Starch is a natural macromolecule second only to cellulose in production on earth. It is abundant, renewable, and inexpensive. It can be used to produce starch-based plastics through modification and plasticization. As an important category of bio-based materials, starch-based plastics have successfully achieved industrial production and application. Starch-based plastic is a kind of plastic product made of starch as the main raw material, modified and plasticized and then blended with other polymers. It is a kind of bioplastic. Starch-based bioplastics can be divided into two categories: bio-based plastics and biodegradable plastics.
Starch-based biodegradable plastic is generally a blend of modified starch and biodegradable polyester. It is completely biodegradable, compostable, and has no pollution to the environment. The waste is suitable for composting, landfill and other treatment methods. Starch-based bio-based plastics are generally a mixture of modified starch and polyolefins (such as PP/PE/PS, etc.), and its environmental significance lies in that it can reduce the use of petrochemical resources, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and the waste is suitable for incineration. Both of these materials can replace traditional petroleum-based plastics and are widely used in plastic packaging materials, shock-proof materials, plastic films and plastic bags, disposable tableware, food containers, toys, ballpoint pens, notebooks, stationery, etc.
