PHA materials can substitute petroleum plastics for one-time-use applications that often by design or improper waste management end up in the environment (e.g. micro-beads in cosmetic products or drinking straws). Biodegradation of PHA materials in all environments (compost, soil, water) is comparable to or faster than cellulose (i.e. paper). 

"Berlin, 27 September 2018. As part of its 2018 initiative to cut down on the use of single-use items where feasible, or to substitute them with more sustainable alternatives, the Parliament of the United Kingdom has rolled out a new range of bio-based, certified compostable catering items, such as coffee cups, soup containers and salad boxes in the House of Commons and the House of Lords."

“ Currently, bioplastics represent about one per cent of the about 300 million tonnes of plastic produced annually. But as demand is rising and with more sophisticated materials, applications, and products emerging, the market is already growing by about 20 to 100 per cent per year. According to the latest market data compiled by European Bioplastics, global production capacity of bioplastics is predicted to grow by 50 percent in the medium term, from around 4.2 million tonnes in 2016 to approximately 6.1 million tonnes in 2021”.  

European Bioplastics (EUBP) representing the interest of the bioplastics industry along the entire value chain, serves as both knowledge partner and business network for companies, experts and all relevant stakeholder groups of the industry. They decided to use only data from their expert team (Nova Institute). ​

The stakes of the plastic industry 
According to a 2016 joint study by the Nova Institute and European Bioplastics, 320 million tons of plastic are produced each year. These petroleum-based plastic objects, even if they are recycled, usually end up buried in landfills and degrade so slowly that they accumulate and are found all over the environment. In the last years, innovations in the plastics industry have mainly targeted two objectives: to make us independent from petroleum (bioplastics biosourced) and to slow down the growth of plastic waste generated (recycling). Unfortunately, these innovations can not eradicate the problem of accumulation of plastic waste or ensure the future of our upcoming generations. 

Recycling to reduce annual production of plastics
Recycling is a good solution, but solves only part of the problem. By recycling, we reduce the annual production of plastic needed to meet our needs. But even recycled plastics have a limited useful life and one day or another, they end up in landfills. 

Bioplastics, a partial solution to the challenges of the industry
Bioplastics include biosourced and / or biodegradable materials. According to the 2016 report by European Bioplastics and Nova Institute, in 2017 less than 30% of bioplastics would be biodegradable. Some explanations for the neophytes:
- Bio-based bioplastics to reduce our dependence on petroleum: Bioplastics are not made from petroleum and therefore meet one of the two major challenges of the plastic industry by reducing our dependence on petroleum. On the other hand, the molecule developed is often identical to the one produced from petroleum, therefore as toxic and non-degradable as the previous one.
- Biodegradable bioplastics to reduce the accumulation of plastic: To be biodegradable, a plastic must be able to decompose into various elements under the action of living organisms naturally present in the environment. Neither the time required for degradation nor the chemical properties of the final result are currently regulated. So even a plastic presented as biodegradable can take several or even hundreds of years to degrade in the environment and it can even have a toxic impact on the environment.

Composting, the viable long-term solution
As we speak, the sustainable solution that avoids the accumulation of plastics is composting, a process in which compostable plastics are transformed into basic elements that have become available and beneficial for the environment. But under what conditions? Make sure that these so-called compostable plastics are actually compostable, that they meet specific standards for industrial composting sites, or better, that they are compostable in your compost bin at home. This is the solution proposed by BOSK. We believe that to reduce the accumulation of plastic waste, the sustainable long-term solution is to produce compostable plastic that meets recognized compostability standards.

Montreal, August 9, 2017 - Bosk Bioproducts, a Quebec-based private company, wants to introduce products made exclusively from a new generation of eco-friendly plastic: truly compostable, nontoxic, GMO-free and made from renewable untapped by-products of the paper industry. ​

The stakes of the plastic industry 
According to a 2016 joint study by the Nova Institute and European Bioplastics, 320 million tons of plastic are produced each year. These petroleum-based plastic objects, even if they are recycled, usually end up buried in landfills and degrade so slowly that they accumulate and are found all over the environment. In the last years, innovations in the plastics industry have mainly targeted two objectives: to make us independent from petroleum (bioplastics biosourced) and to slow down the growth of plastic waste generated (recycling). Unfortunately, these innovations can not eradicate the problem of accumulation of plastic waste or ensure the future of our upcoming generations. 

Composting, the sustainable solution
As we speak, the sustainable solution that avoids the accumulation of plastics is composting, a process in which compostable plastics are transformed into basic elements that have become available and beneficial for the environment. But under what conditions? Make sure that these so-called compostable plastics are actually compostable, that they meet specific standards for industrial composting sites, or better, that they are compostable in your compost bin at home. This is the solution proposed by BOSK. We believe that to reduce the accumulation of plastic waste, the sustainable solution is to produce compostable plastic that meets recognized compostability standards.

Bosk bioproducts offers a new generation of plastic
For more than 10 years, researchers at the INRS in Québec have been developing a biotechnology to produce a 100% natural molecule : PHA (polyhydroxy alkanoate), a biopolymer that can be substituted for conventional plastic.

Truly compostable
Bosk's "bioplastic" is based on its PHA that is 100% compostable can finally meet the most stringent requirements in terms of standards for composting. At the end of life, this bioplastic can be thrown into the composting that is done at home, with the residues of gardening and cooking.

Compostable, but also durable
No worries about its durability. PHA adds a clever blend of ingredients to meet consumer demands while ensuring its compostability at home or at industrial sites. Degradation begins only when the object is in contact with the natural bacterias living in the soil and the time required for degradation can be as low as a few weeks to a few months.

Designed to reduce our impact on the environment
Moreover, in order to preserve the most natural product possible and reduce its impact on the environment, this new generation of plastic does not originate from GMOs nor contains toxic additives such as BPA and PVC. The production of this bioplastic makes it possible to reduce the carbon footprint compared to the production of conventional plastic. And the icing on the cake: the raw material of this plastic is an untapped by-product of the pulp and paper industry. Bosk makes no compromises. Both the product and the production process are developed to reduce our impact on the environment.