They are versatile, light and can be produced at relatively low cost. Biodegradable plastic is the material that will decompose naturally when introduced in the environment. Thats because sunlight helps break down plastics through a process called photo-oxidation, in which the plastic becomes weathered and brittle, eventually fragmenting rather than breaking down to its organic components. This leaves us sending our bioplastics to the landfill where they will almost certainly never break down due to the lack of oxygen, moisture, and soil. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Well be rolling in our graves thinking about the plastic we left which is still on earth. Bioplastics are being touted by industry marketers as the solution to plastics pollution. This mirrors the problems found in biofuels, which were similarly seen as an environmental solution. These are the current advantages and disadvantages of biodegradable plastics to review. The major difference between regular plastic and biodegradable plastic is that biodegradable plastic is eco-friendly compared to traditional plastic, which means it will naturally decompose when exposed to the environment because the microorganisms in the environment can break down the materials that make up biodegradable plastic. Join one million Future fans by liking us onFacebook, or follow us onTwitterorInstagram. Pro 1) Traditional plastics are made from fossil fuels which create a demand for more emissions, more habitat loss, and more regression away from an environmentally focused society. It's worth noting that toxin free PLA plastic is relatively easy to source. That figure represents about 32 million tons of waste each year, with only 9% of that amount directed into recycling programs. Process and Factors Affecting Evaporation and Few Interesting Facts, What is Weathering and Erosion (For Kids)? 12. The best of both worlds: on-the-go availability of a tissue pack and the eco-friendly handkerchief. The two most commonly used bioplastics are PHA, short for polyhydroxyalkanoate, generally made from sugars that are grown from algae, and PLA, for polylactic acid, which is made from the sugar found in crops like corn and sugarcane. First, we need to fix the plastics image problem. If bioplastics end up in landfills, as many do, without enough oxygen to break them down, they can last for centuries and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Instead, a variety of new approaches are needed to overhaul the current economy. The Win of Bioplastic Over Plastic. Sites like this for recycling compostable waste are capable of processing more bioplastics than you would be able to compost at home (Credit: Getty Images). While both of the bioplastics now in use can be broken down by microorganisms and become part of the natural world again in a short period of time, this only happens if the plastic is collected and composted in carefully controlled, high-temperature industrial composting facilities and there arent many of those, especially in developing countries where the problem of plastic pollution is most severe. What Are the Effects of Non-Biodegradable Waste? | Sciencing That means we are simply trading one issue for another until there is a better solution to find. Plastic bags, as you may know, have a bad reputation. Biodegradable plastics would direct petroleum consumption to other needs. One must understand that in a landfill, the status of both regular plastic and biodegradable plastic is the same. People need to be aware that putting it in the recycling or trying to compost it, or putting in the general waste bin won't necessarily get them the results that they're being advertised, says Napper. Therefore, using chemical fillers are no longer required as they have risks of releasing harmful material to the environment while breaking down. Assuming demand continues to increase while production volumes rise at a lower manufacturing cost, the eventual consumer prices for this option should be similar to most of the conventional plastics that we use today. As per the standard 5:1 ratio of production, this industry produces 500 million tons of carbon dioxide that enters into our atmosphere each year. A just-released two-year study called Breaking the Plastic Wave by Pew Charitable Trusts and SYSTEMIQ, found that despite the efforts of industry, governments, and NGOs, the plastic problem is getting much worse. Sustainability of biodegradable plastics: New problem or solution to For more about impacts on our mindset, click here. Theres a European standard for compostable packaging: EN 13432. We can definitely benefit from the presence of biodegradable plastics because they can decompose effectively in our environment without creating a pollutive effect. Biodegradable plastics do not account for herbicides and pesticides. Biodegradable plastics come at a higher capital cost. Can break down quicker, especially compostable plastic. They use the popular, if vague, terms plant-based or bio-based or compostable, for example. 1. By reducing the amount of traditional plastics that contaminate food waste, we can at least ensure that some of that wasted food is eventually used as compost, rather than ending up in landfill or incineration. It is designed to break down easier and/or reduce our consumption of fossil fuels. Biodegradable plastics may contain small pieces of metal. The solid forms are used for items such as bags, water bottles, food containers, leaf collection bags, and others. The biggest potential area of impact for compostable plastics is in food service. Biodegradable plastics in aquatic ecosystems: latest findings, research They're not biodegradable. Feedstock and product diversity also have an upside, namely more flexible processes and a different . In Europe about 42 percent of plastic packaging was recycled in 2017, while in the U.S. just 8.4 percent of plastic is recycled. Phthalates soften the plastic to turn it into PVC. some amazing zero Marketing is highly abusive in this area, said Taylor Weiss, an assistant professor at Arizona State University who researches algae-based bioplastics. Biodegradability of Plastics: Challenges and Misconceptions As of September 2014, Virginia Institute of Marine Science . Even a 100-percent plant-based bottle is not the solution it might seem. Long Reviled as Ugly, Sea Lampreys Finally Get Some Respect, As Projects Decline, the Era of Building Big Dams Draws to a Close, New Research Sparks Concerns That Ocean Circulation Will Collapse. That means it may not be an affordable solution for everyone right now, but it could be in the future. A bloody awsome menstrual pad that actually feels good to wear and doesnt hurt the planet. 