Bio-based polymers not always greener

A new study finds bio-based polymers are not necessarily more environmentally friendly than fossil-based materials, as processing often negates their advantages. Researchers analyzed six common biomaterials used in water purification, including chitosan, alginate, cellulose, lignin, xanthan, and starch. Using 18 environmental parameters, they found many bio-based alternatives have a worse lifecycle assessment than conventional materials due to high energy use and chemicals in processing. The study notes that end-of-life impacts and immature processing technologies for biomaterials were not fully accounted for, suggesting the expectation that biomaterials are inherently greener is naive.