A Starch-based Biodegradable Plastic as an Alternative to
Petroleum-based Plastic Materials
Rey Bartimaeus I. Asuncion Elisha Margarette Ortega Sharu J. Ramos Jerick U. Ricamara Eishen Kaye N. Ticsay
SPCBA SHS SPCBA SHS SPCBA SHS SPCBA SHS SPCBA SHS
211s0175@spcba 211s0079@spcba 211s0133@spcba 211s0081@spcba 211s0091@spcba
.edu.ph .edu.ph .edu.ph .edu.ph .edu.ph
Background of the Study
The presence and use of plastics are all over the entire earth because, according to Censi et
al. (2022), plastics are an indispensable part of modern life as a result of their characteristics of being
light, robust, and affordable, which support their extensive exploitation in a variety of human endeavors.
Most plastic products are made from petroleum, but this has an adverse effect on the environment
(McGuire, 2018; Salunke, 2022). The annual production of petroleum-based plastics was recorded at
more than 300 million tons until 2015 (Marichelvam et al., 2019). The solution to the adverse effect on
the environment is that many studies find biodegradable plastic as an alternative option to petroleum-
based plastics (Cho, 2017; Cabrera et al., 2019; Coppola et al., 2021: Salunke, 2022). Biodegradable
plastic is sustainable, largely biodegradable, and biocompatible because it is made of starch, cellulose,
chitosan, protein, sugarcane, corn, and microbes that are extracted from renewable biomass and can
also be recycled naturally. Therefore, most bioplastics are expected to reduce carbon dioxide
emissions, plastic waste, and the use of fossil fuels (Ashter, 2016; Marichelvam et al., 2019).
According to Narancic et al. (2020), individual purchasing power has risen as a result of global
economic growth and rising living standards, fueling an increase in plastic production. As more plastic
is used, pollution in the environment worsens (Coppola et al., 2021). The total global plastic production
since 2019 has been around 359 million tons per year. Changes in the CO2 cycle are among the
environmental issues associated with plastic (Salunke, 2022). Plastics are now used in a wide range of
industries and household appliances, like clothing, aircraft, decorative items, bottles, foil, molds, tins,
computer and phone casings, cups, bottles, packaging devices, wind turbines, and solar panels
(Marichelvam et al., 2019; Salunke, 2022). Plastics' use may increase in the near future as a result of
all of these applications (Censi et al., 2022). Almost all plastics are made from nonrenewable resources
such as charcoal, petroleum, and natural gas. As a result, the plastics industry may account for
approximately 20% of total petroleum consumption (Marichelvam et al., 2019). Plastics made from
nonrenewable oil products have a long lifespan because they are not a type of waste that degrades and
disintegrates easily (Cabrera et al., 2019). Since the 1950s, over nine billion tons of plastic have been
produced worldwide. It has polluted the oceans in excess of 165 million tons, with nearly 9 million tons
entering each year. Because only about 9% of plastic is recycled, the majority of the remaining plastic
pollutes the environment or sits in landfills for up to 500 years before decomposing and leaching toxic
chemicals into the ground (Cho, 2017). The larger issue is that every piece of plastic manufactured in
the last century is still present in some parts of the world (Cabrera et al., 2019).
The environmental issues brought on by inappropriate plastic waste disposal can be solved
with the use of bioplastic because it is made from renewable resources rather than nonrenewable ones,
which gives it an advantage over the usual plastic. With a less significant carbon footprint, using
renewable resources would help cut greenhouse gas emissions. Bioplastics and bio-based polymers,
which are less harmful to the environment and decompose more quickly, become attractive options as
a result. The possibility of converting to bioplastics and bio-based plastics looks even more appealing in
light of the mounting piles of plastic trash in dumpsters and wayside dumps as well as the several other
problems arising from plastic use (Selvamurugan et al., 2019). Nowadays, bioplastics are used in a
variety of disposable items such as packaging, containers, straws, bags, and bottles, as well as plastic
piping, phone casings, 3D printing, car insulation, and medical implants (Cho, 2017). Additionally, the
use of bioplastics can help prevent certain environmental issues, such as unrestricted land and marine
waste disposal and the associated harmful chemical emissions (Atiwesh et al., 2021). According to
Zoungranan et al. (2020), attention must be paid to the development of biodegradable plastics made
from biological sources that are available, affordable, and likely to offer a real substitute for
petrochemical plastics. Therefore, in the present study, starch-based bioplastics were developed in the
laboratory using local varieties of cassava and corn. Through burial tests in soil, the biodegradability of
these two types of bioplastics was evaluated.