4. Although the plastics in the items we use might be biodegradable when we use these technologies, some items (especially plastic bags) might release metals during the decomposition process. Bioplastics, which make up part of Cokes PlantBottle, have been touted as an important solution to the worlds plastic pollution problem. Biodegradable plastics are compostable, which means they decay into natural materials and blend into the soil. Poland Spring is reducing the number of plastic components that they use for their packaging needs. Piling Up: How Chinas ban on importing waste has stalled global recycling. Plant based, biodegradable plastics are on the rise and for good reason. Bioplastics cannot decompose in ocean water because it is too cold of an environment for the material. 10. She started off feeding waste cooking oil to the microbes to make PHAs, but in recent years has been investigating how waste plastics like polystyrene can be turned into new, biodegradable kinds of plastic. Read about our approach to external linking. And this plastic, which eventually breaks down into nanoscale particles and is consumed by organisms from algae to whales, will never go away. Biodegradable plastics must follow a specific disposal procedure. 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. Throwaway plastic has found its way into almost every aspect of our lives: from the disposable coffee cup you pick up on the way to work or the straw in your smoothie, to the hidden fibres woven into wet wipes and tiny glittering fragments in make-up. 9. However, the manufacturing of per ton of bioplastics emits only approximately .8 tons of carbon. The massive global packaging system is still geared to use new plastic made from cheap oil, not recycled plastic, which is much more expensive. There is also the potential to create more pollution. 5. The challenge is to get all of the pieces of the puzzle to slot into place. (Often) requires less energy demand than petroleum based plastic. When they are disposed of and begin to decompose or when they are melted or burned or recycled, they release carbon, harmful chemicals, and other contaminants in the atmosphere. New research, led by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, California, has found . Still cant degrade in a landfill, not much can. This new technology offers several advantages over traditional plastic materials that cause problems like increasing landfill waste and also pose a danger to wildlife. When we are using plastic cups made from corn every single day this is of course better than petroleum. While awareness of the detrimental impact plastic can have on the environment has exploded in recent years, environmentally friendly alternatives are only now picking up steam. Biodegradables eliminate these substances from being needed. JOHN WESSELS/AFP via Getty Images. The Disadvantages of Using Plastic Products | Sciencing We consume over 100 million tons of plastic each year, which means the standard 5:1 ratio of production indicates that this industry produces 500 million tons of carbon dioxide that goes into our atmosphere each year. Con 4) Lets say we begin using all biodegradable plastics. Not necessarily. The research, published in Plos One says "To undergo rapid biodegradation, most compostable plastics require . This is because the resources used and saved are all to create a product once, which will last for (hopefully) a long time. As more research on the impact of using so much plastic comes to light, consumers and manufacturers are left scrambling for an alternative to the ubiquitous material, and bioplastics have emerged. The net carbon savings for recycling would be up to 30%, and for some researchers, the savings could be as high as 80% if we switch to biodegradable plastics. Strong and elastic, yet degradable: protein-based bioplastics 6. Biodegradable Plastic Problems | BioPak Singapore Industry, too, is beginning to use bio-lubricants used to keep machines running smoothly rather than fossil fuel-based ones. Biodegradable plastics depend on the weather for their disposal. Corn-based plastics represent approximately 40% of the biodegradable source materials that are used for these products in the United States. Biodegradable plastics are manufactured so that under the right conditions, air and sunlight will break apart its polymer chains and it will begin to disintegrate from its manufactured form into smaller bits of plastic [1]. What would happen if all the worlds trees disappeared? MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images. Whats even better is a reusable cup. It can also create a new marketing opportunity as the Coca-Cola Company has already produced a bio-plastic bottle to be used for their beverages. The reflecting effect of this gas is significantly higher than what CO2 causes. Regular plastics hold carbon, methane, chemical compounds, and other forms of pollutants. But he admits industry needs to demystify how compostables should be treated in order for this to work. In this process, temperature and humidity play significant roles. To test how different kinds of plastic bag fare in different environments, Imogen Napper at the University of Plymouth collected carrier bags with various claims about biodegradability, and put them in three different natural environments over a period of three years: buried in soil, left in the sea, and hung up in the open air. Biodegradable Plastics: Advantages, Disadvantages and Various Uses of Its about designing products for recycling, he said. But are they all theyre cracked up to be? Well send you Bioplastics can be sent to an industrial composting facility where they could be broken down within 90 days of use. Biodegradable plastics, on the other hand, do not release any carbon, chemicals, or other polluting substances. By 2050, we could create a system that is emissions neutral if we make this technology a priority. Can break down quicker, especially compostable plastic. This process turns them into polymers that become useful for the industry. PLA is a tenth the cost of PHA and so is more widely used for disposable cutlery and a variety of packaging. Totally confused? Animals that eat plastic can strangle or experience digestion problems. A worker examines plastic bottles at a recycling center in Santiago, Chile. A common greenwashing claim is a plastic labelled as "biodegradable", "oxo-degradable" or "landfill degradable". The concept that we could