2. We can make biodegradable plastics from bio-plastics, which are products that are made from renewable raw materials instead of virgin items that we must harvest at a potential cost to the overall environment. Phthalates soften the plastic to turn it into PVC. Both are considered to be endocrine disruptors that are toxic to the reproduction cycle of humans. Many biodegradable plastics are designed to degrade in industrial composting systems. Types of Biodegradable Packaging Materials. Biodegradable plastics can also represent a significant energy savings. There are other places where we could help. One of the main advantages of using biodegradable plastic is a significant reduction in carbon emissions during the manufacturing process. Looking at the amount of waste we produce and how we handle said waste, we need to do more and have more impactful ways to deal with it. It would be inaccurate to say that these items are free from emissions since it requires petroleum to grow crops in the first place. All these contribute positively to curbing global warming. While reducing landfill space may be a benefit, the tradeoff may be nullified due to this drawback. Oxo-degradable plastic has a long time span of usability. Being made from plants and crops like corn or soybean, there can be the risk of contamination from pesticides and other harmful products that are used on these crops. All in all, they are better than traditional plastics. Waste Reduction. When choosing a "biodegradable" product, the consumer tends to forget about the fact that mountains of waste pile up every year in the landfills. While it has many advantages, biodegradable plastic can be a bad idea. To combat this concern, some companies use mixed additive systems containing both stabilizers and prodegradants wherein the prodegradant can be triggered to overwhelm the stabilizers. Reduce the number of wastes going to the landfills. "The argument [for bio-based plastics] is the inherent value of reducing the carbon footprint," says chemical engineer Ramani Narayan from Michigan State University, who researches bioplastic.. 4. Herbicides and pesticides are not tracked by this industry, so there is no way to know what your exposure levels might be when you encounter these natural products. 3. For instance, the cost of PET or PE made from sugar cane or bio-ethanol is around 20% higher than that of traditional plastics. Corn-based plastics represent approximately 40% of the biodegradable source materials that are used for these products in the United States. 5. When facilities have the correct composting equipment available to manage biodegradable plastics, we can experience an entire breakdown of the product in 18-36 months, depending on what method is used. What is the aim of biodegradable plastic? Compounding the data reported in 2019 for biodegradable/bio-based plastics 72 and CO 2-based plastics, 32 the contribution of sustainable plastics is nearly unnoticeable. Because these items do not typically exist with biodegradable items, we would be able to take advantage of this supplemental benefit immediately. The advantages and disadvantages of biodegradable plastics give us hope for the future because there is an opportunity to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. 2. Eco-Friendly Products To Change The Way You Live! The recycled materials are compatible with standard plastic manufacturing equipment, thus making a way for rapid market adoption. Bioplastics are considered to be more eco-friendly than traditional plastics. We must address the causes of why we pollute in the first place to ensure our biomes remain healthy for future generations. 6. Also, they do not need fossil fuels to be recycled. While there are many obvious benefits to people switching to biodegradable plastics, there are also problems that arise. We must also create the infrastructure necessary to process or decompose the biodegradables in a beneficial way. We are producing more waste plastic today than ever. Some farmers use herbicides and insecticides, or other contaminant chemicals on these plants. Weight-saving advantages of plastics over metal have greatly improved fuel efficiency of automobiles, thereby reducing our dependence on foreign oil and reduction of carbon dioxide. You can play a part in cleaning up our planet, now and in the future. are engineered to degrade and biodegrade after use Biodegradable plastics totally degrade returning the carbon to the natural bio-cycle as a food source for microorganisms 5 Biodegradable Plastics Dispelling the Myths Organics are garbage to be wasted Are a resource that nurtures and restores the soil All biodegradable plastics are compostable In terms of the impact to the environment, bioplastic has a better performance. Saves Non-renewable Sources of Energy. Unless we can eliminate chemicals from the entire manufacturing chain, there will always be a risk of pollution to consider with biodegradables. Bioplastics come from natural sources, including crops like corn and switchgrass. Manufacturers and product designers choose plastic due to its ease of use, versatility, and durability. Examples include synthetic polymers (plastics) like polyethylenes (#2), polyethylene terephthalate (#1), polyvinyl chloride (#5), and polystyrene (#6). When bioplastics enter the conventional plastic recycling stream they may contaminate the recycling process. On the other hand, biodegradable plastics are petroleum-based plastics with an additive that harnesses their decomposition. So what are the pros and cons of biodegradable plastic or bioplastics? Crops and soybeans can be used to produce the materials needed to make these plastics and can be a huge help in changing the way we use plastics today. Biodegradables come from products like switchgrass or corn, which means we could redirect the petroleum being used by