The growth of the global economy has increased people's purchasing power for plastics, which
leads to environmental pollution. As the years go by, plastics have become a more necessary
component in people’s everyday lives, whether in industry or in households. According to Ford (2020),
landfill-bound plastic bags are destined for a protracted and poisonous existence. The process of
decomposing plastic bags takes more than a thousand years, but even after its decomposition, the
microplastic still finds its way into the water, soil, and wildlife. Given the problems with plastics’ use in
the environment and its continuous consumption, particularly the continuing demands of the global
economy for both industrial and commercial applications as well as personal needs, the goal of this
study is to develop a plastic that is environmentally friendly and can be used to reduce or stop the
invention of traditional plastics. This actual data about bioplastics is a helpful learning tool to discover
how it can provide individuals with an alternative way to access and utilize plastics that are safe for the
environment and for people, and the purpose of doing this capstone project is to advance and
encourage everyone to help society survive and reduce the number of plastic-populated places by
inspiring them to use bioplastics for different applications everywhere.
Statement of the Problem
Traditional petroleum-based plastics need an alternative material to resolve environmental
issues concerning people’s high usage of plastics for different applications.
Protecting and saving the environment should also involve eradicating the use of traditional
petroleum-based plastics. It is commonly used because it helps people in many ways, like as
packaging material, but it is also a source of environmental issues that most people do not know about.
According to Parker (2019), plastic production increased from almost 2.5 million tons in 1950 to almost
450 million tons by 2015, and it is expected to double by 2050. Plastic bags have a significant
environmental impact because they take so many years to decompose. Furthermore, toxic materials
are released into the soil when plastics decompose under sunlight. When plastic bags are burned, a
toxic material is released into the air, causing air pollution. Plastic bags are dumped into landfills around
the world, occupying hundreds of hectares of land and emitting dangerous methane and carbon dioxide
gases (Ujeh, n.d.). Animals that are also entangled in marine debris, such as plastic bags, may suffer
from starvation, choking, laceration, infection, decreased reproductive success, and mortality
(Katsanevakis, 2008). According to Parker (2019), every year, millions of animals are killed, from birds
to fish to other marine organisms. Plastic pollution in marine and freshwater environments has only
recently been seen as a worldwide problem, despite the fact that it has been known as a problem since
the 1970s. As a result, plastic bag pollution has emerged as a major environmental concern for
governments, scientists, non-governmental organizations, and the international community (Carpenter
& Smith, 1972).
Plastic pollution has appeared as one of the most dire environmental issues, as society's ability
to deal with it has been swamped by the quickly increasing production of plastic products. Plastic
pollution is most prevalent in thriving Asian and African countries, where garbage collection systems
are generally ineffective or nonexistent (Parker, 2019). Because plastic is made from petroleum, its
production contributes to deforestation as more trees are cut down to make way for oil drilling and
refining facilities and as more plastic is used. Plastic manufacturing produces harmful greenhouse
gases, which contribute to climate change. Climate change is a major risk to both humans and wildlife,
and it is only worsening as more greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere. Plastic contains
dangerous chemicals that can contaminate food and water, and these chemicals have been linked to
cancer, fertility issues, and other health problems (The Negative Effects of Plastic on the Environment,
2022).
People can no longer turn a blind eye to the problem and must take action to reduce their
reliance on plastic (The Negative Effects of Plastic on the Environment, 2022). To effectively reduce
plastic waste, people must reduce their use of plastic. This requires changing their daily habits, such as
not using plastic when there is a good alternative and only using plastic when absolutely necessary
(Ujeh, n.d.). According to a recent study, plastic pollution can only be reduced by about 80% over the
next 20 years if all possible solutions, such as replacing plastic with other materials and improving
recycling and waste management, are fully implemented (To Stop Plastic Pollution, We Must Stop
Plastic Production, Scientists Say, 2022). According to a new report from environmental law firm
ClientEarth, businesses face a serious risk of litigation as a result of their involvement in the creation of
plastic waste and should therefore act quickly to reduce their plastic footprint to avoid reputational and
material damage (For Businesses - Less Plastic, n.d.). Also, some local governments started to take
action by banning the use of plastic, but it should be totally prohibited worldwide, and biodegradable
ones should be used as an alternative to address these issues and help protect the environment. Even
Joe Biden, the 46th and current United States President, agrees on not allowing the usage of plastics
and even criticized former President Donald Trump for not recognizing the severity of plastic pollution
(Parker, 2020).
