Bioplastics – sustainable or just better plastic?

More and more products are now being advertised with the label "biodegradable" or "compostable." Sounds good, but what's really behind so-called bioplastics? And are they a real alternative to plastic—or just greenwashing with a green label?

🥤 What are bioplastics anyway?

The term is not protected—and therefore confusing. There are two main categories:

1. Bio-based plastics

→ are made from plants (e.g. corn starch, sugar cane, cellulose)

→ but: can be just as poorly biodegradable as conventional plastic

2. Biodegradable plastics

→ can decompose under certain conditions

→ but: mostly only in industrial composting plants – not in home compost or in the environment

Example: PLA (polylactic acid) – widely used in organic coffee cups, for example. Sounds eco-friendly – but it requires temperatures above 60°C, controlled humidity, and 6–12 weeks to truly decompose.

🗑️ The disposal problem

The biggest misconception: Many bioplastics do NOT belong in organic waste.

In Germany, most biowaste facilities are not allowed to process these materials – they must be incinerated like normal waste.

Even worse: If these materials enter the environment or the sea, they behave like classic plastic.

🔍 Bioplastics ≠ plastic-free

Even if it says “organic” on it, bioplastics are technically still plastic.

They do not solve the basic problem:

• short service life

• long dismantling times

• incorrect disposal behavior

• Resource consumption through intensive agriculture

✅ What is really sustainable?

• Reusable materials: glass, stainless steel, cork

• Natural, compostable packaging: paper, cotton, cork

• Avoidance instead of compensation: long-lasting, reduced products

At Biork, we rely on cork – a natural material that not only grows back but also stores CO₂ without generating waste. Completely plastic-free – organic or not.

Conclusion:

Bioplastics are an interesting interim step—but not a solution to the global plastic problem. 🌍 True sustainability doesn't begin with new materials, but with new thinking.