BIOPLASTIC
COOKBOOK ADINDA RAMADHANI
BIOPLASTIC Made from renewable resources like plants, starches, proteins, and even food waste, bioplastics are a creative and environmentally friendly substitute for traditional plastics. With the growing environmental concerns about plastic pollution and the use of fossil fuels, bioplastics provide a means of producing materials that are either compostable, biodegradable, or both while retaining desirable qualities like strength, durability, and flexibility (Zhao et al., 2023).
Because it enables practical investigation of natural ingredients and turns common plantbased materials into usable sheets, films, or molds, bioplastics experimentation is especially beneficial (Nature Lab RISD, 2025). By showing how basic ingredients can be combined to lessen environmental impact, this method not only promotes creativity and problem-solving skills but also offers insight into sustainable material design (UPenn Materials Library, 2025).
It is evident from straightforward processing methods how creative material design and renewable resources can work together to create sustainable substitutes for common plastic applications, bridging the gap between environmental responsibility and creativity (Nature Lab RISD, 2025).
Zhao et al. (2023). Sustainable bioplastics derived from renewable natural resources for food packaging. Journal of Matter, 6(1), 97-127. https://doi.org.4459/rev00009383 UPenn Materials Library. (2025, July 9). Learning Through Making: Exploring DIY Bioplastics at the Materials Library. https://www.library.upenn.edu/news/bioplastics Edna, W. L. (2025). Biomaterials You Can Make at Home. Nature Lab RISD. https://naturelab.risd.edu/discover/biomaterials-you-can-make-at-home/
This research was conducted at Carleton University, focusing on exploring the process of making bioplastics from natural and waste-based ingredients. The main objective was to understand the transformation of organic materials into bio-based polymers through direct experimentation.
The study began with gathering references on bioplastics and reviewing several cookbooks or recipe compilations that provide open-source guidance for producing biobased materials. After selecting a few promising recipes, the necessary ingredients were collected, and a series of trial-and-error experiments were carried out, cooking and observing how each formulation behaved.
Some mixtures formed stable sheets, while others cracked or became brittle after drying. Each experiment offered new insights regarding the effects of temperature, ingredient ratios, and composition. This hands-on approach provided a better understanding of the material behavior and highlighted the potential applications of these bioplastics for future product development.
BIOPLASTIC RECIPES
#1 CORNSTARCH Ingredients
Water (80mL), Vinegar (15mL), Glycerin (20g), Cornstarch (15g)
Process All ingredients were mixed thoroughly, then cooked using direct heat at approximately 150°C for 10 minutes, while continuously stirring to prevent burning. The mixture quickly transitioned from liquid to a sticky, gelatinous texture, indicating rapid heating. Once thickened, it was poured onto a flat surface to cool and solidify.
Observation The mixture heated up very quickly, causing uneven thickening and partial clumping. This shows that direct heat at 150°C was too intense, making temperature control difficult and resulting in a less uniform texture. Recipe adapted from Bioplastic Cook Book by Margaret Dunne for FABTEXTILES, 2018.
#2 CORNSTARCH Ingredients Water (80 mL), Vinegar (15 mL), Glycerin (20 g), Cornstarch (1.6 g)
Process All components were combined and cooked over direct heat for 8 minutes at 90°C, with consistent stirring. Compared to the first trial, this lower temperature reduced the risk of burning and allowed for more gradual thickening, though the mixture still showed signs of quick temperature reaction.
Observation While slightly more stable than Sample #1, the mixture was still highly heat-sensitive, causing parts of it to thicken faster than others. This indicates that direct heating remained too strong, making precise control challenging. Recipe adapted from Bioplastic Cook Book by Margaret Dunne for FABTEXTILES, 2018.
