A Cleaner Future: The Role of Biodegradable Polymers in Reducing Plastic Waste

Island Leaf Commodities is proud to offer both injection and extrusion grade, biodegradable polymer, as well as forks, knives, spoons, plates, trays, straws, and bowls made from our bio based-compound. Please shoot us an email at info@islandleaf.co for more information.

The Pervasiveness of Plastics

Take a moment to look around — it’s nearly impossible to avoid plastic. From phone casings and car interiors to food packaging and single-use items, plastic has become an inseparable part of modern life. But this convenience comes at a cost.

In just 70 years, plastics have transformed global industry, but poor waste management and the nature of synthetic polymers have created severe environmental consequences, particularly in marine ecosystems. Fortunately, innovation has brought us an alternative: 100% biodegradable polymers designed to replace common single-use plastics..

A Brief History of Plastics

Plastics are a type of polymer — a term derived from the Greek roots poly (many) and mer (parts). Polymers occur naturally and can also be synthesized. Over time, the term has become closely associated with synthetic plastics due to their widespread use.

Although plastics were first developed less than two centuries ago, their growth in use is unprecedented. The first practical plastic, Celluloid, was invented in 1868 by John Wesley Hyatt, as an ivory substitute for billiard balls. Using cellulose from cotton and camphor, Hyatt’s innovation marked the beginning of mass-produced plastics. His company, Albany Dental Plate Company, operated for more than a century.

From Plants to Petroleum

Despite starting with plant-based origins, most plastics today are petroleum-derived. This shift began in the early 20th century when scientists like Wallace Carothers (of DuPont) developed nylon using petroleum byproducts. During World War II, the military’s demand for strong, lightweight materials accelerated the growth of the plastics industry. Nylon replaced silk in parachutes, and innovations like saran wrap were developed to preserve food for soldiers.

Post-war, plastic use exploded across industries — from automotive to food packaging — thanks to its durability, low cost, and versatility. However, these same qualities have made plastic waste a persistent environmental challenge.

The Petroleum Revolution

Ironically, the vast majority of plastics we use today are not plant-based like Hyatt's Celluloid, but petroleum-based. How and when did this fateful shift occur? During the same time that Hyatt's company was thriving, US businesses were also beginning to extract a natural resource that would become an essential ingredient for power production: oil. Oil's vast abundance sparked curiosity in several scientists.

By the mid-1930s, a scientist named Wallace Carothers used oil to derive a common plastic ubiquitous today: nylon. In the following years, the demand for nylon exploded with the advent of the second world war.

The military's insatiable need for materials during the second world war spurred plastics demand. US manufacturers like DuPont substituted domestically produced nylon for silk sourced from far away to make parachute cords. Scientists also invented saran wrap, still widely used today, to keep soldiers' food fresh for more extended periods. In the early years of US involvement in the war, Harper's Magazine published an article that acknowledged how the war fomented the production and widespread use of plastics.

Following nylon, scientists invented several other types of plastics, all stemming from petroleum. Plastics' application accelerated at elevated rates in the decades following the second world war. Automotive manufacturers started using plastics for multiple cars, including bumpers, side panels, and interior upholstery. Food and beverage manufacturers gradually implemented plastic packaging, phasing out fragile glass bottles and containers. Though perishable stayed fresher for longer periods and plastic packaging costs saved producers considerable sums of money, widespread plastic applications gave rise to significant problems.

The Recycling Dilemma

While all plastics are technically recyclable, real-world recycling is far more complex. Four plastic types — PET, HDPE, LDPE, and PP — make up 85% of global plastic use. These are commonly used in food and beverage packaging.

Collected through curbside programs, mixed plastic waste is sorted at Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), baled, and sold to processors who recycle it into pellets for new products. However, not all plastics make it through this system.

Single-Use Plastics and Environmental Harm

While recyclers seek clean PET and HDPE bottles, single-use plastics like straws, cutlery, clamshell trays, and foam packaging often fall through the cracks. They're too contaminated, too lightweight, or too economically unviable to process.

This is a picture of a beach littered with plastic pollution.

Much of this material ends up in landfills, where it can take hundreds of years to decompose — or worse, in waterways, ultimately flowing into the ocean.

There, it contributes to oceanic garbage patches, massive plastic accumulations (some the size of countries) that pose a threat to marine life and the global ecosystem.

These problems are especially tied to items considered “disposable,” like plastic knives, forks, plates, and — yes — straws.

Biodegradable Alternatives: From Concept to Reality

Nearly a century ago, Wallace Carothers also experimented with Polylactic Acid (PLA) — a plant-based polymer made from corn and sugarcane. However, high production costs limited its use. In the 1990s, Mitsubishi Chemical developed PBS, a plant-based starch polymer derived from cassava, corn, and sugarcane. Unlike PLA, PBS offers greater structural integrity and heat resistance, making it suitable for injection molding and blown-film applications.

Still, both PLA and PBS require industrial composting environments to fully degrade. They are not suitable for backyard composting or casual disposal into soil.

A Breakthrough from Taiwan: Bamboo/PBS Bio Compound

Our team at Island Leaf Commodities has partnered with Taiwanese material scientists to develop a next-generation biodegradable compound made from PBS and bamboo fiber.

Why Bamboo?

• Fast-growing and carbon-absorbing

• Abundant in Taiwan

• Adds structural integrity to the final product

How It’s Made:

1. Bamboo stalks are harvested and shredded into fiber

2. The fiber is dehydrated and processed into a fine white powder

3. This powder is blended with PBS pellets to create a durable injection-grade resin

Performance & Sustainability:

• Products degrade naturally in soil within 150 days

• Heat resistant up to 100°C

• Safe for microwaves

• Reusable and washable

• Fully compostable in natural conditions

This compound is ideal for single-use foodware, offering the functionality of plastic without the environmental footprint.

Looking Ahead

Biodegradable polymers, especially advanced compounds like our bamboo/PBS blend, are poised to play a significant role in replacing petroleum-based plastics across industries. By transitioning to materials that can safely return to nature, we not only reduce pollution but also free up recycling infrastructure to focus on more valuable, reusable materials.

Interested in sustainable alternatives?

If you're interested in learning more about this groundbreaking bamboo/PBS compound, send us an email at info@islandleaf.co. We believe that biodegradable polymers will make up a large portion of plastic resin applications in the years to come.