Unlike man-made plastic polymers, which are largely derived from petroleum, cellulose is a natural polymer made from cellulose, a component of plants & trees. It is made from digested wood & cotton pulp that undergoes a series of chemical baths that remove impurities & break the long, fiberous chains in the raw materials. While cellulose is regenerated as a clear, shiny film with plasticizing chemicals added for flexibility, it is primarily composed of crystalline cellulose molecules. This means it can biodegrade with the assistance of micro-organisms in the soil, just as leaves and plants do.
Cellophane is one of the oldest, clear packaging materials used to pack food which, unlike man-made plastic polymers, which are largely derived from petroleum, cellophane is a natural polymer made from cellulose, a component of plants & trees.