Overcoming the Challenges of Scaling Production of Biodegradable Materials

Scaling up the production of biodegradable materials faces challenges but increased collaboration, research and consumer education offer potential solutions for overcoming these hurdles.

• By Ellie Gabel
• Oct 08, 2024

Shoppers see environmentalist buzzwords all over consumer products nowadays. “Biodegradable” is one of the most popular examples, giving shoppers peace of mind that the item will naturally fade back into the planet after throwing it away. While companies are trying to make this dream a reality, they may have problems expanding it commercially. Biodegradable materials have some scaling issues, but there are potential solutions on the horizon.

Raw Material Sourcing

Organizations may find it challenging to find biodegradable materials to use in the first place. Some of the most common options companies seek now include:

• Hemp
• Jute
• Cotton
• Paper
• Wheat
• Mushroom
• Cellulose
• Bamboo

Finding the perfect recipe for countless products requires research and reliable suppliers. However, there’s nothing better than collaboration to expand knowledge across sectors.

Diversifying sources through expanded partnerships is one opportunity. Facilities should get creative in reaching out to companies innovating biodegradable materials too. For example, cotton companies may be an obvious choice, but recent developments in cotton linter prove it is an industrially compostable product. What was once thrown away by manufacturers is now 3 percent of yield, showing the wide range of verticals businesses can go. There are also agricultural byproducts, industrial waste materials and more.

Larger enterprises looking to use biodegradable materials may also want to invest. If they have a stake in the company they want to source from, access to raw materials is more straightforward. While this has a high initial capital cost, it may save money later by streamlining communications and transportation.

Production Costs

Using biodegradable alternatives is less ideal for budgets, as studies show circular bioplastic is more expensive to acquire and process than fossil fuel-based options. When prices are going up worldwide for almost everything, using biodegradables could be difficult to justify. However, there are ways to find more financial resources with process optimization.

Companies should use process discovery to find parts of their business where they can make minor adjustments to save money. Whether changing to LED lights to save on utility bills or incorporating automation to save wages, the excess money can be diverted to biodegradable materials. Eventually, organizations will be able to scale up, and because they did, they’ll lower the cost-per-unit.

Performance and Quality Issues

Biodegradable materials don’t have the same qualities as traditional materials. Plastic is known for its moldability and price point, and leather is known for its durability. However, neither of these is ideal for the planet. Innovators are even attempting to use fungus as a replacement for leather. Some companies don’t want to risk their quality control for biodegradable alternatives. Fortunately, collaboration and research fix this too.

People must invest time and energy into biodegradable options to make them better. Some potential research areas for boosting performance include:

• Tensile strength
• Water resistance
• Thermal abilities
• Stretch
• Malleability

Formulating the right ingredients for a comparable product requires testing and knowledge sharing. It may take time, but industry professionals must first see the potential of these renewable resources before they can improve.

Recently, a branch of the University of Cambridge received grant funds to expand research on plant-based proteins for coatings and films. The applications of this could help food packaging the most, reducing it 10,000 tons per year in single-use plastic coatings.

Consumer Awareness and Acceptance

If customers don’t know what biodegradable means on a package, what’s the point of going through the effort and advertising it? Companies can educate customers with social media campaigns, clear labels and third-party certifications.

Speak to what customers care about most: reducing their impact. If this information comes from a trustworthy and easy-to-understand source, people will quickly become more literate in biodegradable materials. Social media is the best place to spread information quickly, especially about environmental issues.

Additionally, finding reliable agencies to label products will help customers develop positive associations and insights about how a product works. Nowadays, most people know what the organic label on eggs means and know it's regulated by a legitimate corporation. Biodegradability should seek similar identifications.

Regulatory Challenges

However, not many biodegradable concepts are regulated. There are legislative and regulatory gaps. Companies can lead the charge to define what words mean and the criteria for the most sustainable biodegradable products. This method is the most impactful way to lead scaling at a national level.

This means regular engagement with relevant bodies, such as the Food and Drug Administration or the Department of Agriculture and embracing dedicated compliance adherence. All markets should have the same level of legal consistency when scaling up biodegradable materials, and every sector can lead by example.

Boosting Biodegradable Reputations

While environmentally conscious strategies are known for being expensive and time-consuming, there are some worth investing in. Biodegradable materials are one. It makes the most sense to use renewable resources when possible for all industries from fashion to tech.

The more companies experiment with different compositions and structures, then the better the rest of the world will be. Eventually, humanity will thoroughly understand what works best for every application for a lower cost.