Concern about diminishing petroleum supplies, atmospheric pollution (Global Warming) and toxic residues in conventional plastics is creating explosive and exponential growth in the biopolymers and bioplastics industry. Almost daily we are inundated with information on new products or advances in technology using monomers or building blocks derived from annually renewable carbon sources such as sugar, glycerol, or starch. Newer materials derived from waste biomass are also beginning to appear as viable substitutes for oil-based materials.

This rapid expansion of the biomaterials landscape is not without the typical growing pains. Not least is the often confusing flux of definitions of what actually constitutes a biopolymer versus a biodegradable polymer. Opinions and focus are already beginning to polarize at two extremes:

Origin of the materials - renewable resource versus non renewable oil ( i.e. beginning of life), or
Disposal options for bioplastics (end of life).

The gray space in between these two extremes is still in the early evolutionary phase of determining what is the most preferred route towards ultimate sustainability. Is biodegradability or compostability the preferred alternative disposal option, or is a reduction in the use of fossil fuels the primary driver?

With such a rapid transition from a depleting society to one based on a sustainable framework, it becomes increasingly difficult to absorb and categorize all this new information in a logical contextual framework. Yet, this is a vital step when deciding how to transform to a profitable but socially acceptable enterprise with the ultimate goal of being truly sustainable.

Thus, we are introducing Advances in Biopolymers, a new series of newsletters that provides, in an easy readable format, a readily accessible, “real time” overview, synopsis, and analysis of ongoing developments and factors driving this rapidly developing industry. Topics have been selected based on the most frequent questions asked by investors, marketing managers, scientists and engineers. In addition, direct “hot links” to more in-depth information provide the opportunity to delve deeper as your interest allows.

By providing newsletters at a maximum of 6-week intervals, we will follow, in a disciplined format, the evolution of the biopolymers industry while building a broad knowledge base across the relevant facets of this rapidly evolving technology.

Subscriptions

When you become a subscriber you will recieve 10 regular issues and 2 special issues delivered directly to your email. You also have the ability to access past articles online.

Annual Indvidual Subscriptions can be purchased at the Momentum Press website.

Annual Group Subscriptions with multiple recipients can be purchased from i-Libra. Please email us with any questions that you may have.