Traditional plastic forks shed harmful microplastics. Plastic created from sugar is an alternative

WOBURN, Mass. — At a Massachusetts lab, tiny pellets derived from sugar are being transformed into forks and packaging films that won't release persistent microplastics into the environment. This bioplastic material, created by CJ Biomaterials, is seen as one of many solutions to tackle global plastic pollution.

In the company's Woburn research facility, technicians turn sugar into plant-based polymers that microbes can eat. These bioplastics offer an alternative to traditional plastics made from fossil fuels, which persist in the environment for decades or centuries, breaking down into harmful microplastics that pollute the ocean, air, food, and water.

The company's lab technicians recently molded the bioplastic pellets into thin forks suitable for home composting, as well as rigid forks similar to traditional plastic forks. They also created flexible films for food packaging, such as bags for baby carrots, which are stronger but not as stretchy as conventional plastic wrap.

As these bioplastics break down in the lab's compost bin, straws and knives added to the compost pile have disappeared, replaced by microorganisms consuming the materials. Traditional plastics, on the other hand, never fundamentally disrupt the market, as they release microplastics that have been found in various parts of the environment, including in our bodies.

Interest in bioplastics has grown due to concerns over microplastics. These bioplastics, also known as biobased or biodegradable plastics, are made from renewable resources like corn or sugar cane and break down completely in natural processes. CJ Biomaterials specializes in manufacturing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a polymer that is both marine and soil biodegradable.

The company aims to replace single-use or non-recyclable plastics with compostable alternatives, reducing the environmental impact of food waste, which emits potent greenhouse gases when decomposing in landfills. CJ Biomaterials' products, including compostable cutlery, straws, coated cups, sushi trays, and reusable paper towels, are displayed on the lab's shelves, having been successfully tested for compostability.

CJ Biomaterials, a part of the $32 billion South Korean conglomerate CJ Group, produces PHA at a manufacturing facility in Indonesia since 2022. The company sees biobased plastics as part of a suite of solutions needed to address the plastic pollution crisis.