Metabolix, Inc. - Sustainable Solutions

Bioplastics have a story unique from other plastics. They are made from nature's renewable harvest, yet will compete with synthetic petrochemical products in performance and cost. They are made from atmospheric carbon dioxide (fixed by plants through photosynthesis), and so contribute far less to greenhouse gas emissions than synthetic alternatives.

Not only are Mirel Bioplastics made from natural sugars and oils, they will biodegrade cleanly back to water and carbon dioxide in marine, fresh water, soil and composting environments. Degradation involves the action of microbial organisms naturally present in these environments, which break down the Natural Plastics to carbon dioxide and water with no toxic by-products. For the first time, there is now a solution to the accumulation of plastics in the marine environment which makes up the greater part of the earth's surface and is a source of much of the world's food.

Items made from Bioplastics are truly biodegradable, unlike much of the "biodegradable" packaging used currently where portions of the package such as adhesives, coatings and inks may not biodegrade. Mirel Bioplastic products can be recycled or made in flushable form. An especially promising area is the marine environment, where many otherwise biodegradable materials do not biodegrade. Ultimately, Mirel Bioplastics will reduce dependence on oil and other forms of fossil carbon as the basis for plastics production. The fact that Bioplastics are sustainable and made from renewable resources will help maintain and preserve large tracts of wilderness and the ocean environments, keeping the earth, air and water clean for future generations.