Bioplastics are plastic materials produced from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, or microbiota. Bioplastics are not necessarily biodegradable, but they can be. Some bioplastics are designed to be compostable, meaning they can break down into natural materials.
The first bioplastic was discovered in the 1920s by French researcher Maurice Lemoigne, who found that certain bacteria could produce a polyester-like substance. However, it was not until the oil crisis of the 1970s that interest in bioplastics as an alternative to petroleum-based plastics began to grow.
Bioplastics are becoming increasingly popular as a more sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. They are used in a variety of applications, including packaging, food containers, and disposable cutlery. Research is ongoing to improve the properties of bioplastics and to find new and more efficient ways to produce them.