Agricultural Films
Also known as: Mulch Films, Biodegradable Mulch, Ag Films, Soil-Biodegradable Films
applicationAgricultural films that biodegrade in soil eliminate retrieval costs and plastic pollution — certified to EN 17033.
Glossary
Comprehensive glossary of bioplastics terms, materials, certifications, and industry acronyms. Your quick reference guide to bioplastics terminology.
Automotive Applications
Also known as: Automotive Bioplastics, Bio-based Automotive Parts, Green Automotive Materials
applicationAutomotive adopts bioplastics for sustainability targets, weight reduction, and recycled content mandates — interior and under-hood applications growing.
Avantium
Bio-based
Alias for biobased-content — materials derived wholly or partly from biomass rather than fossil resources. See [biobased-content](/glossary/biobased-content/).
Bio-Based Aniline
Also known as: Renewable Aniline, Bio-Aniline, Plant-Based Aniline
materialBio-based aniline is an aromatic amine (C₆H₅NH₂) synthesized from renewable plant-based sugars rather than petroleum-derived benzene. As a drop-in replacement for fossil aniline, it enables the production of bio-based MDI (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate) and polyurethanes without requiring changes to downstream manufacturing processes. The EU-funded Bio4PURConti project (2026) aims to demonstrate the first continuous fermentation-based production process at semi-industrial scale.
Bio-based Content
Also known as: Bio-based Carbon Content, Biogenic Carbon Content, Renewable Carbon Content
metricBio-based content measures renewable carbon fraction via radiocarbon dating — not the same as biodegradability.
Bio-PE (Bio-based Polyethylene)
Also known as: Green PE, Bio-based Polyethylene, Plant-based PE, I'm Green PE, Renewable PE
materialBio-PE is chemically identical to conventional polyethylene but produced from renewable feedstocks like sugarcane ethanol instead of fossil fuels. It's a drop-in replacement offering identical performance with a reduced carbon footprint — the world's most widely produced drop-in bioplastic.
Bio-PET (Bio-based Polyethylene Terephthalate)
Also known as: Plant-based PET, Bio-based PET, PlantBottle, Partially bio-based PET
materialBio-PET is partially or fully bio-based polyethylene terephthalate produced from renewable feedstocks. Chemically identical to conventional PET, it's commonly used in beverage bottles with 30% bio-content from bio-ethylene glycol.
Bio-PP (Bio-based Polypropylene)
Also known as: Green PP, Bio-based Polypropylene, Plant-based PP, Renewable PP
materialBio-PP is polypropylene manufactured from renewable feedstocks like sugarcane ethanol instead of petroleum. Chemically identical to conventional PP, Bio-PP offers the same performance while reducing carbon footprint and fossil fuel dependency.
BioBTX
Biodegradable
Also known as: Biodegradable material, Biological degradation
termBiodegradable materials can be broken down by microorganisms into natural substances like water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. Biodegradation rates and conditions vary significantly by material and environment — making standardized testing and proper end-of-life infrastructure essential.
Bioplastic Blends
Also known as: Polymer blends, Biopolymer compounds, Bioplastic compounds, PLA blends, Starch blends
material categoryBioplastic blends are mixtures of two or more biopolymers — or a bioplastic with a conventional biodegradable polymer — engineered to combine the best properties of each component. Common examples include PLA+PBAT (flexible compostable packaging) and starch+PBAT (low-cost compostable bags). Blending is the primary tool for tailoring bioplastics to specific application requirements.
Bioplastics
Also known as: Bioplastic, Bio-based plastics, Biopolymers, Organic plastics
umbrella termBioplastics are plastics that are derived from renewable biological feedstocks, biodegradable, or both. They encompass a diverse family of materials including PLA, PHA, PBAT, starch blends, and others that offer alternatives to petroleum-based conventional plastics with reduced environmental impact.
Biorefinery
Also known as: Integrated Biorefinery, Bioprocessing Facility
technologyBiorefineries fractionate biomass into multiple product streams — maximizing value and minimizing waste, like oil refineries but renewable.
BlueAlp
Carbon Footprint
Also known as: Carbon Footprint, Product Carbon Footprint (PCF), GHG Emissions
metricCarbon footprint quantifies climate impact across full lifecycle — bioplastics can offer 20-70% reduction vs fossil plastics.
