Increased use of petrochemical plastics has increased our dependence for foreign oil imports. The use of soy protein in plastic products is one way to increase soy protein use.
Soy protein has many of the properties of conventional thermal-set plastics.
In the 1930's, the Ford Motor Company pioneered the casting of soy protein plastics for automotive parts. This technology was later replaced by cheaper petroleum alternatives. Our understanding of soy protein has grown in the past 60 years. Since soy-based plastics are extremely versatile and biodegradable, they are ideal for manufacturing disposable containers and packing products. Military and fast-food industries are just two of the areas where this technology may find use.