Plastic from plants? Researchers test possibilities

[babylonsister]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/260/story/62250.html

Plastic from plants? Researchers test possibilities


Money may not actually grow on trees, but if some University of Missouri researchers have their way, plastic eventually might. They say the “plantastic” discovery would make for a cleaner, greener planet.

Results from the MU study suggest that some of the largely petroleum-based plastic may soon be replaced by a nonpolluting, renewable plastic made from plants. That would reduce the carbon footprint and dependence on foreign oil, as well as provide another cash crop for farmers.

Plants would actually make soluble polymers that would be harvested and then put together to make plastic for such products as grocery bags, soda bottles, disposable razors and flatware.

[tridim]

1. Another reason to grow massive fields of hemp

Almost anything can be made from hemp, including biodegradable plastic.

http://www.hempplastic.com/newSite/index.htm

[mike_c]

2. rayon is already produced this way....

Rayon is synthetically polymerized cellulose, IIRC.

[Quantess]

3. An "Organic Cafe" in Maui gives out plant-plastic utensils.

The forks said "made from plants" on the back. They were similar to plastic, with a slightly different texture than a plastic fork.

[madrchsod]

4. my son`s production line is running plastic sheets made from corn by products

smells reallly bad ,was a pain in the ass to get to run,and requires special machinery. it`s up and running providing plastic for store signage and credit/debit cards

[DCKit]

5. Somehow, the corn lobby is always at the forefront of these developments.

I wonder if it has anything to do with their representation in Congress....

[Javaman]

6. meh, they already do it with corn, potatos and milk. yes, milk. nt