Plastic consumption and pollution continues to rise and scientists and researchers are exploring new materials that can replace traditional plastic products such as lignin replacing plastic. Globally there are dozens of initiatives to develop alternatives to plastic. Lignin, crop waste, seaweed to name a few.
Global Use of Plastic
Plastic use will double or triple from 464 million tonnes in 2020 to 800 to 1200 Mt by 2060. Excessive production, indiscriminate consumption, and improper disposal of plastics have led to plastic pollution and its hazardous environmental effects.
Global Initiatives
Global initiatives such as the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution in Nov 2024 failed to meet its self-imposed deadline to approve final plastics treaty language by the end of 2024. Instead, at its fifth major session, known as INC-5, at the end of Nov 2025 in Busan, South Korea, the parties remained deadlocked. Three major plastic producing countries (Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iran) would not commit to a reduction in plastic production and reduction of some plastic chemicals and couldn’t agree to the High Ambition Coalition of 170 countries who wanted agreed reductions along with phasing out of particular chemical pollutants. [1] [2] Worse, the EU says if business as usual continues, plastic production will triple by 2060.
Innovations To Reduce Plastic
There is a range of products and processes to reduce plastic waste. Examples include production of alternative materials (designed for recycling), the production and use of biodegradable plastic and plastics from power-to-X, and the development of recycling approaches. Few are successful.
A CleanTechnica podcast in Jan 2025 explores how Lignin Industries [3]CEO Fredrik Malmfors is working to break the plastic industry’s grip on various plastic products [4].
Lignin is one of the world’s most common organic compounds, right up there with cellulose, the structural and hard-to-digest component of many plant fibers, and chitin – from insect exoskeletons.
Lignin Replacing Plastic
- One of the most common organic products.
- A natural polymer found in plant cell walls.
- Production exceeds 700 million tonnes annually. Most is forestry production.
- In trees, lignin constitutes about 20-30% of the structure, serving as a natural and robust binder. It connects cellulose and hemicellulose, contributing to the wood’s stiffness and resistance to decay.
- Extracted cellulose makes the paper.
- The byproduct is mostly lignin.
- Buring the lignin provides energy for the pulp and paper manufacturing processes.
- Strong, lightweight, and biodegradable.
- Wide variety of uses, including bioplastics, composites, and adhesives
The Swedist company, Lignin Industries AB, uses this prevalent biomaterial, mixed in its patented process with bio-based oils to create Renol, its product.
- A drop-in replacement for many fossil-based plastic additives.
- Similar characteristics as polyethylene, polypropylene, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
- Same functionality & properties as current e-commerce plastic.
- Recyclable as normal LDPE plastics.
- Biodegradable
- Carbon negative (in a cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Analysis).
Plant-Based Products
- Made from renewable resources such as corn, sugarcane, and bamboo
- Biodegradable and compostable
- A variety of products, including food packaging, disposable tableware, and clothing
- PA-11 is made from caster plants, which grow on land not suitable to grow most food crops. The engineering-grade nylon has some attractive mechanical properties. It is very tough, which could increase the lifespan of durable products, and it can reduce mass of motor vehicles, increasing efficiency.
- Polylactic acid or PLA (a polymer of the chemical that makes your muscles sore after a workout) is made from carbohydrates. It breaks down relatively quickly in an aerobic environment, especially in commercial composting. It does not break down well in an anaerobic environment like a landfill. Just 1% per hundred years.
- Evoware’s biodegradable food wrappers are based around cassava [7].
Mycelium
- The vegetative part of a fungus
- Strong, lightweight, and fire-resistant
- Variety of products. Building materials, furniture, and packaging.
Algae
Innate biodegradability and renewability make algae an ideal solution to traditional plastics’ environmental issues. Applications include water bottle replacement, food wrappers, drinking straws, and condiment sachets. The global bioplastics market is projected to double from $8.14 billion in 2021 to $18.05 billion by 2027. [5]
- Algae can grow in water or on land making raw supply easy.
- Strong, flexible, and biodegradable
- Can be used to make a variety of products, including bioplastics, textiles, and fuel
Companies include Notpla water pods and coatings on food packing [6], Loliware’s seaweed-based straws, MarinaTex’s fish waste and algae packaging and Skipping Rocks Lab’s condiment sachets. These are all very specific and targeted niche products.
Biodegradable Plastics
- Made from renewable resources such as cornstarch or vegetable oils
- Decompose naturally in the environment
- Products include bags, utensils, and straws
These are just a few examples of the many new materials being developed to replace plastic use. As research and innovation continue, we can expect to see even more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic in the future.
More Reading
[1] ‘EU regrets inconclusive global plastics treaty – European Commission’. Accessed: Jan. 26, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/eu-regrets-inconclusive-global-plastics-treaty-2024-12-02_en
[2] M. P. Omolere, ‘Why the Global Plastic Treaty Negotiations in Busan Failed’, Earth.Org. Accessed: Jan. 26, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://earth.org/the-outcome-of-the-global-plastic-treaty-negotiations-in-busan-a-pivotal-moment-or-a-missed-opportunity/
[3] ‘Lignin Industries AB turning lignin into bio-based plastic’, Lignin Industries AB. Accessed: Jan. 26, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.lignin.se
[4] ‘Breaking Fossil Domination in Plastics: CleanTech Talk Interview with Lignin Industries CEO Fredrik Malmfors – CleanTechnica’. Accessed: Jan. 26, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://cleantechnica.com/2025/01/10/breaking-fossil-domination-plastics-cleantech-talk-interview-with-lignin-industries-ceo-fredrik-malmfors/
[5] ‘Algae’s Remarkable Role in Sustainable Packaging’s Future’. Accessed: Jan. 26, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.packagingdigest.com/sustainability/algae-could-revolutionize-sustainable-packaging
[6] ‘Notpla seaweed packaging’. Accessed: Jan. 26, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.notpla.com/
[7] ‘Evoware – Cassava based plastic’. Accessed: Jan. 26, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://rethink-plastic.com/home/
