Bioplastics: Snickers® Candy Bars Have It Wrapped Up

A team of researchers from Yale University, the University of Maryland and the University of Wisconsin-Madison just published a study on a durable, biodegradable plastic alternative made 100% of wood. This study is just one example of the advent of a new generation of biobased plastics or bioplastics, a term broadly referring to products made from organic matter that have the same properties as "ordinary" plastic. The attractiveness of bioplastics is due to their potential to meet environmental as well as economic goals. According to current estimates, the bioplastics market size is expected to reach at least USD $20.0 billion by 2026.

Presently, the food and beverage sector is leading in terms of adoption and implementation of bioplastics.  In 2016, for instance, Mars introduced a bioplastic wrapper made from potato starch by-products for Snickers® candy bars. Bioplastic food packaging, like the Snickers® wrapper, remains and will continue to remain in high