CJ Biomaterials is developing plant-based PHA plastics from fermented sugar that can be used for cutlery and films while breaking down under composting conditions.
Researchers and industry developers are advancing sugar-based bioplastics as an alternative to conventional fossil-based plastics, particularly for products such as disposable forks, knives, straws and packaging films. The technology is gaining attention as concerns grow over conventional plastic products breaking down into persistent microplastics.
At CJ Biomaterials’ facility in Woburn, Massachusetts, researchers are working with polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a family of biopolymers produced by microorganisms. The process uses fermented sugar as a feedstock, allowing microbes to produce polymers that can subsequently be processed into finished products.
The resulting material can be manufactured into products with properties similar to conventional plastics, including cutlery and flexible films. A key difference is its ability to biodegrade under appropriate composting conditions rather than persist in the environment in the same way as conventional petroleum-based plastics.
Testing at composting facilities has demonstrated the material’s potential to break down biologically. Forks and films placed in composting conditions have shown degradation, while other products such as straws have already disappeared during testing. This creates opportunities for compostable foodservice products and packaging applications.
The technology could be particularly relevant for single-use foodservice plastics, where recycling can be challenging because products are frequently contaminated with food residues. Sugar-derived PHA materials offer manufacturers another route to develop disposable products designed around biological end-of-life pathways.
However, bioplastics still face challenges including higher production costs, limited composting infrastructure and the need for appropriate end-of-life management. Industry experts also note that replacing conventional plastics with bioplastics alone will not solve the broader problem of single-use consumption.
PHA production remains a relatively small part of the overall plastics market, but interest is increasing as brands and manufacturers look for bio-based, biodegradable and compostable polymer solutions. CJ Biomaterials produces these materials at a facility in Indonesia for applications including compostable cutlery and packaging films.
The development highlights a growing shift in the polymer industry toward renewable feedstocks and biodegradable materials. Sugar-derived PHAs could provide an additional material option for food packaging and disposable products while helping reduce dependence on fossil-based polymers and the persistence of plastic waste.