Focal Point on Bioplastics in Japan

Cellulose nanofibres could change the picture of plastics in Japan.

The path to a green society could be boosted by increasing the productivity of agricultural crops that are providing cellulose to make environmentally friendly bioplastics.

Government-funded research is working to replace food packaging and aquaculture tools with recyclable or biodegradable bioplastics produced using plant matter and bacteria.

Polymer scientists in Japan are harnessing the power of botany and bacteria to produce bioplastics that don’t harm the environment.

The transfer of genes that allow nitrogen to be fixed from the atmosphere into photosynthesizing cyanobacteria could one day lead to similarly engineered crops.

Researchers are using radiation and fermentation techniques to improve the microorganism-driven production of cellulose for bioplastics.

Byproducts from Japan’s sugar beet crop are being turned into long strands of cellulose by bacteria — offering up new material for bioplastics that could help solve global pollution woes.

A decades-old food additive is transforming into a versatile, compostable bioplastic.