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B001 → Bio-lastic

Bioplastics are a type of plastic derived from renewable biological sources such as plant starch, vegetable fats, algae and microbial processes. Instead of Plastic, Bio-lastic.

Algea Yarn

Algae yarn, made from a mixture of agar/sodium alginate and calcium alginate for hardening, provides a sustainable and biodegradable alternative for oil based filaments.

Agar-Agar / Wheat Starch / Corn Starch

When making bio-plastics my goal was to cultivate mycelium therefore my priority was on sterilization, not aesthetics and plastic-like properties.

Agar Agar (Algea):

Composition: Agar agar is a polysaccharide extracted from red seaweed, consisting of agarose and agaropectin.
Properties: It forms a gel-like substance when mixed with water and heated, offering flexibility, transparency, and edibility. Agar agar bioplastics are typically more elastic and hydrophilic, making them suitable for applications like food packaging and edible films. Great to cultivate mycelium cultures.
Sustainability: Agar agar decomposes rapidly and fully, leaving no harmful residues and does not compete with food crops.

Starch-Based (Corn and Wheat):

Composition: Starch-based bioplastics are composed of amylose, amylopectin, and polysaccharides derived from plant starches.
Properties: Can be molded into various shapes, providing good mechanical strength and rigidity. They are generally less flexible than Agar Agar bioplastics and are more hydrophobic, making them suitable for sturdier applications like packaging materials, disposable tableware, and agricultural films.
Sustainability: Starch-based bioplastics are biodegradable but decompose at a slower rate compared to agar agar, require water, and fertilizers, and compete with food-crops when growing.