Thermo Scientific PCR Plastics, Sustain Series

Biobased plastics are fully or partly made from biological raw materials, as opposed to the petroleum or fossil fuel used in conventional plastics. Biobased plastics may be indistinguishable from the traditional fossil fuel-based plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), or high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Alternatively, they may be biodegradable or compostable plastics, for example polylactic acid (PLA).Thermo Fisher biobased plastic products fit into the former category listed above, they are indistinguishable from traditional fossil fuel-based plastics.

Bio-circular feedstocks, a feedstock category defined by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) certification system, refer to materials that are considered waste or processing residue at the beginning of the supply chain that are not landfilled or energetically used, but instead reused, further used, or recycled in a loop without dropping out of the economy. These feedstocks can be used to make biobased plastics and have a lower environmental footprint compared to virgin fossil fuel-based feedstocks, without sacrificing performance. Additionally, there may be no need for revalidation or retesting as the product can be chemically and molecularly identical to an existing fossil fuel-based version.

The ISCC, or International Sustainability and Carbon Certification, is a globally recognized certification system supporting sustainable, traceable, deforestation-free, and climate-friendly supply chains. It sets standards and provides certification for various sectors, including agriculture, food, feed, chemicals, and biofuels. The ISCC aims to promote sustainable production and trade while addressing environmental and social aspects.

ISCC PLUS certification is one of the certification schemes under the ISCC certification system. One focus area under this scheme is on sustainability and traceability aspects of biomass-based products, such as biofuels, bioplastics, and biochemicals. ISCC PLUS certification verifies chain of custody, traceability throughout the supply chain and compliance with sustainability criteria, through independent third-party certification. It provides assurance to customers and stakeholders that the certified products meet strict sustainability requirements.

Incorporation of biobased and fossil fuel-based resins occurs at the monomer level, which helps ensure that the properties and characteristics of the biobased plastics remain consistent with traditional fossil fuel-based plastics. Plastics with biobased content by mass balance reduce reliance on fossil fuel-based resources while maintaining desired performance.  They also allow manufacturers of plastic resin to continue to invest and scale use of these renewable feedstocks.

Biobased plastics that are indistinguishable from the traditional fossil fuel-based plastics, generally, have a lower carbon footprint without sacrificing performance. Additionally, there is no need for revalidation or retesting as the product is chemically and molecularly identical to the existing fossil fuel-based version.

Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions are direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the organization, such as fossil fuel combustion. Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions are indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heat, or steam. Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions are all other indirect emissions associated with the organization's activities, from sources not owned or controlled by the organization, such as production of purchased goods, transportation and distribution activities, use of sold products, or employee commuting. Managing all three scopes is crucial for organizations to effectively reduce their carbon footprint.

Organizations that have established goals to reduce their environmental footprint and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, are approaching their suppliers to seek products that have a lower product carbon footprint due to the contained raw materials and the processes used to manufacture the product.  Additionally, organizations are seeking products that when used and disposed of at end of use at their own facilities, have a lower impact.  Examples of this are lower impact from reduced energy consumption, creation of less waste, use of less ancillary materials, and can be recycled at end of use.

Product carbon footprint or PCF is a measure of the environmental impact of a product throughout part or all the life cycle, which can include the raw materials used for the product and its manufacturing, the manufacturing process, distribution, use and disposal of the product.  PCF specifically measures the total greenhouse gas emissions generated throughout the life cycle.

For biobased plastics, the product carbon footprint includes fossil GHG emissions, biogenic GHG emissions, and biogenic removals.

Biobased plastics can be non-biodegradable, biodegradable, or compostable depending on the raw material feedstock and additives that go into the plastic resin and into manufacturing of the product.  Biobased plastics that are indistinguishable from the traditional fossil fuel-based plastics, are not biodegradable or compostable (such as polypropylene or PP, polyethylene terephthalate or PET and polystyrene or PS).