Plastics have become an important part of modern life and are used in different sectors of applications like packaging, building materials, consumer products and much more. Plastic packaging is proving to be a major environmental problem. Most of today's plastics and synthetic polymers are produced from petrochemicals. As conventional plastics are persistent in the environment, improperly disposed plastic materials are a significant source of environmental pollution, potentially harming life. The plastic sheets or bags do not allow water and air to go into earth which causes reduction in fertility status of soil, preventing degradation of other normal substances, depletion of underground water source and danger to animal life. In the seas too, plastic rubbish from ropes and nets to the plastic bands from beer packs choke and entangle the marine mammals. In an effort to overcome these shortcomings, biochemical researchers and engineers have long been seeking to develop biodegradable plastics that are made from renewable resources, such as plants. The biodegradable polymers could be an alternative to the conventional plastic materials. The term biodegradable means that a substance is able to be broken down into simpler substances by the activities of living organisms, and therefore is unlikely to persist in the environment. There are many different standards used to measure biodegradability, with each country having its own. The requirements range from 90 per cent to 60 per cent decomposition of the product within 60 to 180 days of being placed in a standard composting environment. Biodegradable plastics or bioplastics are mainly derived from corn, wheat and potato starch. Biodegradable plastics products are thermoplastic materials which are processed with the same machines traditionally used to process conventional plastics. Biodegradable plastic products physical and chemical properties are similar to those of traditional plastics, but it is completely biodegradable in different environments, just like pure cellulose. The demand for bioplastics makes it one of the fastest growing thermoplastic product types globally. Global demand is expected to reach over one billion pounds by 2012. Currently, the biodegradable segment of bioplastics is the largest segment of the bioplastics category, but it is projected to be displaced by the non biodegradable bioplastics group of products, which may or may not be 100% derived from biomass. Packaging, disposable food service and fiber applications are major use areas. Polylactic acid polymer (PLA) demand is growing rapidly in both packaging and fiber applications. Demand for starch based polymers, in a modified form or blended with another polymer such as PLA for biodegradability or with a polyolefin such as polypropylene, will continue to grow. Disposable cutlery and containers are products that are a part of our day to day life. Disposable items like bags, cups, plates, saucers, glasses are being increasingly used. Biodegradable bags are becoming more and more commonly used, because they are better for the environment and most people are concerned about being more green. Though the demand for biodegradable plastics is increasing, acceptance of biodegradable polymers is likely to depend on factors like: Customer response to costs; Possible legislation by governments; and The achievement of total biodegradability Substantial technological progress has been made in bio based plastics in the past five years. Innovations in material and product development, environmental benefits as well as the gradual depletion of crude oil increasingly call for polymers made from renewable raw materials. Bioplastics will raise more than fourfold to 900,000 metric tons in 2013, valued at US$2.6 bln, according to a report by The Freedonia Group. The growth will be fueled by a number of factors, including consumer demand for more environmentally sustainable products, the development of bio based feedstocks for commodity plastic resins and increasing restrictions on the use of non-degradable plastic products, particularly plastic bags. Most important, however, will be the expected continuation of high crude oil and natural gas prices, which will allow bioplastics to become more cost-competitive with petroleum based resins. Non-biodegradable plant based plastics will be the primary driver of bioplastics demand. Biodegradable plastics, such as starch-based resins, polylactic acid (PLA) and degradable polyesters, accounted for the vast majority (nearly 90%) of bioplastics demand in 2008. Double-digit gains are expected to continue going forward, fueled in part by the emergence on the commercial market of polyhydroxy-alkanoates (PHAs). PLA will also see strong advances in demand as new production capacity comes online. Western Europe was the largest regional market for bioplastics in 2008, accounting for about 40% of world demand. Bioplastics sales in the region benefit from strong consumer demand for biodegradable and plant based products, a regulatory environment that favors bioplastics over petroleum resins, and an extensive infrastructure for composting. Demand will grow more rapidly in the Asia/Pacific region, which will surpass the West European market by 2013. Gains will be stimulated by strong demand in Japan, which has focused intently on the replacement of petroleum-based plastics. Europe is leading the way for induction of bioplastics in day to day use. Companies such as Novamont SpA, NatureWorks LLC, and Metabolix, Inc. are entering the market with new bio-based products. Demand for bioplastics is accelerating as more supply of all bioplastic types come into production. Though this product is now at a nascent stage in India but in the long run this product has a very promising future. New entrepreneurs should venture into this field. Cost Estimation: Capacity : 15000000Nos. (Bio Plastic Glasses) 1000000 Nos. (Bio Plastic Plates) 75000 Nos. (Bio Plastic Plastics)
