Climate change and the depletion of the earth’s finite resources have created an urgent need to find viable alternatives to fossil-based raw materials. Using bio-based raw materials enables the transition away from fossil-based sources and helps us move toward a more sustainable society.
Bio-based materials also offer better recyclability than fossil-based options. On top of this, they have higher process efficiency thanks to the use of biologically based production processes such as enzymes, fermentation, and bio-catalysis. These processes may also result in a reduced carbon footprint.
Bio-based materials may also exhibit lower toxicity, alongside other novel characteristics such as biodegradability.
However, products produced using bio-based materials are not inherently more sustainable, because the environmental impact of the entire production process must be considered via Life Cycle Assessments.