Biomaterials defined
Biomaterials, or natural materials or bio-based materials, are materials derived from natural sources, and they refer to substances that originate from living organisms or their byproducts.
Historically, humans have utilized biomaterials for various applications, such as constructing shelters, fabricating tools, and creating textiles. However, the "allure" of synthetic materials led to a significant shift. Their relatively lower cost is because, after decades, their manufacturing processes have become highly efficient, allowing for mass production at a relatively low cost. This is the case of polyester and nylon today, as they are often made from oil by-products and produced in highly efficient large-scale operations.
Key Concepts around biomaterials
Biodegradability: ensuring a swift return to earth
Biodegradability is a characteristic of materials that describes their ability to naturally break down and decompose in the environment (typically through the action of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or enzymes).
Biomaterials are usually biodegradable, meaning they do not persist in the environment as long-lasting waste. Instead, they undergo a natural degradation process, reducing the accumulation of non-degradable waste and pollution. For example, GROWN Bio makes mushroom packaging that is home and marine compostable.
Renewability: keeping the source flowing
The raw materials used to create biomaterials, such as plants or microorganisms, can be regrown, reproduced, or replenished over time through natural processes or deliberate cultivation. Renewability stands in stark contrast to finite resources like fossil fuels, which are finite and non-renewable, leading to concerns about resource depletion and environmental harm associated with their extraction and use.
The concept of renewability in biomaterials embodies the idea of a closed-loop or circular system, where the resources used to produce these materials can be continually regenerated, reducing the strain on the environment and minimizing the long-term impact on ecosystems. PlantSea’s approach to plastic exemplifies this idea. They make biodegradable seaweed-derived plastic alternatives, taking advantage of the relative ease of growing seaweed.
Sustainability of source: preserving the wellspring
The idea of sustainability of source emphasizes the ethical and ecological considerations when obtaining biological materials for various purposes. Although they are renewable, it’s important to ensure that the production or extraction of these materials does not harm the environment or deplete natural reserves.
Another aspect is ethical concerns, like fair labor practices and respecting the rights of local communities involved in the sourcing process. For example, Forestwise engages the services of local raw material collectors in Villages in West Kalimantan to collect raw materials sustainably.
Material lifecycle: holistic lifecycle assessment
Material lifecycle is a holistic approach that examines the entire journey of biomaterials, from their initial sourcing to their ultimate end-of-life disposal. It involves evaluating various factors and attributes that contribute to the overall environmental impact of these materials.
Key considerations within the material lifecycle assessment include assessing renewability, degradability, and recyclability. Bioplastics are made from renewable resources, such as cornstarch and sugarcane. This means that they can be replenished on a human timescale, unlike petroleum-based plastics.
FAQs
1. How are biomaterials different from synthetic or non-natural materials?
Biomaterials and synthetic materials represent two distinct categories of materials derived from different origins and processes.
Biomaterials, as the name suggests, are sourced directly from nature, encompassing substances like wood from trees, wool from sheep, or stone from quarries. They are often characterized by their biodegradability, inherent variability, and direct link to organic or geological processes.
In contrast, synthetic materials are human-made, typically engineered in laboratories and produced in factories. Examples include plastics, synthetic fibers like polyester, and many modern construction materials.
2. How are biomaterials sourced from nature?
The sourcing of biomaterials is dependent on the specific type of biomaterial being used. For instance, wood or forest-based biomaterials such as timber or cork are derived from the trees that produce them, necessitating responsible forest management practices.
Notably, cork can be extracted from cork oak plantations without cutting down trees, while timber production typically involves the felling of trees.
Additionally, biomaterials like biofabrics are sourced from a range of plants such as bamboo, hemp, flax, and cotton, as well as animals like sheep, llamas, and silkworms, highlighting the diverse origins of biomaterials in various industries.
3. What role do biomaterials play in sustainable development?
Biomaterials are gaining renewed attention for their crucial role in sustainable development. They offer a multifaceted solution to environmental and resource challenges by reducing the environmental impact of production and disposal. Biomaterials tend to have a lower environmental footprint, with many being biodegradable, curbing waste in landfills and oceans.
By virtue of being natural, they can break down naturally without leaving persistent waste in the environment. Some biomaterials, like timber from sustainably managed forests, sequester carbon dioxide as they grow. Not only does the responsible use of biomaterials respect and enrich planetary boundaries, but it also affords us the possibility of creating local economic opportunities.
Biomaterials also play a crucial role in the pursuit of a circular economy, where products are designed for durability, reuse, and recycling. This approach minimizes waste and encourages the efficient utilization of resources, as seen in bio-based packaging materials replacing traditional single-use plastics, alleviating the strain on landfills and oceans.
4. Can biomaterials be harmful to the natural world?
While it is nearly impossible to extract or create a material without releasing carbon dioxide or some other greenhouse gas, it doesn’t necessarily make the extraction of that material bad or harmful. This is because the extent of those emissions is far lower than synthetic or non-renewable materials.
Moreover, the development of natural materials requires enriching ecosystems and creating room for the sources of those materials to flourish. Think seaweed or kelp in coral reefs or kelp forests and mycelium or timber in dense rainforests.
However, this won’t happen automatically. Special attention would need to be paid to developing and promoting mindful extractive processes that do repeat the mistakes of a linear extractive model. Seaweed and bamboo, for instance, can be invasive if not monitored, and if we replace lush ecosystems with monocultures and plantations of any particular biomaterial, we stand to do more harm than good.
5. What is the future of biomaterials in a low-carbon world?
Biomaterials have a prominent role to play in a low-carbon world. To decarbonize industries and economies, it is essential to address the carbon-intensive nature of material production, which often relies on non-renewable sources and energy-intensive processes. The transition to a low-carbon world requires radically transforming these foundational practices.
Biomaterials, with their impressive carbon sequestration capabilities, are expected to play a prominent role due to their biodegradability and reduced environmental impact. Furthermore, establishing circular economies that prioritize continuous recycling and upcycling will be crucial in reducing the demand for new raw materials and contributing to sustainable practices.
6. How are biomaterials contributing to a circular economy?
Biomaterials contribute positively to a circular economy because of their renewability, which ensures a continuous, sustainable cycle of material production. Using natural bio-based materials would also mean we would be encouraging biodiversity and replenishing the stressed planet. In a world dominated by biomaterials, the need for synthetic or non-renewable materials would cease to exist.
Unlike many synthetic materials that persist in the environment for centuries, bio-based materials decompose and return to the earth, leaving minimal or no waste. This means there would be fewer landfills overflowing with waste we don’t know how to discard. We would also produce fewer virgin materials, and in the words of the Ellen McArthur Foundation, we would stop waste from being produced in the first place.
