Full Circle

What should designers bear in mind when working with bioplastics if they wish to avoid sending plastic down its current one-way street? After all, labels such as biodegradable, compostable or recyclable are no guarantee that such materials will actually continue to circulate. Good design is only part of the story. There is also a need for appropriate business models, efficient return and recycling structures, and networks that bring together all participants in order to ensure that the materials used are made into new components and products instead of being discarded.