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Plantic® is a biodegradable plastic made from corn starch, which decomposes naturally and sustainably. It can be made in various colors and thicknesses, and is used for packaging fine chocolates and injection molding. The product has been improved to be more robust and versatile. Its use has increased due to concerns about petrochemicals’ environmental impact and fluctuating prices.
Plantic® is a type of biodegradable plastic produced by the Australian-based Plantic Company. It is derived from starches found in corn, rather than petrochemicals, making it sustainable and very environmentally friendly. Plantic® is just one of a large family of plastics created with vegetable starch. These products are designed to degrade quickly and naturally, ensuring that the starches that make them go back to the earth, rather than staying in landfills.
The basis of Plantic® is corn starch with a high amylose content. This starch can be used to create Plantic® in a variety of colors and thicknesses as needed. All of these products decompose when composted, usually within about three months. The organization also points out that Plantic® can be made with organic corn, for consumers who want to adhere to organic standards. Technically, Plantic® could also potentially be eaten, although this is not recommended.
The main disadvantage of the first forms of Plantic® was that it was a little too biodegradable. The product breaks down when used with moist food products, for example, and would dissolve in warm or hot water. However, the company has used consumer feedback to develop more robust versions of the product, which can be used for a wide variety of applications.
One of the specialties of the Plantic company are the trays used in the packaging of foods such as fine chocolates. A Plantic® tray can keep food dry and insulate candy pieces from each other so they don’t melt in transit while also protecting the food in case the package gets crushed or bumped. The company also sells sheets of Plantic® that can be cast for injection molding, for companies that want to form their own Plantic® containers and products.
The use of materials such as Plantic® began to gain popularity in the early 21st century as consumers became more aware of the problems with petrochemicals. In addition to being potentially polluting and non-renewable, petrochemical prices tend to fluctuate, altering the prices of products such as plastics that go with them. Petrochemicals are also very slow to break down, raising concerns about landfills that store such plastics for millions of years and are found in abundance in the world’s oceans, raising concerns for the well-being of marine life around the world.
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