Objectives of the Study
Plastic has several diverse negative consequences for the environment. They encompass
anything from marine life extinction to waterway pollution. It's time to take action to reduce the use of
plastic since the issue can no longer be ignored (The Negative Effects of Plastic on the Environment,
2022). Plastics have become such an entrenched part of life due to the conveniences they offer.
According to Parker (2019), the conveniences that plastics provide have given rise to a society of
single-use plastics that make up about 40% of the plastic produced annually, exposing the material's
downside. Many of these items, like plastic bags and food wrappers, only have a short lifespan but can
linger in the environment for hundreds of years. Plastic waste has the possibility of affecting
ecosystems' capacity to adapt to climate change as well as their ability to support millions of people's
livelihoods, food security, and social well-being (Plastic Pollution, n.d.).
With the continuously increasing number of traditional petroleum-based plastics, the objective
of this project is to provide a kind of biodegradable plastic that may serve the same function as plastics
made from petroleum. This biodegradable plastic will help alleviate and reduce the environmental
problems that are now plaguing our society, especially in the City of San Pedro, Laguna. It can satisfy
the demand for insulation and minimize the adverse impacts of hazardous polymers. By culturing a
starch-based biodegradable plastic, the ecosystem will suffer less damage, there will be fewer carbon
dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, reduced negative impacts on human health, and less of an
influence on the capacity to grow food. This project aims to offer a plastic solution for using
environmentally friendly polymers without worrying about their regular usage and to promote the
utilization of biodegradable plastic made of starch to have a substantial effect on reducing harm to the
environment. This research has the potential to have a wider impact by encouraging businesses,
governments, and communities to use starch-based biodegradable plastics as long-term solutions to
the environmental effects of traditional petroleum-based plastics.
Significance of the Study
The importance of the study is that it aims to promote biodegradable materials made from
renewable resources while reducing the use of plastics derived from petroleum in order to eliminate and
prevent environmental problems. The study is relevant to the pressing environmental problems of
plastic pollution and inadequate waste management. According to Raji (2023), the nation produced 2.7
million tons of plastic waste annually as a result of inadequate waste management systems and a high
reliance on single-use plastics. Therefore, the use of biodegradable plastics is recognized as the
problem's solution. The following people will also greatly benefit from this project:
Manufacturers. Biodegradable plastics will serve as a substitute in the mass production of plastic
products which are much more environmentally-friendly because of the natural resources used instead
of chemicals. Due to the decreased use of chemicals that can be harmful to human health, it promotes
safety for human health when used.
Community. By substituting traditional plastics with biodegradable plastics, which can improve waste
management and reduce plastic pollution, this project will benefit the community, especially given its
high reliance on plastic. Since it is made of natural materials and is much simpler to recycle, it can
enhance community health.
Environment. As opposed to coal, oil, and natural gas, renewable biomass sources are used in the
production of biodegradable plastics, which reduces the need for fossil fuels. Additionally, it can
decompose more quickly and emit fewer carbon emissions, which can ease environmental concerns
about plastics.
Future Researchers. The content of this project will help future researchers as a guide to help develop
and improve bioplastics. By doing this, it is acknowledged that there is a material that can replace
traditional plastics and lessen environmental concerns.
Scope and Limitations of the Study
This project aims to resolve certain problems and issues brought by the excessive use of
petroleum-based plastics by using bioplastics as an alternative. The output creates a type of plastic that
has the same benefits and use as the usual plastic that is circulating in the market for different uses.
This is to lessen air and water pollution, negative environmental effects, and harmful human health
effects. This project aims to produce an output that is usable by anyone that is consuming plastic on a
daily basis. This study will take place in the city of San Pedro, province of Laguna, wherein the product
prototype will be tested by the residents of the said city. This project will take place on the dates of
February to April. The tools and products needed to conduct this project will be restricted by a limited
amount of budget.
