The Development and Commercialization of Biobased, Biodegradable Plastics in China

摘要

As concerns increase over plastic waste pollution and the shortage of petroleum resources, interest continues to grow in the production and utilization of polymers that are derived from renewable resources and are biodegradable, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly-hydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Biobased plastics can be classified into two types according to their degradation performance: biodegradable or non-biodegradable plastics. In terms of their source of derivation, biodegradable plastics have three possible origins: from fossil fuel, from renewable resources, and as blends of these two types of plastics. We provide an overview of the status of biodegradable, biobased plastics development and commercialization in China's market.