Typically, packaging plays the bad guy in the national media. Not this time, as a Yahoo.com video demonstrates.

"Plastic alternatives have less impact on environment," represents one of those rare instances when the national media presents a positive environmental packaging perspective. The Yahoo.com video [8] focuses on biodegradable resin developments from Cereplast, Inc. [9], designer and manufacturer of bio-based alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.

The video points out that the materials may be made of corn or tapioca, with algae another possibility. These materials could be used on their own to form packaging and other products, or be used in a hybrid mix with traditional petroleum-based plastic resin. The video does point out that for now these materials cost considerably more than traditional resins.

Separately, Greenerpackage.com recently reported on another intriguing development [10] pertaining to Bioplastech, a company that aims to convert waste into biodegradable plastic called polyhydroxyalkanoate.