#3 CORNSTARCH Ingredients
Water (80 mL), Vinegar (15 mL), Glycerin (20 g), Cornstarch (15 g)
Process After mixing, the ingredients were heated using the double boil method at 90°C for 5 minutes, with constant stirring. The indirect heat allowed the mixture to thicken evenly without clumping. Once it reached a smooth and viscous consistency, it was poured onto a flat surface to form a thin, even sheet.
Observation This method provided better temperature stability, preventing the mixture from overheating. The result was a smoother, more uniform film that maintained flexibility and an even surface texture.
Recipe adapted from Bioplastic Cook Book by Margaret Dunne for FABTEXTILES, 2018.
#4 CORNSTARCH Ingredients
Water (80 mL), Vinegar (15 mL), Cornstarch (15 g)
Process All ingredients were mixed until smooth, then cooked using the double boil method at 90°C for 5 minutes, with continuous stirring. Without glycerin in the composition, the mixture thickened and solidified more quickly during heating. Once it reached a workable consistency, it was poured and spread into a thin layer to cool.
Observation The absence of glycerin (which acts as a plasticizer) caused the final material to become brittle and fragile once dried. Although the double boil provided good temperature control, the resulting bioplastic lacked flexibility and was prone to cracking or breaking under slight pressure. Recipe adapted from Bioplastic Cook Book by Margaret Dunne for FABTEXTILES, 2018.
#5 CORNSTARCH
Ingredients
Water (80 mL), Vinegar (15 mL), Glycerin (20 g), Cornstarch (15 g), Clay (10 g)
Process All ingredients were mixed thoroughly until smooth, then heated using the double boil method for 5 minutes at 90°C, with continuous stirring. The addition of clay changed the color of the mixture into a reddish tone, making it visually distinct from the previous samples. After heating, the mixture maintained a workable consistency and was poured evenly into a flat surface to form a thin sheet.
Observation The presence of clay improved the texture and density of the bioplastic, allowing it to be molded or poured easily. However, the top surface (which was exposed to air during drying) appeared uneven and slightly rough, while the covered parts remained smoother and more cohesive. Recipe adapted from Bioplastic Cook Book by Margaret Dunne for FABTEXTILES, 2018.
#6 CORNSTARCH
Ingredients
Water (80 mL), Gelatin (15 mL, replacing vinegar), Glycerin (20 g), Cornstarch (15 g)
Process All ingredients were combined and heated using the double boil method for 5 minutes at 90°C, while being stirred continuously. In this variation, gelatin was used as a substitute for vinegar, which slightly altered the chemical reaction and overall mixture texture.
Observation The resulting bioplastic was thicker and denser than the previous samples, with a strong and rigid structure once dried. While the surface remained relatively smooth, the added gelatin contributed to increased hardness and durability, making it less flexible but more resistant to tearing or deformation. Recipe adapted from Bioplastic Cook Book by Margaret Dunne for FABTEXTILES, 2018.
#7 ORANGE PEEL Ingredients
Water (40 mL), Gelatin (3 g), Glycerin (3 g), Ground orange peel (6 g)
Process All ingredients were mixed together and heated using the double boil method for 3 minutes and 43 seconds at 120°C, while being stirred continuously. The mixture was then poured onto a flat surface to cool and solidify.
Observation The resulting bioplastic had a rough and uneven surface texture, possibly due to the fibrous nature of the orange peel powder. After drying for over 10 days, the sample remained hard yet slightly flexible, allowing it to be bent or shaped without breaking easily. Overall, the material showed good structural integrity and potential for further refinement in surface smoothness. Recipe adapted from Nature Lab RISD, 2025.
#8 ORANGE PEEL Ingredients
Water (40 mL), Glycerin (3 g), Ground orange peel (6 g)
Process The ingredients were mixed and heated using the double boil method for 5 minutes at 90°C, with continuous stirring. Afterward, the mixture was poured onto a flat surface and left to dry at room temperature.
