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Abstract Bioplastics were produced by mixing starch with sorbitol, glacial acetic acid, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) during the manufacturing process. The physical characteristics of the bioplastics were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Tensile strength, elongation, and Young’s modulus tests were utilized to assess the mechanical characteristics of bioplastics. The bioplastic with the highest tensile strength was BP3 (7.03 ± 0.34 N/mm2), whereas BP0 had a tensile strength of 1.57 ± 0.11 N/m2. The addition of CMC increased the viscosity of the solution and, consequently, the strength of the bioplastic. The range of bioplastic hydrophobicity was ~ 128.32–323.74%. FTIR and XPS test results indicated that the physical mixing utilized during synthesis did not result in the addition of functional groups other than the native functional groups of the substances since no chemical reaction occurred. The thermal behavior investigation revealed that increasing the amount of CMC added to TPS can increase the presence of O–H functional groups in bioplastics, contributing to an increase in the glass transition temperature. Furthermore, both bioplastics broke down at ~ 250 °C.