Dan Martens
Novamont
For decades, a debate has raged on that bioplastics are negatively impacting the availability of food for human consumption. The story has more whiskers than the forgotten strawberry in the back of the refrigerator, and although many times dispelled, it returns with zombie-like resilience.
First, let’s set the stage. Bioplastic production capacity is only about 0.5% of all plastics (source European Bioplastics). Bioplastic feedstocks can be plant based or fossil sourced. As a conservative number, about 80% of this 0.5% are plant based. Since the argument discussed here is targeted at plant based bioplastics, it’s important to point out that less than 0.5% of all plastics are made with plant based material. Furthermore, as the volume of biobased plastic production increases, there are numerous reasons why the impact will not impede the availability of food.
Intentional uses
For instance, the primary crop being used for bioplastics here in the U.S. is corn, which is used for its starch and sugars. Corn as a source of starch has a long history in other industries as well, such as biofuels. The corn used for industrial purposes is commercial grade, not food grade. Food grade corn is its own segment and is not used for industry. In this instance, to say food crops are being used for bioplastics is false and misleading.
Diversification of feedstocks
Corn starch is the primary feedstock for bioplastics, particularly in the U.S., but that doesn’t mean it is the only feedstock being used. Diverse seed and vegetable oils, saccharides from soybeans, beets, sugar cane, and next generation crops like seaweed are bioplastic feedstock sources as well. The usage of these plants for bioplastic feedstock is very small in comparison to corn. Nevertheless, this diversification lessens the impact on any one particular plant source.
The percentage of land used
There have also been debates on whether bioplastics are consuming land that could be used for other food products. Is this the case? The answer is a simple no. For instance, the impact of bioplastics on the commercial starch market is negligible. Here’s a visual: for every 12 ears of corn, one kernel is used for bioplastics. Yes, you read correctly, one kernel. A higher percentage of corn is likely to fall off the truck on the way to processing. By comparison, paper and textile production use over 10 times the amount of starch that bioplastics uses. If reducing starch is your passion, might limiting your front door brown box deliveries be more fulfilling?
There are numerous other applications for commercial starch as well. Utilizing feedstocks grown from the Earth into our everyday products can actually be very sustainable! These sources are renewable, meaning they have a short timeframe in which they grow back. Creating valuable products out of these plants can also incentivize responsible management of the plants and the environment supporting them.
Niche material uses
If our bioplastics versus food availability conversation is not already sidelined by today’s small numbers and you’re still concerned that someday all plastics will be bioplastics requiring an agricultural land mass the size of Texas and Alaska, you may be getting ahead of yourself. The bioplastics category is a specialty market and will provide growth opportunities for farmers. However, it is unrealistic to believe bioplastics can replace all plastics. This doesn’t mean they should not be championed as an important new environmentally soft end-of-life choice for products. Innovative plant based chemistry continues to develop. I personally love this sector with all its limitations and promise. As any school kid will tell you, compostable products are “cool.”
Addressing the real food issue
Lumping food availability into a conversation about bioplastics is, as we have already shown, irrelevant. It also draws attention from the very real problem of food insecurity. It needs to be stressed that ample food availability does not immediately relieve food insecurity.
Let’s look at some numbers. As much as 40% of all food is wasted in the U.S. (i.e., not consumed, spoiled, thrown out, over bought). Yet millions of U.S. children suffer from food insecurity (Source: USDA 1 and USDA 2).
I have worked on food trucks, handing out meals to underserved communities and packing grocery bags for food donations, and can tell you firsthand that food insecurity is very real and has nothing to do with bioplastics. If you can, spend a Thanksgiving Day serving meals at a homeless shelter, or donate food to your local food bank as a way of relieving food insecurity in your community. You will find it rewarding and eye-opening. You can also support the creation of nutrient dense soils by bringing your compostable bioplastics and food scraps to your local composter where accepted!
M
