Claim: Bioplastic development has been taking place since 1862 thanks to Alexander Parkes, creator of the first man-made plastic Parkesine.
Evidence: Bioplastics are plastic materials produced from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, straw, woodchips, sawdust, recycled food waste, etc. Bioplastic can be made from agricultural by-products and also from used plastics (i.e. plastic bottles and other containers) by using microorganisms. Bioplastics are usually derived from sugar derivatives, including starch, cellulose, and lactic acid. 1862: At the Great London Exhibition, Alexander Parkes displays Parkesine, the first plastic. Parkesine is made from nitrocellulose. (White 1998) Alexander Parkes (29 December 1813 – 29 June 1890) was a metallurgist and inventor from Birmingham, England. He created Parkesine, the first man-made plastic.