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Traditional plastic forks shed harmful microplastics. Plastic created from sugar is an alternative
The company says its sugar-fed polymers break down in compost within six months and could replace food-soiled plastic items.
- At the Woburn research facility, CJ Biomaterials technicians recently molded sugar-derived PHA pellets into forks and films, observing microbial pitting as the products broke down in a lab compost bin.
- The company produces polyhydroxyalkanoates by fermenting sugar with microbes at its Pasuruan, Indonesia facility; since 2022, it has sold granules to manufacturers for molding into compostable goods.
- A 2023 5 Gyres Institute study found biodegradable materials fragmented while traditional plastics persisted; researchers are currently repeating the 64-week study to evaluate end-of-life scenarios for new packaging.
- Thirty minutes from the Woburn lab, Black Earth Compost accepts certified compostable materials; on Monday, staff mixed these items with food scraps to increase collection efficiency.
- Biobased plastics account for roughly 0.5% of the 440 million metric tons of annual plastic production, though environmental groups argue bioplastics maintain single-use habits and question farmland usage.
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Biodegradable film preserves the quality of beef cuts and will reduce the generation of plastic waste
·Vicente López, Argentina
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Associated Press News+17 Reposted by 17 other sources
Traditional plastic forks shed harmful microplastics. Plastic created from sugar is an alternative
At a Massachusetts lab, pebble-sized pellets are transformed into forks and films that won’t leave microplastics in the environment. These are bioplastic pellets.
·New York, United States
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Total News Sources31
Leaning Left7Leaning Right3Center14Last UpdatedBias Distribution58% Center
Bias Distribution
- 58% of the sources are Center
58% Center
L 29%
C 58%
13%
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