Axel Barrett
I launched BioplasticsNews.com on December 27, 2013.
The idea was simple: to build a blog around news. The harder—and far more important—decision was choosing a topic that could keep my curiosity alive for years. Bioplastics felt right. It sounded modern, a little sexy even, and pairing it with the word news gave the project a sense of legitimacy: a real news site, but with a blogger’s voice—outspoken, independent, and occasionally satirical.
Over the years, I poured thousands of hours into this platform and published more than 15,000 articles. It has been an intense, sometimes obsessive journey. In January 2026, I decided to bring that chapter to a close.
In its early years, Bioplastics News focused primarily on bioplastics and chemical recycling. The mission was clear: to monitor the industry and inform readers as accurately and consistently as possible.
Since February 2026, the site has taken a different direction. I stepped away from the traditional monitoring role and chose to focus fully on one cause: the campaign to ban so-called biodegradable plastics in soil.
One of the most controversial plastics has been ‘soil biodegradable plastics’ (also called ‘compostable’ plastics in the péckaging sector —the first plastics deliberately designed to be buried into to the soil and enter food chain immediately. From a food safety and public health perspective, I consider this a deeply flawed idea, even before touching on the environmental concerns.
One of the most sensitive issues is lobbying and the disproportionate influence large corporations exert on legislative decision-making. Lobbying has become a mechanism to shape laws around commercial interests, while in theory legislation should serve the public good, not just corporate balance sheets.
I don’t want to eat plastics or microplastics or any kind of plastics. Help me with the …
Ban the ‘Soil-Biodegradable’ Plastics Campaign
Boycott
Major plastics, oil, and chemical companies have opted to boycott the platform—and have gone so far as to put that decision in writing.
European Bioplastics Calls for a Boycott
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Here’s a picture of me trying to look cool.
hello,
it seems you don’t know FUTERRO as PLA producer.
We are a Belgian company and are building the largest PLA plant in China starting right now
Hello,
Congratulation by the article “First Biodegradable Crisps Packaging Made From Eucalyptus” wrote by Mr. Axel Barrett.
I wondering if you can share me information about the research group that developed the biodegradable material from Eucalyptus.
I am a scientific researcher and I want to contact the research groups that developed this innovation with Eucalyptus.
Best regards
Leonidas Carrasco-Letelier
INIA
Uruguay