There are significant differences in the definition, origin and characteristics of bioplastic and biodegradable plastic.
Bioplastics refer to plastics made in whole or in part (at least 20%) from renewable biological raw materials, which may include natural substances such as starch, plant fibers, and oil crops. Under the action of microorganisms, these biological raw materials can generate plastics, so bioplastics are renewable and an environmentally friendly plastic material.
Biodegradable plastics refer to plastics that can be decomposed naturally under the action of microorganisms. It is a chemical process in which microorganisms convert substances into natural substances such as water, carbon dioxide and other composting materials, without artificial additives. The degradation process of biodegradable plastics is determined by factors such as environmental conditions (such as temperature or location), material properties or applications, and can degrade under different environmental conditions, such as high temperature, high humidity, etc. Compared with traditional plastics, biodegradable plastics do not produce harmful substances during the degradation process, and the degradation products have almost no pollution to the environment, so they are more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
It needs to be clear that bio-based plastics (plastics whose raw materials are partially or entirely derived from biomass) and biodegradable plastics are not the same concept. The nature of biodegradation does not depend on the raw material from which the material is derived, but is related to its chemical structure. In other words, 100% bio-based plastic may also be non-biodegradable, while 100% fossil plastic may also be biodegradable.
In general, bioplastics emphasize the reproducibility of raw materials, while biodegradable plastics focus more on the degradability and environmental protection of materials.