Observation The resulting bioplastic cracked and fragmented during the drying process, even though it wasn’t moved or disturbed. This indicates that the absence of gelatin significantly reduced the material’s flexibility and binding strength. From this result, it can be inferred that gelatin plays a crucial role as a binder, helping maintain elasticity and preventing breakage during drying. Recipe adapted from Nature Lab RISD, 2025.
#9 ORANGE PEEL
Ingredients
Wool fiber (5 g), Calcium chloride, Sodium alginate (34 g), Glycerin (105 g), Coconut oil (14 g), Ground orange peel (30 g), Water (325 g)
Process All ingredients were mixed together. Before pouring, calcium chloride was sprayed onto the surface where the mixture would be placed. The mixture was then poured and left to dry at room temperature for 3-5 days.
Observation The mixture was quite difficult to stir evenly, possibly because some ingredients like coconut oil and sodium alginate tended to clump. As a result, the dried surface appeared uneven and slightly rough. The final result showed good flexibility and strength when pulled, it didn’t break easily. Recipe adapted from “Making Bioplastic from Orange Peel,” Fab Lab YouTube, 2021.
#10 ORANGE PEEL
Ingredients
Sodium alginate (13 g), Glycerin (42 g), Coconut oil (6 g), Ground orange peel (12 g), Water (130 g)
Process All ingredients were blended together until forming a smooth and homogeneous mixture. The mixture was then poured and left to dry for three days at room temperature.
Observation The water measurement in this batch appeared insufficient, resulting in a mixture that did not fully blend and had some clumps of ingredients, likely from the coconut oil or sodium alginate. Because the base surface had a perforated metal texture, the final dried sheet inherited that pattern, resulting in a distinct surface texture. The sample formed a flexible sheet that could be folded and stretched without breaking, showing good balance between strength and elasticity. Recipe adapted from “Making Bioplastic from Orange Peel,” Fab Lab YouTube, 2021.
#11 ORANGE PEEL Ingredients
Sodium alginate (13 g), Glycerin (42 g), Coconut oil (6 g), Ground orange peel (12 g), Water (0.5 L)
Process All ingredients were blended together until forming a smooth and homogeneous mixture. The mixture was then poured and left to dry for three days at room temperature.
Observation The previous orange peel samples had too little water, making the mixture thick and hard to stir. In this batch, the water ratio was corrected, resulting in a smoother, more liquid texture that was easy to mix and pour. Use blender helped achieve better consistency and smoother texture, making the mixture easy to pour and spread evenly. After drying, mold appeared on the surface, suggesting that spraying calcium chloride on the base surface is important to prevent microbial growth. Recipe adapted from “Making Bioplastic from Orange Peel,” Fab Lab YouTube, 2021.
#12 EGGSHELL-COFFEE Ingredients
Water (40 ml), Gelatin (3 g), Glycerin (3 g), Ground orange peel (6 g), Coffee grounds (7 g), Eggshell (15 g)
Process All ingredients were mixed and cooked using the double-boil method for 10 minutes at 90°C, while continuously stirring. After the mixture thickened, it was poured onto a flat surface and left to dry at room temperature.
Observation The final surface turned out uneven and slightly rough, influenced by the coarse texture of the food waste particles. During the first two days of drying, the material remained slightly flexible and could still be bent, but by the third day, it had fully hardened and became brittle when folded. This indicates that the amount of food-waste additives (coffee and eggshell) may have been too high, affecting the plastic’s elasticity and leading to a more rigid, less flexible result. Recipe adapted from Nature Lab RISD, 2025.
#13 EGGSHELL-COFFEE Ingredients
Water (40 ml), Gelatin (3 g), Glycerin (3 g), Ground orange peel (6 g, finely ground), Coffee grounds (7 g), Eggshell (15 g, finely ground)
Process All ingredients were mixed and cooked using the double-boil method for 10 minutes at 90°C, while continuously stirring. After the mixture thickened, it was poured onto a flat surface and left to dry at room temperature.