Chemical Recycling
Also known as: Advanced Recycling, Feedstock Recycling, Molecular Recycling
technologyChemical recycling breaks plastics down to molecular building blocks for virgin-quality recycled materials.
Circular Economy (Bioplastics)
Also known as: Circular bioeconomy, Bio-circular economy, Bioplastics circularity
frameworkThe circular economy is an industrial model that designs out waste, keeps materials in use at their highest value, and regenerates natural systems. For bioplastics, this means integrating renewable feedstock sourcing with end-of-life pathways — composting, recycling, and chemical recycling — to create closed-loop material flows.
Circular Economy in Bioplastics
CO₂ Feedstock
Also known as: Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU), CO₂ Utilization, Carbon-to-Value, Direct Air Capture (DAC)
feedstockCO₂ as feedstock turns waste carbon into valuable products — carbon-negative if renewable energy powers the conversion.
Compostable
Also known as: Certified Compostable, Industrially Compostable, Home Compostable
termCompostable materials meet strict international standards requiring complete biodegradation and disintegration within 180 days in industrial composting facilities. Certification ensures environmental safety and compatibility with composting systems.
Composting Infrastructure
Also known as: Composting facilities, Composting systems, Organic waste processing
conceptComposting infrastructure refers to the facilities, systems, and processes that collect, process, and decompose compostable materials at scale. Adequate infrastructure is essential for biodegradable and compostable materials to achieve their environmental benefits.
Construction Applications
Also known as: Green Building Materials, Bio-based Construction, Sustainable Construction
applicationConstruction adopts bioplastics for green building credits and embodied carbon reduction — insulation, piping, composites emerging.
Consumer Goods Applications
Also known as: Sustainable Consumer Products, Green Consumer Goods, Eco-friendly Products
applicationConsumer brands adopt bioplastics for sustainability positioning — electronics, toys, cosmetics, household, footwear growing segments.
Corn Feedstock
Also known as: Maize, Corn Starch, Zea mays
feedstockCorn starch is the main PLA feedstock — US dominates; corn stover enables 2G routes avoiding food competition.
Depolymerization
Also known as: Molecular Recycling, Solvolysis, Chemolysis
technologyDepolymerization reverses polymerization to recover pure monomers for virgin-quality recycled polymers.
Drop-in Bioplastic
Also known as: Drop-in biopolymer, Bio-based drop-in, Chemically identical bioplastic, Bio-identical plastic
material categoryDrop-in bioplastics are bio-based versions of conventional plastics that are chemically identical to their fossil-based counterparts. Because they are molecularly the same, they can be processed on existing manufacturing equipment and recycled in existing streams — offering a seamless transition path to bio-based materials without infrastructure changes.
Drop-in Replacement
Also known as: Direct replacement, Backward compatible material, Chemically identical bioplastic
conceptA drop-in replacement is a material that can substitute for a conventional polymer in existing applications and manufacturing processes without requiring equipment or process modifications. Drop-in bioplastics are chemically identical to their fossil counterparts, enabling seamless industry transition.
Ecovia Bio
EN 13432
Also known as: European Standard for Compostability, EN 13432:2000, Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation, Seedling logo standard
standardEN 13432 is the most stringent and widely recognized European standard for compostable plastics, establishing requirements for biodegradation, disintegration, and ecotoxicity. It is the benchmark standard globally for certifying compostable materials and is required for the Seedling compostability logo.
Enzymatic Recycling
Also known as: Biological Recycling, Enzyme-Based Recycling
technologyEngineered enzymes selectively depolymerize target plastics at low temperature and pressure — a bio-based recycling route.
Evonik
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Also known as: EPR, Producer Responsibility, Product Stewardship
policyEPR shifts end-of-life costs to producers — incentivizing recyclable design and funding collection/recycling infrastructure.
FDCA (Furandicarboxylic Acid)
Also known as: 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid, Furan Dicarboxylic Acid
materialFDCA (2,5-furandicarboxylic acid) is the key bio-based building block for PEF (polyethylene furanoate), a plant-based polymer that can replace PET. Produced from plant-based sugars through catalytic oxidation, FDCA enables a new generation of 100% bio-based plastics with superior barrier properties.
