It is impossible to imagine everyday life without plastic. However, the production and disposal of plastics is increasingly polluting the environment because they consist largely of petroleum and are difficult to break down. The bioeconomy therefore focuses on bioplastics that consist of renewable raw materials or residual and waste materials. Producing bioplastics requires by no means only state-of-the-art technologies and processes. The ingredients for an environmentally friendly plastic can also be found in every household.

Creative from self-made bioplastics

To produce bioplastics, three things are needed above all: milk or cornstarch and sugar. How these common baking ingredients are turned into a bio-based plastic is revealed in the recipes for the nationwide competition "Mein(e) Plastik ist Bio", which has now been launched as part of the Wissenschaftsjahr, which this year is dedicated to the bioeconomy. With this event, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research invites people to turn their own kitchen into a creative laboratory and create everyday and design objects from self-made bioplastics. Detailed instructions show how bioplastics can be produced quickly and easily at home.

Competition attracts with great prizes

The join-in campaign "Mein(e) Plastik ist Bio" is flanked by a nationwide competition in which the most creative ideas are awarded. Interested parties can register as participants and submit photos or videos until 30 November 2020 via the project page of the Wissenschaftjahr. The photographs should depict either the design process and/or the final result and include a brief description. An expert jury of scientists, artists and designers will make the final decision on the award.

The awards are presented in various categories and age groups. The prizes are a high-quality bicycle, a fairly produced smartphone, an ECOlunchbox and a climate cookbook. In addition, a public prize will be awarded, which in turn will be rewarded with a two-day trip to Berlin for two people or an overnight stay in a luxurious tree house.