Renewable Resources and Biopolymers

A renewable resource is one that may be used over and over again and does not deplete since it is replenished organically. Solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass energy are examples of renewable resources. In essence, a renewable resource is a commodity that has an infinite supply. Unlike the sun, wind, or water, some resources are considered renewable, even if they require some time or effort to regenerate. The majority of precious metals are also renewable. Although precious metals cannot be replaced naturally, they can be recycled because they are not damaged during their extraction and usage. Non-renewable resources, unlike renewable resources, cannot be replenished once they have been depleted. The demand for renewable resources grows as the human population grows and finite resources become increasingly scarce.

Living organisms make biopolymers, which are naturally occurring polymers. They are not to be confused with manufactured biodegradable polymers. Environmental contamination from fossil fuels and waste from petrochemical goods has been a source of increasing worry. There has been a lot of research towards finding various alternatives to petroleum-based products that are renewable and biodegradable, and thus pose less of a harm to the environment. Biopolymers, which are primarily biodegradable materials derived from renewable basic resources, are one such possible answer to the problem. It is important to remember, however, that not all biodegradable polymers are biopolymers (i.e., produced from renewable resources).

• Non-biodegradable biopolymers from renewable resources
• Biopolymers from renewable resources