Author: Marcus Remmers | Chief Technology Officer, Royal DSM
Did you know that Henry Ford, the great inventor, was fascinated by the soybean? During the Great Depression he spent many hours in his laboratory. He tried to make a cheap plastic from this simple bean, so that more people could afford a T-Ford.
In 1941, Ford – who even wore clothes made from soybean-based textiles – had developed a handmade car with a plastic body made entirely from plants. News reports from that time described this car as 'part salad, part automobile'.
Unfortunately, like others who have attempted to commercialize plant-based materials, Ford Motor Company has never been able to produce soybean-based plastics that could compete in performance and price with comparable petroleum-based products. As the world faces significant challenges such as climate change, depletion of natural resources and plastic waste pollution, Ford's quest seems more timely and important than ever. Moreover, thanks to technological developments, the performance of bioplastics is improving and the production industry should no longer view these materials with suspicion.
I am very proud that my company, DSM, has set itself the goal of developing a complete alternative product range of bio- and/or recycled plastics for its existing portfolio by the end of 2030. It is important that the bio- and/or recycled plastics produced using the so-called mass balance approach have exactly the same mechanical and chemical properties as the products in our current range. It also does not require special tooling or adjustment of processes. They work in the same way as conventional solutions, with the same performance, but offer our customers the opportunity to contribute to a more sustainable world.
In this way, we guide our sector towards a better future – a future in which our high quality of life does not have a harmful impact on the world around us. But to create an even stronger pipeline of high-quality bioplastics and achieve even greater impact, our partners across the value chain – suppliers, customers but also competitors – must jointly commit to acceptance and work towards a circular world. It's high time we realize Ford's progressive vision and make biobased plastics available to everyone.
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