Bio-based material
A bio-based material is a material intentionally made, either wholly or partially, from substances derived from living (or once-living) organisms[1], such as plants, animals, enzymes, and microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and yeast [2] [3].
Due to their main characteristics of being renewable and to their ability to store carbon over their growth, recent years assisted to their upsurge as a valid alternative compared to more traditional materials in view of climate mitigation [4].
In European context, more specifically, European Union, which has set 2050 as a target date to reach climate neutrality [5], is trying to implement, among other measures, the production and utilization of bio-based materials in many diverse sectors. Indeed, several European regulations, such as the European Industrial Strategy [6], the EU Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative [7] and the Circular Action Plan [8], emphasize bio-materials. These regulations aim to support innovation, investment, and market adoption of bio-materials while enhancing the transition towards a circular economy where resources are used more efficiently [9]. In this regard, the application of bio-based materials has been already tested on several market segments, ranging from the production of chemicals, to packaging and textiles, till the fabrication of full construction components [9].
Bio-based materials can differ depending on the origin of the bio-mass they're mostly constituted [10]. Moreover, they can be differently manufactured [4], resulting in either simple or more complex engineered bio-products, which can be used for many applications [11]. Among processed materials, it is possible to distinguish between bio-based polymers, bio-based plastics, bio-based chemical fibres, bio-based rubber, bio-based coatings, bio-based material additives, bio-based composites [11]. Unprocessed materials, instead, may be called biotic material.
Bio-based, organic, bio-degradable
Bio-based materials vs. biodegradable materials
Bio-based materials are often biodegradable, but this is not always the case.
By definition, biodegradable materials are formed or organic compounds which can thus be broken down by living organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or water molds, and reabsorbed by the natural environment .
Biodegradability is often discussed for plastics, but not all bio-based plastics and products are biodegradable. Biodegradation is the naturally-occurring breakdown of materials by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi to water and gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) or also new biomass. There is no official definition of biodegradable, in contrast to the term compostable. Since everything eventually biodegrades, even if it takes thousands of years, the claim biodegradable should always come with an explanation of the surrounding environmental conditions (the environmental medium and temperature) under which a product or material biodegrades.
Whether a material is biodegradable, compostable, or neither is determined by its chemical structure, not the origin of the material from which it is made. Both fossil-based and biobased plastics can be biodegradable or compostable, depending on their specific structure.
Many biobased plastics are structurally identical to their common, fossil-based counterparts. These plastics, known as ‘drop-ins’, are therefore neither compostable nor biodegradable, and should be recycled in existing recycling systems. The sustainability benefits of drop-in biobased plastics occur at the beginning of the material life cycle.
Biodegradability does not support circularity unless biodegradable materials are recovered and processed by a system that can recapture their value. No plastic belongs in nature; compostability and biodegradability are only valuable when proper infrastructure and sufficient collection and recovery efforts can ensure these materials remain in the material management system, for example, through industrial composting or anaerobic digestion.
Bio-based materials vs. organic materials
Not every bio-based product is organic. It’s a fact. A product can be “bio-based” and “organic”, but it does not have to be. Bio-based simply describes the fact that a product or material is of plant or animal origin. “Organic” means that the cultivation of the plants or the keeping of the animals complies with requirements of the European organic farming standard.
Bio-based materials vs. fossil-based materials
When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions and fossil resource consumption, bio-based materials usually perform better than fossil-based ones. Conversely, they mostly do worse in the acidification and eutrophication categories. In addition, factors such as environmental damage from oil drilling or disruption of the ecosystems in mining areas contribute to increasing the environmental impact of oil-based resources.
References
- ^ Development, Office of Research &. "BIOBASED MATERIALS". cfpub.epa.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
- ^ Bourbia, S.; Kazeoui, H.; Belarbi, R. (2023-08). "A review on recent research on bio-based building materials and their applications". Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy. 12 (2): 117–139. doi:10.1007/s40243-023-00234-7. ISSN 2194-1459.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Sherwood, James; Clark, James; Farmer, Thomas; Herrero-Davila, Lorenzo; Moity, Laurianne (2016-12-29). "Recirculation: A New Concept to Drive Innovation in Sustainable Product Design for Bio-Based Products". Molecules. 22 (1): 48. doi:10.3390/molecules22010048. ISSN 1420-3049.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ a b "The Circular Economy of Carbon: The Role of Bio-Based Materials". Human Spaces. 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
- ^ "Climate change mitigation: reducing emissions". www.eea.europa.eu. 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
- ^ "European industrial strategy - European Commission". commission.europa.eu. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
- ^ "Press corner". European Commission - European Commission. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
- ^ "Circular economy action plan - European Commission". environment.ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
- ^ a b "Commission takes action to boost biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU". ec.europa.eu. 2024-03-20.
- ^ Castellano, Giorgio; Paoletti, Ingrid Maria; Malighetti, Laura Elisabetta; Carcassi, Olga Beatrice; Pradella, Federica; Pittau, Francesco (2023), Amziane, Sofiane; Merta, Ildiko; Page, Jonathan (eds.), "Bio-based Solutions for the Retrofit of the Existing Building Stock: A Systematic Review", Bio-Based Building Materials, vol. 45, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 399–419, doi:10.1007/978-3-031-33465-8_31, ISBN 978-3-031-33464-1, retrieved 2024-07-12
- ^ a b "What Are The Categories Of Bio-Based Materials? What Is The Relevance To Carbon Emissions?". 2022-03-11.
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