Are bioplastics really better than conventional plastics?

Questions remain on how biodegradable and compostable the new alternatives are

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PARIS - Alternatives to petrochemical-based plastics are emerging, made from everything from banana leaves to tomato skins, especially for food packaging.

But questions remain about how biodegradable and compostable they are, as well as their impact on the environment.

WHAT IS BIOSOURCED PLASTIC?

Biosourced means made with less petrol, using non-fossil agricultural products such as sugar cane waste, corn or wheat starch. Primarily used in packaging, these biosourced plastics account for less than 1 per cent of global plastic production.

But labs around the world are coming up with more and more new plastics derived from tomato skins or banana leaves.

French chemicals company Arkema, for instance, is pushing Prat, made from castor oil, which is used to make sports shoes and car interiors.

Bananatex is a biodegradable textile made from banana leaves that has been developed by a Swiss brand and its Taiwanese partners.