• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.269-297
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• 2021

Bioplastics are attracting attention as a substitute for conventional petroleum-based plastics because they are carbon neutral and can be biodegradable. This study estimated economic and environmental impact of regulating the petroleum-based plastics industry and fostering the bioplastics industry using a Recursive Dynamic CGE Model of the Korean Economy. Results show that the regulation of the conventional plastics industry exhibits a positive environmental impact by reducing greenhouse gases and plastic waste and a negative economic impact with a decrease in GDP. Meanwhile, fostering the bioplastics industry with regulation on conventional plastics industry has similar levels of greenhouse gas and waste reduction effects when there is only regulation on the conventional plastics industry. It is also shown that expanding the production of bioplastics industry offsets existing economic losses as a form of increased GDP. If petroleum-based plastics are replaced through the expansion of bioplastics production, it can contribute to the decoupling of greenhouse gas emissions and plastic waste from economic growth.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2016

Trends of bioplastics, especially biomass-based bioplastics which is one of the most promising ways to solve the depletion of fossil fuels and global warming problems, were investigated. Emerged bioplastic polymers such as polylacticacid (PLA), polyglycolicacid (PGA) for cosmetic additive, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) produced by bacterial fermentation, and cost effective starch-based polymer were discussed with their general studies. Also recent technologies of environment-friendly bioplastics for packaging and construction materials as well as disposable hygienic goods were briefly reviewed.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2021

Recent studies on recyclable materials in the packaging have an increased attention due to the eco-friendly policies of reducing carbon dioxide emissions in worldwide. Roasted coffee beans mostly packed in multi-layered films and papers according to their expiration date. To satisfy both recyclability and barrier properties, researches have been continued on paper-based packaging materials to enhance their properties. In this study, packaging materials for coffee beans are developed by laminating bioplastic films on papers. The tests of packaging materials were performed with mechanical properties, gas and water vaper permeability, recyclability and storage quality for coffee beans. Compared to other samples, the paper/bioplastics-based coffee package composed of starch coated papers and two bioplastics showed the lowest barrier properties, comparable mechanical strength and ability to maintain the quality of roasted coffee beans. Thus, it could be a good alternative for multi-layered packages for roasted coffee beans.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2022

Ever since bioplastics were globally introduced to a wide range of industries, the disposal of used products made with bioplastics has become an issue inseparable from their application. Unlike petroleum-based plastics, bioplastics can be completely decomposed into water and carbon dioxide by microorganisms in a relatively short time, which is an advantage. However, there is little information on the specific degraders and accelerating factors for biodegradation. To elucidate a new strain for biodegrading poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), we screened out one PHB-degrading bacterium, Microbulbifer sp. SOL03, which is the first reported strain from the Microbulbifer genus to show PHB degradation activity, although Microbulbifer species are known to be complex carbohydrate degraders found in high-salt environments. In this study, we evaluated its biodegradability using solid- and liquid-based methods in addition to examining the changes in physical properties throughout the biodegradation process. Furthermore, we established the optimal conditions for biodegradation with respect to temperature, salt concentration, and additional carbon and nitrogen sources; accordingly, a temperature of 37℃ with the addition of 3% NaCl without additional carbon sources, was determined to be optimal. In summary, we found that Microbulbifer sp. SOL03 showed a PHB degradation yield of almost 97% after 10 days. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the potent bioplastic degradation activity of Microbulbifer sp., and we believe that it can contribute to the development of bioplastics from application to disposal.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.267-276
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• 2011

There is a growing worldwide interest in the potential of marine biomass as an environmentally friendly and economically sustainable resource. Due to the great lack of comprehensive information about domestic seaweed resources, this study aimed to analyze the existing literature on the production and types of domestic seaweed species. Based on this data the possibilities of industrial use of domestic seaweed for the production of biofuels and bioplastics had been assessed. Our review took into account the seaweed species on domestic coasts as well as the species currently in great production via seaweed farming. Due to their wide distribution, their status as farmed crops, and the likelihood of securing their reliable supply, Codium fragile, Hizikia fuciformis, and Gelidium amansii were deemed to be the most appropriate candidates for domestic industrial use. The industrial potential of seaweed biomass was also explored by comparing the predicted amount of biomass necessary to replace current gasoline and plastics use with currently available farming space. The results of our study imply that once a steady and adequate supply of the proper kinds of seaweed can be secured through seaweed farming, there is a great potential for the development of new seaweed-based biofuels and bioplastics industries in Korea.

• The monthly packaging world
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• s.238
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• pp.54-63
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• 2013

• The monthly packaging world
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• s.337
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• pp.58-75
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• 2021

• The monthly packaging world
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• s.337
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• pp.48-53
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• 2021

• The monthly packaging world
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• s.337
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• pp.54-57
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• 2021

• The monthly packaging world
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• s.348
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• pp.54-62
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• 2022