MEETING MYTHBUSTERS

BIOPLASTIC FANTASTIC?
October 6, 2013 · by Shawna McKinley · in Food & Beverage, Procurement, Waste Management, Myths, Registration. ·
OraclePhoto: Hartmann Studios

Odds are you’re likely using them at your event right now. But what do you really know about them, and should you be using them? Today’s Meeting Mythbusters dives into the often confusing and temptingly convenient world of bioplastics!

What is bioplastic? In simplest terms, bioplastic is derived from living, renewable materials like corn, sugar and vegetable oils. This can be contrasted with common plastics that rely more on non-renewable fossil fuels.

Where are bioplastics used at events? Events may use bioplastics for many things: food serviceware and packaging, name badge holders, tabletop liners, banner material, floral wrapping, folder and folio covers and many other places where you might use traditional plastic.

Bioplastics are good, right? As with most things related to sustainability, this is a difficult question to unequivocally answer. Bioplastics have advantages.

What say you? Are bioplastics the new fantastic? Or are you taking efforts to eliminate the use of plastics at your events entirely?

Blog post inspired by Paige Brown’s Bioplastics column on SciLogs, August 5, 2013, and event sustainability expert Linda Champagne of Hartmann Studios.