Life in Bioplastic? It’s Fantastic!

Let's save our planet from plastic pollution.

According to the statistics database Statista, the production of plastic worldwide in 2020 reached 367 million tons. Plastic that pollutes our oceans, lets our trash mountains grow higher and harms us by leaving behind microplastics in our food. It’s time for a bioplastic revolution.

It is difficult to say how much of this can be traced back to the life-science sector as plastic consumption in laboratories is not tracked in many countries around the world. However, with estimates that bioscience research alone is responsible for as much as 2% of global plastic waste, we feel it's time to raise our voice and make a difference.

Plastic consumption and scientific research go hand in hand.

One of the biggest problems with plastic production is that plastic doesn’t disappear after its consumption. Too often, it finds its way into the ocean. And there, it decomposes and deposits in the form of micro plastic onto the ocean bed. Plastic waste does not just decompose slowly — it damages our planet permanently.

The eco-friendliest bioplastic alternative: Polyhydroxbutanoicacid. A long name, with a short lifespan.

Polyhydroxbutanoicacid (PHB) is a polymer with attributes similar to conventional plastic: polypropylene (PP). The advantage of PHB though, is that it completely decomposes within 6 to 12 months. That’s right: it completely disappears!

Who made this bioplastic revolution possible? The Frauenhofer Institute for production and construction (IPK), the Technical University Berlin, regional industry partners and international research partners from Malaysia, Columbia, and the USA. United in the goal to save our planet from the harm of conventional plastic, they are working together to develop a viable manufacturing process.

The Frauenhofer Institute proudly presents: the first plastic that disappears after its usage.

And this is how it works: Microorganisms transform industrial remnants (such as waste fats with a high amount of mineral remnants) into technical useable polyester. This is called the fermentation process, where polymers are synthesized biologically with the help of microorganisms. In this process they stock PHB in their cells. This PHB can be dissolved and processed. Within this processing chemical additives are added, to make this PHB useful in production.

Important: the polymers are created without the use of mineral oil, palm oil, or canola oil. After all, this would contradict the whole idea of the process being more environmentally friendly and would be extremely harmful to the environment. The new bio plastic, with its naturally occurring microorganisms, is completely decomposable and doesn’t harm nature with its residues once it is broken down.

Why do we think this is so important? We believe it’s only a matter of time until similar solutions will be available to us in the life-science sector.

Just as we can save lives with the help of science, we can save the planet with the help of sustainable consumption.

Only when all of us start to consume sustainably can the world be changed for the better. Most of our products are made from conventional plastic and as a supplier of laboratory consumables, we depend on plastic. The question is now: for how much longer?

Scientific progress is only sustainable when it’s not achieved at the expense of our environment. It’s time to challenge ourselves and question old beliefs with the same progressive mindset that has allowed us to progress this far already. As a worldwide producer of lab products, we have a responsibility to become a greener company.

Who is best suited to save our planet, if not the brightest minds in science?

We believe in progress through science. And in the outstanding intelligence of scientists worldwide. These scientists are vanguards when it comes to innovative ideas and progress. Every time we hear of the leaps in progress being made towards a better tomorrow, we feel even more proud to be enabling the bright minds who are changing the world. Let’s stay hungry for progress, ready for change, and passionate for science. Together we can create a better future.