Bioplastics and Biopolymers

Biopolymers are natural polymers built by the cells of living organisms. Biopolymers are made up of monomeric units that are covalently bonded to form larger molecules. Polynucleotides, like RNA and DNA, are long polymers composed of 13 or more nucleotide monomers. Bioplastics are plastic materials produced from renewable biomass sources, including vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, straw, woodchips, sawdust, recycled food waste, etc. Bioplastics are thermoplastics obtained from a bio-based source, such as sugar, seaweed or starch. Biopolymers are the wide range of materials that include bioplastics, but that also includes natural polymers such as silk, chitosan and wool. Bioplastics are thermoplastics obtained from a bio-based source, such as sugar, seaweed or starch. Biopolymers are the broad class of materials that include bioplastics, but that also includes natural polymers such as silk, chitosan and wool. Biopolymers include proteins, genetic material, glycoforms, metabolites, and other structural molecules.

The three types of biopolymers:

• Polynucleotides
• Polypeptides
• Polysaccharides