Processing of Commercially Available Bioplastics

Due to the environmental concerns related to the use of nondegradable polymers, the market for bioplastic-based materials is increasing. Currently, bioplastic materials are used in bags, medical devices, food packaging, automotive, and electronics areas. Not all bioplastics are biodegradable, but they are derived from renewable resources and permit the modification of their properties by adding suitable additives in order to have good mechanical and thermal properties as well as easy processing at an industrial scale. Polyesters like poly(lactic acid) (PLA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), together with starch-based materials are the most representative commercial bioplastics available on market. This chapter reports the main manufacturers of bioplastics and the traditional and emergent technologies for their processing to commercially use, highlighting the processing parameters and the main advantages/disadvantages of each technology.