Hiroshi Uyama , Osaka University, Yamadaoka 2-1, Suita, Osaka, JP, 565-0871 | Tadahisa Iwata | George Guo-Qiang Chen | Christopher Nomura | Seung Soon Im

There is a growing demand for biodegradable plastics and biomass plastics as a solution to problems concerning energy resources, the global environment and solid waste management. Research on these environmentally benign plastics has been carried out worldwide, with the aim of achieving a balance between human activities and the natural environment. This symposium deals with recent development on biodegradable plastics and biomass plastics in scientific and industrial viewpoints. Topics on new biodegradable polymers and biomass plastics, development of their synthesis and composite methods, and evaluation of their properties and functions are intensively discussed.