Encyclopedia (Jul 2022)

Bioplastic as a Substitute for Plastic in Construction Industry

  • Ilaria Oberti,
  • Alessia Paciello

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia2030095
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 3
pp. 1408 – 1420

Abstract

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Bioplastics have proven to be a viable substitute for plastics in some sectors, although their use in construction is still limited. The construction sector currently uses 23% of the world’s plastic production, both for the materials themselves and for their packaging and protection. A considerable part is not recycled and is dispersed into the environment or ends up in landfills. In response to the environmental problems caused by oil-based plastic pollution, the development of biocomposite materials such as bioplastics represents a paradigm shift. This entry aims to explain what bioplastics are, providing a classification and the description of the different properties and applications. It also lays out the most interesting uses of these materials in the construction field.

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