What is plastic?
Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for them to be moulded into solid objects of various shapes.
What is bioplastic?
The terms ‘bioplastic’ refers to a broad group of polymer materials that are at least partly bioderived and/or biodegradable. But biodegradable and bio-derived are two different, and independent, classifications. Some fossil-derived plastics, such as PBAT, are biodegradable; some bio-derived plastics, such as bioPE, are non-biodegradable; plastics like PHA, TPS, and PLA are both.
‘Greener’ bioplastics
Our Centre will specifically focus on bioplastics that are both bioderived AND biodegradable, as these materials offer the most potential for tackling long-term plastic pollution. We will undertake research to improve the performance of these ‘green’ bioplastics, such as increasing PLA and TPS water resistance and developing PHA films.
