Bioplastics: Definition and Applications in Cosmetic Packaging

What Are Bioplastics?

Bioplastics are a broad group of materials that are biobased, biodegradable or compostable, or a combination of these properties.

The term therefore does not refer to one specific material. Bioplastics can differ significantly in their chemical composition, origin and end-of-life properties.

Biobased vs Biodegradable

These two terms describe different characteristics:

Biobased means that a material is wholly or partly derived from renewable biological resources, such as plants.

Biodegradable means that a material can be broken down by microorganisms under suitable environmental conditions.

A material can therefore be biobased without being biodegradable, and biodegradable materials do not necessarily have to be produced from biological resources.

Bioplastics in Cosmetic Packaging

Bioplastics can be considered for cosmetic packaging when a brand is looking for alternatives to conventional fossil-based plastics. Their suitability depends on the required packaging properties, manufacturing process, product compatibility and intended end-of-life route.

When selecting a bioplastic, it is therefore important to evaluate the specific material rather than assuming that every bioplastic is automatically biodegradable or compostable.

Bioplastics and Packaging Development

For cosmetic packaging, factors such as mechanical strength, chemical compatibility, appearance, processing requirements and recyclability or compostability should be considered during material selection.

The term “bioplastic” alone does not define how a packaging component will perform or how it should be disposed of. The specific material and its certified properties need to be considered.