformation.

Complex disposal & recycling:

Bio-based plastics sometimes disrupt existing recycling streams, e.g., PLA in PET recycling plants. In many places, the infrastructure for industrial composting is lacking. As a result, many of these plastics end up in residual waste or incineration.

Competition for land with food production:

The use of arable land for plastic raw materials (corn, sugar cane) can lead to ethical and ecological conflicts of interest, especially in regions with food shortages or deforestation.

Higher costs:

Bio-based plastics are generally more expensive than conventional plastics – especially for small production volumes or when there is a lack of series production experience.

Not always the better ecological balance:

Not every bio-based plastic automatically has a better overall ecological balance. The entire life cycle (including transport, energy consumption, disposal) determines the actual environmental impact.

CO₂ balance & sustainability of bio-based plastics

The production of bio-based plastics usually causes fewer CO₂ emissions than that of conventional plastics. However, the difference is not always as great as is often assumed.

Plastic	Origin	CO₂-balance (kg CO₂/kg)	Recyclable
PLA	Corn starch	approx. 1.3–1.8	Limited
PHA	Bacterially produces	approx. 1.5	Yes
Bio-PE	Sugar cane	approx. 2.0	Yes
PET (recycled)	Fossil / secondary	approx. 1.5	Very good
PE (new)	Fossil	approx. 2.5	Yes

Conclusion: Recycled plastics can perform better ecologically than new bio-based plastics – especially if the latter are not recycled or incinerated.

Recycling and disposal: Many unanswered questions

Conventional recycling processes remain a real problem. Although industrial composting plants do exist, they are not yet widely available.

For bio-based materials to be truly sustainable, they must be able to be integrated into a functioning circular economy – ideally through mechanical or chemical recycling. Currently, the infrastructure and standards for this are often lacking.

Areas of application & industrial uses of bio-based plastics

Packaging industry

Bio-based films and containers are increasingly being used in the packaging industry – for example, made from PLA or bio-PE. These are suitable for:

Freshness packaging for fruit, vegetables, or baked goods
Capsules for coffee machines
Cream or shampoo jars made from plant-based plastic
Dietary supplements and vitamin preparations for non-safety-related

Automotive industry

Some car manufacturers use bio-based plastic components, such as:

Interior trim
Speaker covers
Textile coatings with PLA fibers

The advantage: weight savings and a lower carbon footprint over the entire life cycle.

Medicine & Technology

Bio-based polymers such as PHA or PLA are used in medical technology, for example for:

Surgical suture materials
Resorbable implants
Packaging for medicines

The advantage: biocompatibility and complete degradation in the body or in special environments.

The Future of sustainable plastics

The market for plastic avoidance, investments in recycling technologies, and interest in CO₂-neutral materials are driving this trend. At the same time, the trend poses a few challenges:

Competition for land with food production
Costs are often higher than for fossil-based plastics
Acceptance issues among end consumers

Sustainability with many facets

Bio-based plastics offer great potential for greater sustainability – if used correctly. The decisive factors here are not only the choice of material and its origin, but also questions such as: Can the product be recycled? Is the infrastructure in place? And does it actually fulfill its purpose – ecologically and functionally?

This is where JOMA comes in: As a partner for sustainable plastic solutions, we support companies in integrating environmentally friendly materials into their processes in a meaningful way – with a view to life cycle, carbon footprint, and recycling. Because sustainability is not just a label, but a question of the overall solution.

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