Biopolymers and Bioplastics

Biomaterials and Biopolymers

Biopolymers are polymers synthesized within living organism. Biopolymers can be classified on the basis of the type of monomeric units such as polynucleotides, polypeptides or polysaccharides. They are comprised of long chains of repeating units of these biomolecules that are held by covalent bond. Since, it is biodegradable it has low environmental impact which can be observed at the end and beginning of the product life cycle. Typically, a biopolymer   is made from biomass (non-fossil origin) materials. At the end of its life cycle it is biodisintegratable and biodegradable, or in other words capable of undergoing breakdown by microorganisms and returned back to the soil to start the cycle again. During its life cycle, a biopolymer product isolate atmospheric CO₂ from plant or animal raw materials, and at the end of product life it will turn into compost, to provide the raw materials for the next generation of materials.