The Cons of Bioplastics
- Growing demand for bioplastics creates competition for food sources, contributing to the global food crisis.
- Bioplastics won't biodegrade in a landfill.
- Bioplastics encourage people to litter more.
- Bioplastics contaminate plastic recycling streams.
- Bioplastics are not the answer to marine litter.
Yes it is possible to live without plastic, though this might be difficult at first. We can get our own containers for milk, honey and more, like in the past. Buy veggies by weight in a single bag, instead of individual plastic ones. These are just few steps but we can get rid of plastic usage if we try hard enough!
But it turns out that the promise of “biodegradable plastic” may be too good to be true. However, a recent study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology found that biodegradable plastics don't break down any faster than their conventional counterparts.
Biodegradable plastics are plastics that can be decomposed by the action of living organisms, usually microbes, into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. Biodegradable plastics are commonly produced with renewable raw materials, micro-organisms, petrochemicals, or combinations of all three.
There are various reasons why bio plastics are not in much use till now. (1) Biodegradable plastics produce methane gas on decomposition while using for landfill. (2) Biodegradable plastics and bioplastics do not decompose readily. They need high temperature and may take many years.
Given that, the authors were able to conclude that plastic chemicals in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PUR) were the most toxic. Compared to PVC and PUR, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) were less toxic.
In general, bio-based and biodegradable plastics are more expensive than fossil-based plastics on a weight basis. However, specific material properties can allow costs reductions in the use or end-of-life phase.
While biodegradable materials are indeed more expensive than non-biodegradable materials, the long-term ramifications of not using them -- including environmental pollution and massive landfill crowding -- help put the cost into perspective.
These plastics are generally not designed to degrade without special treatment, which means when leaked into the environment as litter – as demonstrated by the Plymouth study – they can be as harmful as typical plastics derived from fossil fuels.
Biodegradable plastic bags are marketed as more eco-friendly solutions, able to break down into harmless material more quickly than traditional plastics. One company claims their shopping bag “will degrade and biodegrade in a continuous, irreversible and unstoppable process” if it ends up as litter in the environment.
Although biodegradable materials return to nature and can disappear completely they sometimes leave behind metal residue, on the other hand, compostable materials create something called humus that is full of nutrients and great for plants. In summary, compostable products are biodegradable, but with an added benefit.
Biodegradable plastics (except for PET) should NOT be recycled, because they contaminate the process and result in low-quality recycled products. Landfills are often anaerobic, and you would likely see a slower breakdown of biodegradable plastics into carbon dioxide and methane.
Bioplastics are plastics made from organic materials such as corn starch, and often made up of polylactic acid (PLA). Biodegradable plastics, on the other hand, refer to petroleum-based plastics that are combined with an additive that makes them break down quickly.
Look for the labels
- The international coding system currently used for plastic products identification is less than ideal, originally designed for the plastics industry, not consumers.
- Another label to look for is the “compostable” certification label of the U.S. Composting Council and Biodegradable Products Institute.
The rate of degradation of biodegradable plastics in field tests is consistent with that found in the test method based on OECD 301 C: Modified MITI TEST(1) using activated sludge by measuring oxygen consumed in a darkened, enclosed respirometer under aerobic conditions.
Various Advantages of Using Biodegradable Plastics
- Biodegradable plastics are easy to recycle.
- They consume less energy.
- Management of waste reduction.
- Lower petroleum consumption.
- Compostability.
- Reduction of carbon dioxide levels.
- Reduction of emission of greenhouse gas levels.
Non–biodegradable fossil-based polymers
Most plastics are non-biodegradable mainly because plastic is widely used because of its low cost, versatility and durability. This durability is partially based on plastic being an uncommon target for bacteria, which makes it non-biodegradable.Chemical: The starch based bioplastic or Thermoplastic starch need to be waterproof. This water repelling property can be imparted by 'Penetrating water-repellent chemicals' – such as reactive silanes and siloxane.
Exposure to UV radiation can cause plastics to change color (turn yellow), crack, break, shatter or even melt! When it comes to yellowing, however, UV light is often the primary culprit. Getting back to your game console, it probably sat atop your TV for years — catching some rays — before you packed it away.
Chlorinated plastic can release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil, which can then seep into groundwater or other surrounding water sources and also the ecosystem of the world. This can cause serious harm to the species that drink the water.
Bioplastics are biodegradable materials that come from renewable sources and can be used to reduce the problem of plastic waste that is suffocating the planet and contaminating the environment.
Here are some long-lasting plastic alternatives available right now.
- Stainless steel. Tough and easy to clean, stainless steel options for reusable food and beverage storage have multiplied in recent years.
- Glass.
- Platinum silicone.
- Beeswax-coated cloth.
- Natural fiber cloth.
- Wood.
- Bamboo.
- Pottery and Other Ceramics.
The cost of some next-generation bioplastics are now even with those derived from oil —a milestone Renmatix says it can meet even at today's oil price of around $50 per barrel (other companies have said their break-even figure is closer to $130, a price last seen in 2008).
Bioplastics are plastics that are made from a renewable resource and/or are able to break down naturally. The first-ever man-made plastic was actually a bioplastic. Bioplastics can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels, support sustainability in the industry and allow manufacturers to diversify feedstocks.
Plastics that are currently marketed as “biodegradable” will themselves contribute to plastic pollution if they are lost or littered. They do not break down as quickly and completely in the environment as the term might imply and can thus harm wildlife and ecosystems.
Despite the release of CO2 into the environment, biodegradable plastics leave a smaller footprint than petroleum-based plastics that accumulate in landfills and cause heavy pollution, which is why they are explored as alternatives to traditional plastics.
The often-cited advantages of bioplastic are reduced use of fossil fuel resources, a smaller carbon footprint, and faster decomposition. Bioplastic is also less toxic and does not contain bisphenol A (BPA), a hormone disrupter that is often found in traditional plastics.
These casein-based films are up to 500 times better than plastics at keeping oxygen away from food and, because they are derived from milk, are biodegradable, sustainable and edible.
Bioplastic Recycling closes the loop by creating the materials and technology needed to transform linear supply chains into circular supply chains. Using groundbreaking technology, we sort and upcycle discarded bioplastics into new products that lessen our reliance on traditional plastics.
Sugarcane plastic may not come from fossil fuels, but it is produced through farming that uses up a lot of resources. Plus the plastic made this way is just the same as conventional plastic: recyclable but not biodegradable. If it gets into the environment it will still break up into tiny pieces known as microplastics.
The most widely used petroleum-based plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) are not biodegradable. However, the following petroleum-based plastics listed are.
PLAs have been heralded around the world as a renewable, plant based, biodegradable alternative to petroleum based plastics. Made from fermented plant starch, the plastic is said to be “carbon neutral” and “non-toxic”, and has been endorsed by many countries wanting to replace their reliance on petroleum products.
TOP Bioplastics Materials and Chemicals
- PLA – polylactic acid.
- PHA – Polyhydroxyalkanoate.
- PBS – polybutylene succinate.
- Starch Blends.
- PHAB – polyhydroxybutyrate.
- Cellulose Acetate.
- PBT – polybutylene terephtalate.
