Biobased plastics in a sustainable future

The urgency of sustainable plastic production

Currently, plastic production is responsible for 5% of global CO2 emissions and consumes huge amounts of fossil raw materials. Therefore, the time has come to thoroughly revise the system, bearing in mind that only 60-70% of our raw materials are based on recycled plastic. Given this, we also need sustainable solutions to facilitate the production of so-called virgin plastics.

3-step plan to biobased plastic

We have no choice but to keep producing new plastic. To do this in a sustainable way, we need to replace fossil carbon as a raw material with renewable (CO2 or biobased) carbon. This seems simple. However, deciding which sustainable alternative to use is not.

The question is whether to opt for a new type of plastic, a drop-in biobased option (copy of the plastic) or will a CO2-based solution suit your product better? How do you choose the best mix for your company? And what impact will it have?

TNO has developed a 3-step plan that allows companies to choose the best route to a sustainable alternative for the nine most commonly used fossil-based plastics. From PP in car parts and PET in bottles to PA in clothing. This supports companies in selecting the most sustainable and economically viable option, enabling them to lead in innovation and sustainability.

Sustainable plastic alternatives

We identify a number of routes in respect of the various sustainable alternatives to the production of new plastic:

• Alternative Biobased Polymers: alternative biobased polymers can perform the same functions as fossil variants.
• Drop-in Biobased Polymers: here, biomass is used to create a copy of the chemical building blocks that are currently being extracted from fossil resources.
• CO2-based polymers: here, the same building blocks are created from captured CO2.

Specific opportunities for sustainable plastics

By exploring specific situations and applications in this way, we can shift the focus from challenges to solutions. We look at the best option for a specific situation per product and application. This allows us to define the role and potential of biobased plastics much better.

Greater insight for future policy

To achieve a sustainable future with biobased plastics, it is not enough for industry alone to change. Government also has an important role to play in identifying the most suitable sustainable materials for specific sectors or regions.

A comprehensive overview is obtained by applying the 3-step plan to the 9 plastics used most and various product applications. This shows where biobased (and CO2-based) plastics are the best option. We gain insight by combining this comprehensive overview with the product volumes required.

This insight shows the role of biobased plastics in a sustainable plastics system. It also gives government a better insight into routes to sustainability in plastics and how policies can accelerate this.

Leading the way with innovation

The 3-step plan paves the way for solutions that are not just sustainable but also financially viable and beneficial for your competitiveness. If you would like to lead the way and prepare your production for the future more, contact TNO.