Published by Australian Academy of Science
Useful sites | Making packaging greener – biodegradable plastics

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

• Plant transformation (Radio Australia, 12 December 2005)
  Describes Australian research into the use of plants for manufacturing plastics.
  http://www.abc.net.au/ra/innovations/stories/s1529049.htm

• The indestructables (Features, 27 January 2005)
  Describes two types of plastic bags, how they can be recycled, biodegradable bags and some alternatives to plastic bags.
  http://www.abc.net.au/science/features/indestructibles/

• Composting plastic (The Lab, 5 February 2002) Discusses the Australian technology that created a biodegradable plastic from cornstarch.
  http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/enviro/EnviroRepublish_472701.htm

• No bag thanks (The Lab) Describes the problems caused by plastic bags and ways in which to ease the problem.
  http://www.abc.net.au/science/features/bags/default.htm

Biodegradable plastics – developments and environmental impacts (Australian Government Department of the Environment and Water Resources)

The executive summary of an extensive report on the development and environmental impact of degradable plastics. The full report is also available.
http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/publications/waste/degradables/biodegradable/exec-summary.html

Plantic Technologies receives award for biodegradable plastic (A to Z of Materials, Australia)

Reports that the Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Industry 2004 was awarded to an Australian company for its biodegradable plastic.
http://www.azom.com/details.asp?newsID=1816

Biopolymers from crops: their potential to improve the environment (Proceedings of the 11th Australian Agronomy Conference, 2003)

Discusses the possibilities of developing a biopolymer industry in Australia.
http://www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2003/c/11/michael.htm

Bioplastics: Time to act (Packaging Gateway)

Provides an update on the status of bioplastics in Europe.
http://www.packaging-gateway.com/features/feature1357/

How green are green plastics? (Scientific American, August 2000)

Looks at how plastics manufacturing affects the environment.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=0000D61F-E193-1C73-9B81809EC588EF21&catID=2