Feedstock (Bioplastics)
Also known as: Biogenic feedstock, Renewable raw material, Biomass feedstock
supply chain conceptFeedstock refers to the raw biological materials used to produce bioplastics. These range from food crops (1G) to agricultural waste (2G) and algae or CO₂ (3G). The choice of feedstock significantly impacts cost, sustainability credentials, and the carbon footprint of the resulting bioplastic.
Fermentation
Also known as: Bioprocessing, Microbial Fermentation, Biomanufacturing
technologyIndustrial fermentation uses microorganisms to convert renewable feedstocks into bio-based monomers and polymers.
Food Contact Materials
Also known as: Food-Grade Bioplastics, Food Contact Approved, FCM
applicationBioplastics widely approved for food contact — PLA, Bio-PE, Bio-PET, PBS meet FDA/EU migration limits for food packaging.
Frubaca
companyPortuguese juice and beverage producer pioneering PEF bottles for functional drinks. Collaborates with Avantium and Gepack on sustainable packaging innovation.
Gepack
Hydrothermal Liquefaction
Also known as: HTL, Hydrothermal Processing
technologyHTL uses supercritical water to convert wet waste into biocrude without drying — efficient for algae, sewage sludge, wet biomass.
ISCC PLUS
Also known as: ISCC PLUS Certification, International Sustainability & Carbon Certification
standardISCC PLUS certifies bio-based and circular materials via mass balance — enabling traceable sustainability claims.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) — Bioplastics
Also known as: LCA, Environmental Life Cycle Assessment, Cradle-to-grave analysis, Carbon footprint
methodologyLife Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the internationally standardised methodology (ISO 14040/14044) used to quantify the environmental impacts of a product or material across its entire life cycle — from raw material extraction through production, use, and end-of-life. For bioplastics, LCA is the definitive tool for comparing sustainability performance against conventional plastics.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for Bioplastics
Lignocellulosic Biomass
Also known as: Lignocellulose, 2G Feedstock, Non-Food Biomass, Cellulosic Biomass
feedstockLignocellulosic biomass (ag/forestry residues) is the sustainable 2G feedstock — avoids food competition, abundant, requires pretreatment.
Liquefied Waste Plastic
Mass Balance Approach
Also known as: Mass Balance, Bio-Attribution, Mass Balance Certification
conceptThe mass balance approach allows bio-based and recycled feedstocks to be tracked through complex chemical supply chains without physical segregation. A certified percentage of renewable input is allocated to specific output products, enabling drop-in bio-based plastics using existing infrastructure.
Mass Balance Approach
Medical & Healthcare Applications
Also known as: Medical Bioplastics, Bioresorbable Polymers, Biomedical Polymers
applicationMedical bioplastics enable resorbable implants and controlled drug delivery — high value, strict biocompatibility requirements.
Microbial Degradation
Also known as: Enzymatic degradation, Biodegradative metabolism, Biological degradation
processMicrobial degradation is the breakdown of polymers through enzymatic processes performed by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. This natural process is fundamental to biodegradation and composting of organic materials.
Mycelium-Based Materials
Also known as: Mycelium Packaging, Mushroom Mycelium, Fungal Biocomposites
materialMycelium-based materials are bio-composites grown from fungal mycelium on agricultural waste substrates. They serve as biodegradable alternatives to synthetic foams (EPS, polyurethane) in packaging, insulation, and construction applications.
NExBTL
Packaging Applications
Also known as: Sustainable Packaging, Bio-based Packaging, Compostable Packaging
applicationPackaging drives bioplastics demand — regulation (PPWR, SUPD) and brand commitments are key growth drivers.
PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate)
materialPBAT is a biodegradable copolyester that combines flexibility with compostability.
PBS (Polybutylene Succinate)
Also known as: Polybutylene Succinate, BioPBS
materialPBS is a biodegradable polyester with excellent mechanical properties and heat resistance. Synthesized from renewable or petrochemical sources, PBS offers superior processability and performance compared to PLA for engineering and durable applications.
PCL (Polycaprolactone)
Also known as: Polycaprolactone, Capa
materialPCL is a synthetic biodegradable polyester with exceptional flexibility, low melting point (58–60°C), and excellent blending capabilities. Primarily used in medical devices and specialty applications requiring biocompatibility and controlled biodegradation.
