Biodegradable Plastic Packaging Material

Overview:

Interest in biodegradable disposable plastic items has steadily grown over the last decade. Disposable packaging materials used to ship and protect purchased items as well as disposable containers used for food and drink are of special interest. The idea that one time use items can be disposed of with the peace of mind, that they will not remain for centuries in a landfill, or as litter, is one of the tenets driving the recent interest in "green" technologies and lifestyles. With packaging materials, the reduction in usage of raw materials, re-use and recycling is of course the best route to sustainable lifestyle. However, for various reasons, in practice, much of the material ends up being discarded to a landfill or accidentally shows up as litter. For these instances, it is advantageous to have a plastic material that would biodegrade when exposed to environments where other biodegradable materials are undergoing decay.