the industry to our transportation or heating needs instead. When we reduce the amount of traditional plastics that we use by mixing biodegradable molecules in with the oil-based ones, then it does create less of a dependence on petroleum. Hence, biodegradable plastics contribute to climate change and global warming. Biodegradable plastic's ability to break down within a year means it has several advantages over traditional plastics: It decreases the waste sent to landfills or incinerators. Other types of traditional plastic constitute 13 percent of the waste stream that is 32 million tons of trash annually, and only 9 percent of this type of plastic can be recycled. Use of ground-breaking technology in recycling the bioplastic has closed the loop by creating the materials that lessen our reliance on traditional plastics. That means it may not be an affordable solution for everyone right now, but it could be in the future. 9. These items are finding their way into our oceans and even contaminating our drinking water. Biodegradable plastics could create new export industries. Since the energy requirement is less, the pollution and environmental impact are significantly reduced. Large amounts of them end in oceans, rivers, and lakes. Plastic is a major source of pollution in the land and sea with very few ways to recycle and dispose of them. Even if a complete breakdown does not occur, we would achieve a reduction in the amount of space needed to dispose of the materials. Natural materials break down into their fundamental components and are then reused to create new things. Biodegradable plastics use natural products; therefore, the use of bioplastic can profoundly reduce the amount of petroleum used and consequently lessen its environmental hazards. Whether you need help solving quadratic equations, inspiration for the upcoming science fair or the latest update on a major storm, Sciencing is here to help. How does . Generally, biodegradable plastic means plastics that can be broken down into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass by living things, typically microbes. Using a printing machine, company name, logo, etc are printed . The disadvantages of non-biodegradable plastics are that they take forever to decompose or require a comprehensive process to deal with them. We need to do something about our planet, and we need to do something soon or we may be facing a future where the planet may be inhabitable. For example, corn-based polymer consumes 65% less energy compared to the same polymer made by petroleum. Are biodegradable films food grade? It creates a result which is believed to be eco-friendly compared to the traditional plastics that we throw away every day. Some types of biodegradable produce high methane levels during the decomposition process. Non-degradable plastics form a significant component of waste in landfills. Something that is on many peoples minds is what we can do to help with one of the major types of waste and pollutant plastic, which is used for almost everything. Products like food, electronics, cups, pans, drinks, and other materials have all used plastics to help with marketing, packaging, and transporting. Many plastics today leave a huge impact on our environments and that can have huge consequences on peoples livelihoods. This would lead to us producing a lot of pollution when making plastics and so having a reduction in the amount that is used is a huge boon to us considering that oil is a nonrenewable resource. Our planet is important. Thus, they either turn into microplastics or float on the sea. In fact, the creation of bioplastics results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional plastic. Biodegradable plastics are broken down by naturally-occurring bacteria. While there are several types of biodegradable plastics currently in use, plastics treated with BDP provide a great balance of durability, sustainability, and ease of use. Test results showed the new bioplastic is . Another benefit is that biodegradable plastic does not leave harmful products in the environment. Global Blow Molded Plastics Market Forecast: $191.6 Billion By 2025, 4 Innovations That Promote Plastic Recycling, 4 Common Plastic Recycling Processes You Should Be Aware Of, 6 Ways Digitisation Has Positively Impacted The Plastic Molding Process, Understanding The Importance Of Recycling Plastics, The Importance Of Design For Optimizing Plastic Manufacturing Costs, Importance Of Technology In Plastic Manufacturing. Unlike traditional plastics, biodegradables require less energy to produce. As these technologies mature, they offer the capability of producing plastic packaging and items even after the world's oil has run out. In contrast to conventional plastic, which can take hundreds of years to completely degrade, biodegradable plastics need only three to six months to do so, according to BBC Science Focus. Is it justifiable to grow cash crops for manufacturing purposes at a time when people need food to eat? A number of conditions have to be met for biodegradable and compostable plastics to have positive environmental impacts. will replace the plastic composition, with the addition of additives to improve the features of the bag. 185.229.237.37 Polystar's unique biodegradable material is made from PLA bioplastic. Created to address the plastic waste problem, these plastic types will turn to compost after a certain period of time. Biodegradable materials decompose into harmless substances including carbon dioxide, water vapor, and organic debris. That is in addition to the 68% reduction in greenhouse gases that occur during the manufacturing process. The creation of bioplastics was prompted by the 1970s rising oil prices and reliance on oil. There are some who are trying new ways to do things in hopes of slowing down the effects. As you may know, the