Is Bamboo Plastic Safe & Sustainable?

We’ve all heard reports about how billions and billions of pieces of plastic are choking the world’s oceans. If you’re worried, you’re not alone; surveys show that oceanic plastic pollution is a top consumer concern. In recent years, there has been a rise in the use of bamboo and other plant-based additives in plastics. Can these products help protect oceans and marine life?

It may seem like bamboo and other plant-based additives in plastics are a good idea. However, research shows that they can be unsafe in materials that come into contact with food. Using unapproved ingredients in tableware for sale in the European Union is illegal. So now, the European Commission and the EU Food Fraud Network are joining forces to stop the illicit import, trade, and advertising of these products.

Why are bamboo and other unapproved plant-based plastic additives banned in Europe?

Most plant-based additives, including bamboo, have not been adequately assessed for safety in tableware. The concern is that these additives can cause accelerated degradation of certain plastics. As a result, substances used in the manufacture of plastic can migrate into food. Bamboo plastic products have reportedly released large amounts of melamine and formaldehyde in some tests, exceeding what is considered safe levels.

Melamine can be toxic to the kidneys, and formaldehyde is carcinogenic. Leaching is more likely when the product comes into contact with heat or slightly acidic liquids including soda.

Although the European Commission has approved more than 900 substances as monomers, additives, and polymer production aids in food contact materials, plastics are being sold that contain bamboo and other unapproved plant-based additives. Most of these products come from China, and producers, distributors, and importers must remove these products from the European market immediately. To date, the U.S. has implemented no regulation of bamboo plastics, but research does expose potential safety risks when such composite plastics are used in items intended for food contact.