The company is also working on biofuels, designer enzymes, bioplastics and unspecified consumer products.

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New bioplastics, like PHA from Metabolix, looks, feels and acts like plastic, but is marine biodegradable.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

These cellulose-based bioplastics have conventionally been utilized in stationery, toys and household goods.

ENGADGET: NEC builds a better bioplastic from plant stems and cashew nut shells

In recent years, bioplastics composed from plant resources gathered greater attention as an effective measure to reduce the depletion of petroleum resources and alleviate global warming.

ENGADGET: NEC builds a better bioplastic from plant stems and cashew nut shells

However, these modified celluloses require large amounts of petroleum-based additives such as plasticizers, which results in bioplastics with a low plant component ratio and poor durability, including heat resistance and water resistance.

ENGADGET: NEC builds a better bioplastic from plant stems and cashew nut shells

However, while current leading bioplastics, such as PLA, primarily use feed grains as a plant resource, the possibility of future food shortages has emphasized the importance of using non-edible plant resources to produce bioplastics.

ENGADGET: NEC builds a better bioplastic from plant stems and cashew nut shells

Bioplastics also erode harmlessly over time.

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They would be converted into glucose (of which cellulose, which makes up much of the dry weight of a plant, is a polymer) and the glucose would be shipped around much as oil is today, for eventual conversion into biofuels and bioplastics.

ECONOMIST: Face value

There they were exposed to bacteria which now had the job of breaking the sugar into succinic acid, a colorless, odorless substance that is heavily used in the food industry as a sweetener but can also be used in the production of a wide variety of materials, including medicines, bioplastics and even laundry detergent.

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