Observation The final surface was still uneven but slightly smoother due to the finer particle size of the orange peel and eggshell. During the first two days of drying, the material remained slightly flexible, but by the third day, it had fully hardened and became brittle when folded, similar to the previous batch. This shows that reducing particle size did not significantly improve elasticity, and the material still breaks under bending after full drying. Recipe adapted from Nature Lab RISD, 2025.
#14 COFFEE Ingredients
Water (40 ml), Gelatin (3 g), Glycerin (3 g), Coffee grounds (7 g)
Process All ingredients were mixed and cooked using the double-boil method for 10 minutes at 90°C, while continuously stirring. After the mixture thickened, it was poured onto a flat surface and left to dry at room temperature.
Observation The resulting material formed a smooth sheet, with a few small bubbles causing minor holes on the surface. It exhibited good mechanical properties, being strong, stretchable, and flexible, allowing it to be folded, bent, or rolled without cracking or breaking. Recipe adapted from Nature Lab RISD, 2025.
#15 COFFEE Ingredients
Water (40 ml), Gelatin (3 g), Glycerin (3 g), Coffee grounds (7 g)
Process All ingredients were mixed and cooked using the double-boil method for 10 minutes at 90°C, while continuously stirring. After the mixture thickened, it was poured onto a flat surface and left to dry at room temperature.
Observation The resulting material formed a smooth sheet with an even surface. It exhibited excellent mechanical properties, being strong, stretchable, and flexible, allowing it to be folded, bent, or rolled without cracking or breaking. The surface is visibly smoother and more uniform compared to the previous Coffee batch. Recipe adapted from Nature Lab RISD, 2025.
#16 POTATO PEEL Ingredients
Water (60 ml), Gelatin (6 g), Glycerin (6 g), Potato peel (6 g)
Process All ingredients were mixed and cooked using the double-boil method for 10 minutes at 90°C, while continuously stirring. After thickening, it was poured onto a flat surface and left to dry at room temperature.
Observation The mixture heated and thickened quickly during cooking, making it slightly difficult to form a uniform sheet. The resulting material had a slightly uneven surface due to the coarse texture of the potato peel. It exhibited good mechanical properties, being flexible and stretchable, allowing it to be folded, rolled, or pulled without cracking or breaking. Recipe adapted from Nature Lab RISD, 2025.
#17 GELATIN Ingredients
Water (40 ml), Gelatin (3 g), Glycerin (3 g)
Process All ingredients were mixed and cooked using the double-boil method for 5 minutes and 31 seconds at 120°C, while continuously stirring. After thickening, it was poured onto a flat surface and left to dry at room temperature.
Observation The resulting material had a smooth, transparent surface. It exhibited good mechanical properties, being flexible, stretchable, and strong, allowing it to be folded, rolled, or pulled without cracking or breaking. Recipe adapted from Nature Lab RISD, 2025.
Based on the experiments conducted, the Coffee and #11 Orange Peel bioplastic sheets offer particularly interesting possibilities for further exploration from a material manipulation perspective. The Coffee sheet, with its smooth surface, flexibility, and strength, could potentially be stitched or cut into shapes without tearing, making it suitable for experimental textile-like applications, layered laminations, or folded structures. Its ability to bend, roll, or fold without cracking also suggests opportunities for weaving, pleating, or other structural manipulations that explore dimensionality and form.
The Orange Peel sheet, with its textured surface and balanced resilience, allows for techniques such as molding over patterns, embossing, or creating interlocking forms. Its uniformity and pourable preparation make it convenient for experimenting with varying thicknesses or combining multiple sheets into composites. These characteristics encourage exploration of methods like cutting and joining, layering, or even perforating for functional or decorative effects.
CONCLUSION
Together, these sheets serve as valuable starting points because they combine mechanical reliability with adaptability for hands-on material experimentation. They provide a platform for testing how renewable bioplastic sheets can be transformed, manipulated, and combined using different techniques, paving the way for more sophisticated studies in sustainable material design.
COOKBOOK
BIOPLASTIC