raw materials for producing these plastics come from plants such as corn and soybeans. Biodegradable plastics have a clear benefit, they reduce waste and leave less of an impact on the environment than normal plastics. Not only can biodegradable plastic be recycled, but it can be recycled more times than normal plastics. That means we no longer need to use the chemical fillers that are found in the traditional items, which then enter the environment when the plastic is melted to release them. With the increased use and manufacturing of bioplastics, we can expect a greener and a more sustainable future for our planet. Biodegradable plastics not only take significantly less time to break down, but can also be recycled to manufacture more plastic by-products. For example, the corn-based plastic polymer PLA uses 65 percent less energy than creating a similar polymer from raw petroleum. Moreover, the land areas can be used for agriculture, residence or industrial applications instead of converting them to landfills. 7 ). In fact, most plastic items will take up to 1,000 years before they actually decompose. Thus, it contributes to conserving petroleum supplies. As the green lifestyle becomes more popular, the demand for bioplastics will increase. If were talking about the bio ingredients that can decompose faster than conventional plastic, these materials are safe for the environment. For instance, you can use them to create renewable energy biogases or as compost material in your yard. It takes less energy to manufacture. Therefore, bioplastics still need special disposal treatment to minimize the harmful effect. Although recycling would be a good way to reduce the plastics in the landfills, currently "only 5% out of 1 trillion plastic bags, annually produced in the US alone, are being recycled" (Sivan, 2011). As a consequence, the land that could have been used for agriculture, residence or industrial applications is converted into landfills by non-biodegradable plastic. In that time, they have greatly impacted our lives and provided significant benefits including convenience, health and safety. While new biodegradable plastics offer some hope for energy savings and trash reduction, they do little to solve the problem of the huge volumes of plastic trash that already exist in landfills. Biodegradable plastics are frequently made from petrochemicals, microorganisms, renewable raw materials, or mixtures of all three. For example, how do you control the PET bottle degradation so that it takes place in the environment and not while on the shelf at the retailer or the consumers home? This makes them conserve non-renewable sources of energy such as petroleum. Chemicals that are added to PET plastic for use in beverage bottles must pass stringent Food and Drug Administration criteria and be non-toxic to humans and wildlife. Yes, you can try loading their dinner plates with plastic bottles or bags, and you shall see the entire meal being skipped by these unicellular gluttons. 1. The decomposing organisms can easily break up the makeup materials of this type of plastic. All Rights Reserved. Your email address will not be published. Biodegradable plastics have a clear benefit, they reduce waste and leave less of an impact on the environment than normal plastics. In fact, they still mix between the renewable and non-renewable resources. Plastics make up approximately 13% of our current waste stream. This carbon is released into the atmosphere when the used plastic begins to decompose or melt. Biodegradable plastics require composting or recycling to ensure proper breakdown of the plastic pieces. Plastics are a central part of modern life. One major problem with plastic is that it often takes an extremely long time for it to break down once discarded, leading to massive problems with landfill waste and posing a danger to wildlife. That means we are simply trading one issue for another until there is a better solution to find. Alison Broadfoot, IT communications at SDG&E, San Diego Gas & Electric, Loic VILLOCEL, Director, ENGIE Lab Singapore [Euronext: ENGI], Robert Sheninger, Vp Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainability, Talos Energy, Darian Mcbain, Executive Advisor, Corporate Affairs And Sustainability, Thai Union Group Pcl, Jim Seward, Svp, R&D, Technology And Sustainability, Lyondellbasell, Warren Boutin, Director, Electric Service Support, Distributed Generation, & Supplier Services, Eversource Energy, Sean Halloran, Vice President of Wellsite Technology at Ensign Energy Services, Catherine Schladweiler, P.E.Principal, Environmental Policy and Sustainability,Tucson Electric Power Company, Andrew Condell, Head of Production Australia, Marley Spoon, Ferdinand Bartels, Department Head & Project Manager, Preussenelektra, Adriana Karaboutis, CIO & CDO, National Grid, Franck A. Vendeix, Phd, Associate Director, Analytical Services, Scientific Expert Consultant For The Analytical Services Group, Amri, Claire Lawrence, Chief People Officer, Mediacom, Knox T. Millsaps, Ses Director, Division Of Aerospace Sciences, Office Of Naval Research, Thank you for Subscribing to Environmental Business Review Weekly Brief. Biodegradable plastics can be easily recycled to avoid the increasing number of plastic waste and emissions of greenhouse gases from the production by the industry. Researchers at the University of Bath have created a plastic that only uses sugar and carbon dioxide, resulting in polycarbonates that no longer need to use petrochemicals and their CO2 emissions necessary for refinement. Carbon emissions during the manufacturing process minimize the harmful effect designed to degrade in composting! The plastic composition, with the addition of additives to improve the features of the biodegradable source materials that used. 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