Mazda Develops High-Strength Heat Resistant Bioplastic
by Justin Thomas, Virginia 
on 05.11.06
Mazda has announced that they've created an exterior surface quality, high-strength, heat-resistant bioplastic made of natural materials. It can also be used for vehicle interior parts. This newly-developed bioplastic has three times the shock impact resistance along with 25 percent higher heat resistance when compared to contemporary bioplastics used for items such as electrical appliances. In contrast to current petroleum-based polypropylene plastics, the new bioplastic also has comparatively higher rigidity, resulting in thinner molds and fewer materials used. The bioplastic material is 88 percent corn and 12 percent petroleum. :: Via Car.Co.NZ See also ::Mazda Employees Encouraged To Walk, ::Mazda Updates Its Global Environmental Charter, ::Mazda's Smart Idling Stop System
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88 percent corn and 12 percent petroleum
Bio-plastics can contain petroleum and still be called a Bio-plastic?
Petroleum comes from the Earth, slick.
Petroleum comes from the Earth, slick
"Bio" means "life", and except for the first few feet down, things below the Earth's crust are long dead.
Better question... has anyone addressed the threat of monoculture that industrial corn represents? I have only seen mention of sugar cane as a fuel alternative?
The future of ethanol definitely is (or should be) cellulosic ethanol, not corn.
88% corn ain't bad. I'd let them slide on that one. Cellulosic will be the wave since feedstock is basically anything. I'm not really worried about the military taking up all our farmland for fuel and creating food riots. But if there are, maybe they'll also implement the Running Man game-show? ;)
Any idea what percentage corn previous Bioplastics were?