Plastic packaging is a modern convenience that’s inconveniencing our planet. Plastic waste continues to pile up in our landfills or drift off into our lakes and oceans. Such plastics take centuries to break down, and even then, they don’t disappear completely.
Instead, they persist in the form of microplastics. These microscopic shreds are eaten by animals, who, in turn, are eaten by people. This causes the microplastics to build up down the food chain in a process called biomagnification, eventually leading to numerous health problems.
Fortunately, more and more people are growing aware of the problems with plastic. In light of this, sustainable, biodegradable alternatives such as potato starch plastic packaging are being developed and put on the market.
What is potato starch?
Potato starch is the extracted starch of a potato tuber. When dried out, it becomes a light, powdery, flour-like substance. It is a common ingredient in many recipes and is especially popular as a gluten-free substitute for standard wheat flour.
Recently, though, potato starch has also become a key ingredient in making plant-derived plastic substitutes.
What is potato starch plastic?
Potato starch plastic is a biodegradable, plastic-like material made of potato starch. This means that instead of persisting in the environment, it will be broken down into nutrients by microbial action.
As such, potato starch plastic can replace plastic in a variety of items such as cutleries, straws, and packaging.
Read more at Bioplastics and the Food Packaging Industry.
How is potato starch plastic made?
Potato plastic is usually made using potato starch, water, and a polymerizing agent such as dilute hydrochloric acid. The process goes as follows:
- An exact amount of water, potato starch, and polymerizer is mixed.
- The liquid mixture is then heated until it thickens into a syrup-like fluid.
- The fluid is poured into a mold and exposed to heat until it completely dries up into a solid piece. Since no extreme heat is required, these molds can be made of plastic.
- Depending on how much of the liquid is poured into the mold, it can become either a thick, tough piece or a thin film. Added glycerol can also change the material’s flexibility.
- The material itself is thermoplastic, meaning that it can compressed and molded into any shape you desire when it is exposed to heat and moisture.
What is potato starch packaging?
Potato starch packaging is any packaging that is made out of potato starch plastic. It includes containers, bags, and even packing peanuts. Essentially, anything used in the packaging and transportation of goods.
Types of potato starch packaging
Potato starch can be used to make a variety of packaging to suit various needs. Here are some examples:
Potato starch food packaging
Potato starch packaging can be used to make a wide variety of biodegradable food packaging.
These include clamshell containers, multi-compartment lunch/bento boxes, portable soup containers, and even shopping bags.
These containers can be used for different practical purposes: picnics, dining events, food trucks, grocery shopping, and takeaway/delivery.
Read more at Biodegradable Takeaway Containers: Eco-Friendly Lunch Options.
Potato starch packing peanuts
Potato starch packing peanuts perform the same functions as their styrofoam counterparts.
They can interlock with each other within a package, filling in the gaps and providing extra support and protection to the products inside.
One advantage that potato starch peanuts have over styrofoam is that they are biodegradable and even water soluble. You can even throw them into your composting pile to turn them into nutritious fertilizer!
Potato starch mailing bag
Potato starch mailing bags are an excellent alternative to both packing bags and mailing envelopes. These bags are made from potato starch plastic film, making them both biodegradable and compostable. Additionally, they are also resistant to oils, grease, gasoline & water.
Advantages and disadvantages of potato starch packaging
Using potato starch packaging affords both benefits and drawbacks for your business. Knowing about these pros and cons is crucial when considering making the shift.
Advantages
Here are some of the advantages that switching to potato starch packaging can give you and your brand:
- Sustainable: Potato starch is made from an abundant and renewable staple crop, ensuring that it does not deplete in the future.
- Low carbon footprint: Compared to petroleum-derived plastics, potato starch plastic production has a smaller carbon footprint.
- Reduced wastage and pollution: Being biodegradable, potato starch plastic will not persist in the environment, breaking down into harmless simple sugars.
- Non-toxic: Potato starch plastics do not contain harmful or toxic chemicals, thus, there is no risk of it leaching such chemicals into your food or soil.
- Wide variety of end-of-life options: Like many bioplastics, potato starch plastic has a variety of zero-waste and end-of-life options for you to choose from. They can be recycled, cleanly incinerated, and industrially composted.
- Creating fertilizer: Potato starch packaging can be composted to create a nutritious fertilizer. This fertilizer can be used to enhance soil quality and improve food security.
- Versatility: As seen in the sections above, potato starch can be used to manufacture a wide variety of products to suit different purposes.
- Water-soluble: Potato starch packaging can be made to dissolve in water, speeding up their decomposition process.
- Oil-resistant: Potato starch packaging resists oils, fats, and grease, traits that make it a good choice for packaging oily foods.
Disadvantages
Not everything is perfect, and potato starch packaging, too, has some disadvantages you need to be aware of:
- Costs: Compared to conventional plastics, potato starch plastics are more expensive.
- Food supply concerns: As potato is a staple crop, there is some concern that the growing demand for potato starch plastic packaging will interrupt vital food supply chains.
- Specific disposal methods required: While some potato starch packaging is made to be home-compostable and water-soluble, others may require particular disposal methods and industrial composting facilities.
- Lack of awareness: Most people still lack an understanding of the differences between bioplastics and conventional plastics. This may result in improper disposal or even cross-contamination of recycling streams.
Where can I purchase potato starch packaging?
Potato starch packaging can be purchased online at Alibaba, Packaging Products Online, and other wholesale online shopping websites. They are also available at specialist sites such as Friendlypak.
FAQ
Is potato starch packaging biodegradable?
Yes. Being made from a plant-derived material, potato starch packaging will be naturally degraded by the actions of microorganisms like bacteria or fungi.
Is potato starch packaging compostable?
Yes. Potato starch packaging can be composted into a nutritious fertilizer. While some packaging is home-compostable, most must be sent to specialized industrial composting facilities.
Such facilities will provide the temperatures and conditions needed to trigger the decomposition process in the packaging.
Is potato starch packaging recyclable?
Yes. Potato starch packaging can be recycled but requires its own specialized methods and facilities.
Potato starch plastics should not be put together with conventional plastics and vice versa less they result in cross-contamination.
Is potato starch packaging edible?
No. While made from a foodstuff, potato starch packaging is not safe for eating.
Is potato starch packaging safe for storing food in?
Yes. Potato starch packaging is not only durable and lightweight but also non-toxic and oil-resistant. As such, potato starch packaging is safe for storing or carrying food.
How long does it take potato starch plastic to decompose?
Potato starch plastic usually takes only two months to decompose in the soil totally.
What does the future hold for potato starch packaging?
While still in its infancy, potato starch packaging has a bright future ahead. As environmental awareness continues to grow, so will consumer demand for environmentally-friendly packaging products. And potato starch packaging can help fulfill this demand.
Continued research and development will improve the quality, durability, barrier properties, and shelf life of potato starch plastic packaging, as well as enhance its production and lower its costs.
Furthermore, more governments worldwide are implementing stricter regulations on single-use plastics and encouraging the adoption of sustainable packaging solutions. As such, there will be greater incentives to invest in potato starch packaging, granting more funds for future innovations.
Overall, greater awareness of the environment and growing demand for sustainable alternatives to plastic ensures that potato starch packaging will have a place in the green future.
