Scientists are seeking cheaper and better alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, and many candidates are in laboratories all over the world.

At one time bioplastics were too expensive for consideration as a replacement for petroleum-based plastics.

Synthetic materials, particularly petroleum-based plastics, tend to burn rapidly and produce intense heat.

Most wash bottles are made up of polyethylene, which is a flexible solvent-resistant petroleum-based plastic.

Mirel is being marketed as an alternative to petroleum-based plastics that is both sustainable and eco-friendly.

Polyethylene is a lightweight, petroleum-based plastic that is resistant to moisture.

Traditional petroleum-based plastics are the kind that sit in landfills for centuries.

General Motors used petroleum-based plastics for engine valve covers that appeared on some Cadillac models in the early 1970's.

That would require additional petroleum-based plastic mixed with the bio-plastic.

But the price is about $2 a pound, compared with 60 cents a pound for conventional petroleum-based plastics.