Starch based biodegradable plastics The process for production of starch-based plastics standardized at CTCRI is a pioneering work in southeast Asia. It involves blending of polyolefins with tapioca/cassava or corn/maize starch in presence of a compatibilizer and other chemicals, with biodegradability ranging from 6 months to 5 years depending on the composition. This ecofriendly technology has already been transferred to 4 licensees in the states of Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka through the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), New Delhi, India.