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Here is an example of one of the most common types of emails that we receive here at Green Plastics:
I am a student and just beginning to learn about chemistry. Is there a good simple website that I can go to find out the basics about bioplastics? Every site that I find online either doesn't have any chemistry information at all, or it's way too technical or advanced. Is there anything out there for people who want to learn about what bioplastics are really about, but aren't "industry insiders" already?
This is a great question, and in fact this is exactly what we are all about: being an information resource for students and people who are just beginning to learn about the science of bioplastics.
If you are looking online, my first recommendation would be the website Green Plastics: Definitions, concepts and explanations about bioplastics. This is set up basically like Wikipedia, with a lot of introductory articles about basic concepts, defining (for example) things like what plastics are, what a biopolymer is, and how bioplastics are different from regular plastics, and so on. It also has some good discussions of background terms that are important to understand like biodegradation and renewable resource. The website is deliberately written to give you some science, but to not be overwhelming for beginners.
If you want a little more, and are willing to go beyond the internet, I would recommend the book, Green Plastics: An Introduction to the New Science of Biodegradable Plastics written by E. S. Stevens. It has some chemical formulas, some recipes for making bioplastics at home, and a lot of very basic chemistry information so that you can learn about things like degradability, composting, and the basic chemical make-up of bioplastics.
Finally, of course it would be wrong of me not to recommend this site! Browse through our discussion section, and you will see a lot of basic questions that we have answered over the years. A lot of them are written exactly at the level for introductory students (highschool and college) who want to learn more about the chemistry of bioplastics, including things like what is the chemical formula for bioplastic and what is the role of vinegar in making bioplastic?
And of course, if you don't see your question answered on here already, don't be too shy to ask! That's what we're here for.
Good luck in your research!
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Discussion 
Comments
But i was thinking of making corn plastic utensils (glass, plate, knife etc.).
I would really want some tips from u. do i need molds. If i put the materials in a mold after cooking to let it dry, is it going to work. will i have plastic in shape of the mold. what should be the proportion of glycerin:vinega r if i want my plastic to be hard and not very flexible.
Also can i use the process which is used in the youtube video - How to make bioplastic(exte nded version)
or do i need more materials
i am awaiting a reply eagerly.
Thanks and again really appreciative work. Well done!
http://green-plastics.net/discussion/54-student/132-qaa-i-want-to-make-corn-plastic-utensils
!I have read a lot of people that ask to you about creating a hard and not flexible bioplastic.For me is not clear to understand what do you mean for "gelatin" that is needed for that kind of plastic.is a vegetable gelatin maybe?Or is something to create at home using other elements?could you give me please some info about that?
thank you so much for inspiring me so much!
Tania
I am so glad that you are inspired to use bioplastics!
First let me point out that if you want to use bioplastic in a commercial endeavor, there are companies that manufacture bioplastic on a large scale that you could probably work with. Look into Cereplast and Cargill, for example.
However, if you want to make your own bioplastic on a smaller scale, you can use any of the recipes on this website.
Where the recipes call for gelatin, it literally means any kind of gelatin like you can buy at a grocery store, usually an animal protein not vegetable.
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