Plastic packaging replacements that biodegrade without the need for composting or recycling

A startup has created an ecological alternative to plastic that is biodegradable in all kinds of environments, without the need for human intervention

Spotted: Like many other continents, South America has a huge problem with generating waste. In Mexico alone, 120,128 tonnes of waste are produced every day, with the majority of that ending up in landfill. Chilean company BioElements was founded to help tackle South America’s waste issue, creating an ecological alternative to plastic called the BioE-8 Resin. 

BioElement’s BioE- Resin is made from 100 per cent natural, renewable, and biodegradable materials. This means that although its solution mimics plastic, it does not need 400 years to degrade. Instead, it takes between 6 and 20 months to degrade naturally under any circumstances, without human intervention: whether it is in contact with air, soil, or water, and can do so at any temperature. Using its BioE-8 Resin, BioElements has created a range of products from totes and mailing bags to cutlery and packaging for food. 

To ensure its products decompose, BioElements selected raw materials that serve as an energy source for different microorganisms. So, with the help of biological agents like animals, fungi, and bacteria, the company’s products promote circular economy principles by reducing any possible negative environmental impact. 

Recently, the company announced a $30 million (around €27.5 million) funding round led by Brazilian firm BTG Pactual. With this, BioElements plans to develop industrial food packaging and enable expansion into Brazil.  

Springwise has previously spotted other innovations in the archive that hope to get rid of plastic once and for all, from a designer creating an onion-skin material to a plant-based plastic that biodegrades in seawater.

Written By: Georgia King