Bioplastics vs Traditional Plastics: What Kitchenware Product Designers Need to Know

“Life in plastic, it’s fantastic.” This lyric from Aqua’s smash hit, ‘Barbie Girl’, is fun to sing, but living this same reality is much less so. 

As a sustainable custom bioplastic, biodegradable plastic, and recycled plastic OEM kitchenware manufacturer, we know the world produces over 460 million tonnes of plastic each year from fossil fuels. These take centuries to decompose and greatly disrupt ecosystems, not to mention humanity’s health and wellbeing. That said, it’s still a favourite among industrial product designers as an inexpensive, easy to mould, and incredibly versatile material of choice for their unique product designs.

Bioplastics are designed to bridge the gap between the utility of fossil fuel-made plastic and the environmental impact it leaves upon the planet. A key advantage of bioplastics is they promise the same performance and durability as regular plastics, but don’t create new century-long pollution problems. They’re already being used to reinvent everyday products.

Here’s the question though: are bioplastics right for your product? This is what we at A Life Sustainable Works help kitchenware brands and product developers figure out every day. Let’s break it down (no pun intended).

What are bioplastics?

‘Bioplastics’ sound like a futuristic term, but in fact, these materials have been around for centuries as a sustainable plastic alternative. Typically made from renewable resources such as corn starch, sugarcane, or cellulose derived from plants, bioplastics encompass materials closely resembling fossil fuel-made plastics in functionality, but thankfully not in environmental impact.

There are two broad categories for bioplastics:

Bio-based plastics: These are made from natural materials but may or may not be biodegradable. Examples include bio-PE (bio-polyethylene) and bio-PET (bio-polyethylene terephthalate).

Biodegradable plastics: These can break down under specific conditions via microbial activity, regardless of whether they’re made from renewable or fossil-based sources. Polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) fall into this category.

Some types of bioplastics may fall into both camps. Depending on how your kitchenware product needs to function and be used, choosing the right bioplastic is essential to ensure optimal performance.

Why switch to bioplastics?

We’ll give you four good reasons to consider using bioplastics in your products as opposed to traditional plastic:

1. Lower carbon footprint
   Bioplastics are often significantly less carbon-intensive to manufacture than conventional plastics because they are made from renewable biomass instead of refined crude oil. Producing 1kg of polylactic acid (PLA), a type of biodegradable plastic made from corn starch or sugarcane, is said to generate 60% less greenhouse gas emissions when compared to traditional plastics.
2. Reduced fossil fuel dependence
    Fossil fuels like petroleum and natural gas are finite and highly coveted resources, which means both price and availability can be volatile. As bioplastics typically use agricultural products and byproducts such as corn starch and sugarcane, switching to manufacturing your household products from these types of biodegradable plastics is a futureproof alternative.
3. Improved end-of-life options
   Most bioplastics are designed for faster, more environmentally-friendly disposal, which can go a long way towards managing plastic waste pollution. Under the right conditions, PLA can be industrially composted in under 90 days, while PHA (polyesters produced by microorganisms) is marine biodegradable. As an example, our bioplastic drinking bottle lids can biodegrade into water and carbon dioxide when disposed in the right landfill conditions.
4. Enhanced quality
   Bioplastics development has significantly improved over the years and, in many cases, is more than able to do the job of traditional plastic. For instance, PLA, PHA, and bio-PET are excellent for packaging applications because they are rigid, visually clear, and food-safe. Single-use items like cutlery, straws, bags and more, when made of bioplastics, are often indistinguishable in quality from regular plastic.

Why bioplastics may not be for you

When made with care, bioplastics can compete with traditional plastic. However, there are certain situations where they might not be the right choice for your specific product:

1. Heat limitations
   Due to its biodegradable nature, bioplastics may not be suitable for products which require high heat resistance, such as coffee cups and microwaveable trays. Heat-resistant bioplastics are starting to emerge on the scene, but they aren’t widely available yet.
2. Slightly higher costs
   Bioplastics do cost more to produce than conventional plastic right now because of factors including smaller-scale production, limited feedstock availability, and more complex processing requirements. However, as demand grows, it’s expected these costs will drop due to economies of scale.
3. Strength limitations
   Bioplastics tend to work excellently for consumer-facing uses but may still have a way to go for industrial applications. If your product needs to endure mechanical stress, high moisture or oxygen barriers, or extreme wear-and-tear, it’s best to consult an experienced sustainable plastic product manufacturer before deciding whether bioplastics are viable for your product.

Questions for physical product designers to ask factories

If you’re considering bioplastics but unsure where to begin, here’s a quick checklist for you to ask your biodegradable plastic product manufacturer:

• Where do the raw materials for the bioplastics come from?
• Is long-term supply secure and scalable?
• Do you offer custom formulations or R&D support for unique applications?
• Will I be able to deliver a quality experience if I use bioplastics for my product?
• Are there any potential limitations for my product I need to know about?
• Will my bioplastic product be recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable? Under what conditions?
• Do you have FDA, ISO, or other certifications for bioplastic product manufacturing?
  

If the answers feel vague, this is a red flag. What you don’t ask up front often comes back to cost more later, so make sure you’re clear about what you require.

Life in (Bio)plastic Can Be Fantastic!

The shift away from traditional plastics has been in motion for decades. Choosing bioplastics for your brand's household product line is truly the next step towards future proofing your products, reducing environmental impact, and aligning your brand with growing consumer demand for sustainable plastics.

Choosing between bioplastics and traditional plastics is only half the story. It’s also equally important to partner with the right sustainable plastic kitchenware and tableware manufacturer to help you avoid costly mistakes, meet performance expectations, and deliver real impact for your business and the environment.

At A Life Sustainable Works, we have over 20 years of experience in custom manufacturing greener kitchenware products with sustainable materials. Our custom OEM services ensure you achieve the exact design, quality, and quantity you want for your bioplastic product design. If you’re ready to explore bioplastic manufacturing for your next custom lifestyle project, get in touch with us today.