What are the key advantages of PBAT and PLA? Why have they become the "leaders" of biodegradable plastics?

When plastic bags in supermarkets quietly change from "non-degradable" to "degradable", and when takeaway food containers come with the label "compostable", it is not difficult for us to notice that most of these products carrying the "green mission" are associated with two names - PLA and PBAT. In the current situation where global plastic restrictions are becoming stricter and the management of "white pollution" is urgent, why have these two materials stood out and become the absolute mainstream in the field of degradable plastics? Today, let's uncover their "core advantages".

Rice husk/grey + polylactic acid, can be applied to ceilings and tiles

The bio-composite material treated with NaOH exhibited the best performance in terms of thermal decomposition temperature, tensile strength and water absorption resistance. This material can be applied to lightweight ceiling panels and tiles.

Medical-grade polylactic acid has proven to be highly effective in the field of soft tissue repair.

In the field of medicine, the development of materials science is constantly driving the innovation of medical technologies. Among them, polylactic acid (PLA), as a biodegradable material, has been increasingly widely applied in soft tissue repair in recent years, demonstrating significant clinical potential and market prospects.

Poly(lactic acid) materials as solutions and application prospects in the management of plastic pollution

Plastic pollution control has become an important issue in China's ecological civilization construction. In January 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment jointly issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control", which set out a roadmap for the prohibition and restriction of non-degradable disposable plastic products and proposed a governance policy oriented towards "reusability, recyclability, and degradability".

The "source of materials" of microspheres: Unveiling the diverse types of microsphere materials

The types of microsphere materials are diverse. This article will focus on representative synthetic polymer materials. Polylactic acid (PLA), as a typical synthetic polymer material, has received extensive attention in multiple fields in recent years, providing an important example for microsphere materials.

Where did the 80,000 balloons released at the military parade end up?

Eighty thousand peace doves flapped their wings and eighty thousand balloons soared into the sky. This scene at the commemoration ceremony for the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War left a deep impression on many people. Many netizens were curious: Where did all those balloons go? Did they have any impact on the environment? We conducted interviews on this matter.

Polylactic Acid: Unveiling the Environmental Secrets of "Biodegradable Green Plastic"

In today's era of escalating plastic pollution, the shadow of white waste has spread over the oceans, the soil, and even the air. Traditional plastics are made from petroleum and take hundreds of years to decompose. However, the emergence of polylactic acid (PLA) has brought a refreshing trend to the field of environmental-friendly materials. This new type of material, known as "degradable green plastic", is quietly changing the relationship between humans and plastics with its unique ecological advantages.

Turning straw into fuel oil? The "Two Institutes" of Zhejiang University in Quzhou are researching and promoting a very "green" fuel.

"Chew" in the straw, "spit out" the green energy. Straw, manure, garbage, waste cooking oil... These common biomass wastes in daily life can also make a comeback and transform into bio-based fuels, adding green energy to reduce emissions in aviation?

A team from Huazhong Agricultural University has developed a "straw-based fully biodegradable mulch film technology" that can precisely control the degradation cycle.

Recently, a team led by Professor Li Qiang from the College of Engineering at Huazhong Agricultural University and Hubei Hongshan Laboratory has focused on agricultural "white pollution" and developed a "straw-based fully biodegradable mulch film technology".

Research Status of Three Types of Biodegradable Plastic Films in China: Biodegradation, Photodegradation, and Liquid Plastic Films

In August 2024, scholars Chen Donghao and Zhao Wuyun from the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering College of Gansu Agricultural University published a research review in the journal "Forestry Machinery and Woodworking Equipment". They systematically summarized the current research status of the three mainstream types of biodegradable, photodegradable and liquid-based plastic films in China, providing a reference for solving the problem of residual plastic film pollution in farmland and promoting the upgrading of plastic film covering planting technology.

Science Popularization Knowledge - Decoding Polylactic Acid: Biodegradable Green Plastic

Plastic has transformed modern life, but its "convenience" has also brought a heavy environmental cost. Disposable packaging bags, lunch boxes and beverage bottles may remain in the natural environment for hundreds of years, causing serious white pollution. Faced with this problem, scientists have found a green alternative - polylactic acid (PLA), which, like polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), is also a biodegradable green plastic.

A Portuguese team has developed a fully biobased and biodegradable material, targeting its application in cosmetic packaging.

Recently, a research team from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Coimbra in Portugal, the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria and other research institutions successfully developed a brand-new fully biobased and biodegradable material composite using PHBV, polylactic acid, chitosan, essential oils, bio-plasticizers and phycocyanin, specifically designed for cosmetic packaging applications. The related research results were published in Scientific Reports, a journal under the Nature group. This research is part of the NABIA and Embalagem do Futuro (Future Packaging) projects sponsored by the European Union and the Portuguese government.

Magic straw turns into polylactic acid: The new eco-friendly star is coming. Do you know about it?

Straw polylactic acid, though seemingly unfamiliar, actually holds immense technological and environmental value. It is a new type of biodegradable material made from agricultural and forestry waste such as straw through a series of complex and ingenious biotechnological conversions. This process not only ingeniously realizes the high-value utilization of straw resources but also opens up a new path for environmental protection.

China is actively promoting global efforts to address plastic pollution.

The picture is provided by the China Plastics Association.

【Science and Technology】A research team from Huazhong Agricultural University has pioneered a technology to solve the problem of "white pollution" in agriculture.

In August, Qichun County, Huanggang City, Hubei Province, entered the harvest season for ratoon rice. The golden waves of rice swayed with the wind, presenting a scene of abundant harvest.

Shanghai Plastics Association: How Biodegradable Plastics Can Play a Role in Creating a Shanghai Model for a Beautiful China

The "Decision of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress on Deeply Promoting Ecological Civilization Construction and Creating a Shanghai Model of a Beautiful China" (hereinafter referred to as the "Decision") will come into effect on September 1, 2025, fully demonstrating Shanghai's determination to advance ecological civilization construction.

15 minutes to get it done! Lignin turns waste into treasure, and the strength of the glue even exceeds commercial products.

On August 12th, a groundbreaking study was published in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. The research team demonstrated for the first time that under normal pressure, microwave-driven catalysis can convert lignin into a phenolic mixture and successfully apply it to soy protein adhesives. The research was jointly completed by researchers from West Virginia University and North Carolina State University, opening up a new path for the high-value utilization of lignin.

How do biodegradable plastic bags degrade? A comprehensive analysis of the degradation process!

Why can biodegradable plastic bags "disappear" in nature while they are all plastic bags? Is the degradation process of biodegradable plastic bags a silent "environmental magic" or a reaction that requires specific conditions? For factory purchasers and catering practitioners, clarifying these questions is not only related to the product usage effect but also to the fulfillment of environmental protection commitments.

The global plastic treaty negotiations broke down, and representatives from many countries were very angry!

One side advocates that the treaty should restrict plastic production and phase out toxic chemicals, while the other side, represented by oil-producing countries, prefers to focus on waste management at the back end. The United States has also joined the latter camp.

The countdown to the 2025 plastic ban is on, and the development of green packaging is set to embrace a vast space.

As the year 2025 marks the deepening stage of the 14th Five-Year Plan, the government will continue to deepen supply-side structural reform and promote high-quality development, covering multiple aspects such as strengthening green and low-carbon transformation, encouraging technological innovation, and improving people's livelihood security. For green packaging, 2025 is also the year when various targets for restricting and banning plastic products are to be achieved.