D.A. Permata, D. Sulistiowati, E. Amri
Biodegradable plastics or bioplastics are environmentally friendly plastics that break down naturally quickly. The development of bioplastics aims to minimize environmental pollution due to the current use of synthetic plastics. Biodegradable plastic has the same applications as synthetic plastic. However, after being used and thrown into the environment, this plastic can be decomposed by microorganisms into final products in the form of water and carbon dioxide gas. The advantage of using bioplastics is that they are cheap, can reduce existing packaging waste, reduce industrial waste, and prevent contamination from microorganisms. We are grouping bioplastics based on the era of development, namely "Old Economy" and "New Economy." In 2022, the global production capacity for new economic bioplastics was dominated by biodegradables, with biodegradable material types accounting for 55.6% and bio-based/nonbiodegradable materials accounting for 44.4%. The market value of bioplastics worldwide is expected to continue. The main components of bioplastics are hydrocolloids, fats, and composites. The characteristics of bioplastics are divided into physical and mechanical properties. Physical characteristics include thickness, which indicates the ability of bioplastics to package products. In contrast, the mechanical characteristics of biodegradable plastics are plastic properties related to the material's response to the applied force, including tensile strength, elongation, and water absorption, which indicate the strength ability of bioplastics to withstand damage to materials during processing. © 2024 Association of Agricultural Technology in Southeast Asia. All rights reserved.
Department of Agricultural Industrial Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Andalas, West Sumatra, Indonesia; Department of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia; Department of Environmental Study, Universitas PGRI Sumatera Barat, West Sumatera, Indonesia