PEF (Polyethylene Furanoate)
PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoates)
materialPHA is a family of biodegradable polyesters naturally produced by bacteria
PHB (Polyhydroxybutyrate)
Also known as: Polyhydroxybutyrate, Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), P3HB
materialPHB is the simplest member of the PHA family, produced through bacterial fermentation. Fully biodegradable in soil, marine, and composting environments, PHB offers true biological sustainability despite processing challenges from brittleness.
PLA (Polylactic Acid)
Also known as: Polylactic Acid, Polylactide
materialPLA is a biodegradable thermoplastic polyester derived from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane. It's one of the most widely used bioplastics globally, offering similar processing to conventional plastics with a lower carbon footprint.
Polypropylene
Also known as: PP, Polyprop
materialPolypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer commonly used in packaging, automotive, and consumer products. Bio-PP is a renewable alternative with identical properties produced from plant-based feedstocks rather than petroleum.
PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation)
Also known as: Packaging Regulation, EU Packaging Law, PPWR 2024
standardThe EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), adopted in 2024 and replacing Directive 94/62/EC, sets binding requirements for packaging sustainability including recycled content mandates, packaging reduction targets, and restrictions on single-use formats that drive demand for bioplastics.
Purocel™
technologyEvonik's portfolio of advanced catalysts and adsorbents for purifying pyrolysis oil from mixed plastic waste into steam-cracker-ready feedstock for chemical recycling.
Pyrolysis
Also known as: Thermal Cracking, Plastic-to-Oil
technologyPyrolysis converts plastic waste into pyrolysis oil for new plastic production via chemical recycling.
Pyrolysis Oil
Alias for pyrolysis — liquid product from thermal decomposition of plastic waste in the absence of oxygen. Used as cracker feedstock for chemical recycling after purification. See [pyrolysis](/glossary/pyrolysis/).
Recycled Content
Also known as: Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR), Recycled Material Content
standardRecycled content mandates drive demand for recycled plastics — verified by certification to prevent greenwashing.
releaf®
brandreleaf® is Avantium's brand name for PEF (polyethylene furanoate) — a 100% plant-based, recyclable polyester made from FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid) produced via Avantium's YXY® Technology. It offers superior barrier properties vs. PET and is a drop-in replacement for fossil-based polyester.
rPET (Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate)
Also known as: Recycled PET, Post-Consumer Recycled PET, PCR-PET
materialrPET (recycled PET) is polyethylene terephthalate recovered from post-consumer plastic waste and reprocessed into new packaging. It is the most widely recycled plastic globally and a cornerstone of circular economy strategies for the packaging industry.
Starch-based Bioplastic
Also known as: Thermoplastic Starch, TPS, Starch Blends, Starch Compounds
materialStarch-based bioplastics are created from renewable starch sources like corn, potato, or cassava. The most cost-effective bioplastic option, they're fully biodegradable and widely used in packaging and agricultural applications.
Sugarcane Feedstock
Also known as: Sugar Cane, Saccharum officinarum, Cane Sugar
feedstockSugarcane is the main feedstock for Bio-PE and PLA — Brazil leads; bagasse enables 2G biorefineries.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Textile Applications
Also known as: Bio-based Textiles, Sustainable Fibers, Biopolymer Textiles
applicationTextiles adopt bio-based fibers to reduce microplastic pollution and enable recyclable/compostable apparel — PLA and PHA leading.
Thermochemical Liquefaction
technologyThermochemical liquefaction is a chemical recycling technology that converts solid plastic waste into liquid hydrocarbons (pyrolysis oil/LWP) through thermal decomposition, enabling circularity for hard-to-recycle plastics.
Used Cooking Oil (UCO)
Also known as: UCO, Waste Cooking Oil, Yellow Grease, Brown Grease
feedstockUsed cooking oil is a premium circular feedstock for renewable fuels and bio-chemicals — waste-to-value, double counting in EU.
YXY® Technology
technologyAvantium's proprietary catalytic process for converting plant-based sugars into FDCA (2,5-furandicarboxylic acid) — the key building block for PEF (polyethylene furanoate).