Time to get over the longstanding definition of bioplastics as “plastics that are either bio-based, biodegradable, or both”. NatureWorks’ Steve Davies argues the bio-industry’s continued resolute focus strictly on where its materials come from and where they go is ultimately self-limiting. In the past decade especially, the industry as a whole has made big strides in broadening the functional property set of its materials, and the number of applications, as well as the new grades and formulations have proliferated. Time to focus the functional properties of these new materials.