About bio-based materials and bio-based products

    Here is the European Bioplastics Association's explanation of some common and misleading concepts. It should be noted that PLA is a bio-based material, and many of the concept readers can compare applications for PLA.

Q14: We often see many materials claimed to be "bio-based" materials, what conditions can be called "bio-based"?
    The "bio-based" claim is one of the most important claims for most bioplastic products. However, the term "biobased" should not be used carelessly without regulation, and people will ask questions such as "How big is the actual biobased part of the product?" And so on. The term "biobased" should not be used alone and should specify the biobased component of the product - as an amount or percentage related to the overall product/material quality.

     Companies can indicate the "biobased carbon content" or "biobased mass content" of their products. Because these units are different, the numeric percentage values are usually different. This must be taken into account, especially when making comparisons.
     The well-established method for measuring biobas-based carbon content in materials or products is the I4C or radiocarbon method (EU :EN 16640 or CEN/TS 16137, International :ISO 16620-2, US: ASTM 6866). There are several certification schemes and derivative product labels based on European and American standards, such as the Belgian certification body Vingotte or the German certification body DIN CERTCO.
   As mentioned above, biobased claims can also be specified by indicating the biobased mass content (percentage of total product mass) of a material or product. This method complements the 14C method and takes into account other chemical elements in addition to biobased carbon, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen. The French Association of Chimie du Vegetal (ACDV) has adopted a method for this purpose, which has been validated in standards such as EN16785-1 and ISO16620-4.
Bioplastics Europe recommends focusing on existing standards such as EN16640 and corresponding methods (e.g., the 14C method) when looking for evidence for reasonable claims.

Q15: Is there a certain percentage threshold that marks the minimum biobased carbon        

     content/biobased mass content in a product/material known as a bioplastic?
Due to different regional regulations in Europe, there is currently no consensus on a minimum value. In Japan, the industry-wide commitment sets the "biomass boundary" as "25% renewable material." According to the USDA BioPriority program, "the minimum share of renewable materials is between 7 percent and 95 percent," depending on defined product category rules.
     Although there is no minimum limit value, recognized labeling options for biobased plastics can be used to clearly and transparentively indicate the biobased content of a material or product. TUV Austria Belgium and DINCERTCO certification bodies offer progressive certification schemes and record labels based on European standards EN16640 or ISO16620-2(or ASTMD 6866) that provide proof of the biobase carbon content of materials or products.

Q16: Many companies label their products as "renewable", "made from plants", "made from plants" or "made from biomass". Is that correct?
     Different companies may use different wording for biological claims, such as "renewable," "made from plants," "made from plants," or "made from biomass." All of these claims based on "biobased" materials need to be backed up with sufficient numbers.
     In addition, when making a claim on the sustainability of agricultural raw materials, the source of the biomass and the source of information (sustainability criteria, FSC certification, GMO-free, etc.) should be provided in the particular product for consumer use. If it is not stated on the actual product or its packaging, this information should be easily accessible (for example, on the company's product website). Some third-party sustainability programs (e.g. ISCC Plus, Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials,REDcert, Bon-Sucro, etc.) apply to certain agricultural raw materials. The EUBP recommends that third party management schemes be consulted when developing sustainability claims for biobas-based raw materials.

Q17: Does biobased necessarily biodegrade?
    A common misconception is that many consumers equate biobased properties with those that are biodegradable. This is not necessarily the case, biodegradability is related to the chemical structure of the polymer, rather than the raw material from which the material is produced. To prevent misdisposal based on this misconception, consumers should always be informed of the appropriate recycling options for the corresponding product, such as: "This is a biobased product." It contains 22.5% biobased carbon. Please recycle."

Q18: Biodegradable = Compostable?
   The requirements for biodegradability and compostability are very common in the bioplastics industry. Simply claiming that something is biodegradable without specifying specific criteria is misleading. If the material or product is advertised as biodegradable, more information should be provided about the time range and level of biodegradation, as well as environmental conditions. In addition, data should be made available to interested parties for verification. ISO14021 contains information on how to describe biodegradability.