use it, throw it away, and it doesnt matter where you throw it, and its going to safely disappear, that does not exist, said Ramani Narayan, a professor at the School of Packaging at Michigan State University. Impacts of Biodegradable Plastic on the Environment This break-down takes place by naturally occurring microorganisms like bacteria and fungi that exist in the surrounding. Governments should say, We cant recycle all of this stuff. Some of these plastic products, such as plastic bags, can release heavy metals when they decompose. Nobody could engineer something like that, not even nature.. By JimRobbins They must be thrown into our landfills or other waste management systems. It creates a result which is believed to be eco-friendly compared to the traditional plastics that we throw away every day. Disadvantages of Biodegradable Plastics Biodegradable Plastics Contain Metals. Also, more and more land area is needed for these wastes, which instead could have been used for agriculture, residence, or industrial applications. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Worklife, and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday. The use of plastic products has increased significantly in the recent past, with many enterprises joining the industry and many more varieties of plastics being made. Rather than remaining stable for hundreds of years - the quality for which we prized plastic when we first began using it - biodegradable plastics can be broken down by microbes, chewed up. Some of these biodegradable items can break down in a measurement timed in weeks instead of months or years. After plastics are formed, the traditional products will hold their carbon. However, there are still issues with the use of polylactic acid such as its slow rate of biodegradability, its inability to mix with other plastics in recycling, and its high use of genetically. These prices are coming down as our technologies improve and source material access becomes cheaper to produce. And because PLAs are generally mechanically recycled which means they are cleaned, shredded, melted down, and made into pellets to be used again they can contaminate the waste stream of petroleum-based plastics that are chemically recycled. One of the big areas of confusion is whether that plastic is actually compostable or just made from plant materials. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. We cant pay for all the costs of recycling. Biodegradable plastics offer reduces carbon dioxide levels. There are some other applications suited to biodegradables, too. At the end of the day, a corn based plastic cup is better than a petroleum based plastic cup. When we use single use items in one area of our lives which are made from corn, we are building the habits and mindset that will use single use items elsewhere. If you like exciting news, inspiring stories and learning how to protect our planet, sign up for our newsletter! Introduction Global production of plastics had increased to around 359 million metric tons in 2018, from 245 million metric tons in 2008, and it is expected to be tripled by the year of 2050, accounting for a fifth of global oil consumption [ 1 ]. waste tips. Add to unlock free shipping! Biodegradable plastics require use to use croplands to produce items. Switching to this product makes a lot of sense because it could eliminate the impact of pollution on the environment over time. Its manufacturing process begins with the melting down of all the materials. Newman says that message shouldnt be, We're going to stop plastic pollution by using compostables, but rather, We're going to help the quality of soil for sustainability in the long term improve by using compostables, he says. On average, we consume more than 100 million tons of plastic every year. Which you could argue is more problematic because you can't clean up it's like trying to pick up Smarties with chopsticks., When plastics break down in the sea they become microplastics which Napper argues is more problematic (Credit: Getty Images). Of course, even the compostable bag tested in Nappers experiment is not designed to break down in the sea or in soil. Lower Petroleum Consumption. 11. 22 Advantages and Disadvantages of Biodegradable Plastics These items are finding their way into our oceans and even contaminating our drinking water. Maybe we can shed some light on this confusing topic by explaining what compostable plastics are. Some biodegradable plastics produce methane when they decompose, and potential harm from this gas is significantly higher than what CO2 causes. Biodegradable plastics are non-toxic since they do not contain carbon, any chemicals or toxins compared to other types of regular plastics. Its called extended producer responsibility product take-back, says Chertow. CVORR analysis: Bio-based vs. conventional plastics Biodegradable plastics will not solve ocean pollution problems. 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. When we use single use items in one area of our lives which are made from corn, we are building the habits and mindset that will use single use items elsewhere. According to a study by Escobar et al., the impacts of land-use change caused by bioplastics production, e.g., deforestation, are so significant that they would cancel out the carbon benefits gained from replacing 5% of global fossil carbon-based plastic consumption with renewable carbon-based plastics for 22 years. New process makes 'biodegradable' plastics truly compostable Rather, the tests are an insurance policy in case their products end up somewhere they shouldnt. Con 3) Something that could also be misleading about this plastic cup is just how natural it really is. For example, the corn-based plastic polymer PLA uses 65 percent less energy than creating a similar polymer from raw petroleum. When you compare the polymers made from this crop to those using raw petroleum, it requires 65% less energy to create a similar-quality biodegradable product. So what are the pros and cons of biodegradable plastic or bioplastics? These microorganisms readily metabolize the plastics and break down the structure of biodegradable plastic, which is beneficial to the environment. "Green" alternatives to throwaway plastics dont always break down in sea water. July 16, 2020 Are oxo-biodegradable plastics bad for the environment? Roadmap to Biodegradable PlasticsCurrent State and Research Needs When you use biodegradable plastics instead of items made through the traditional refinement process, then fewer greenhouse gas emissions escape into the atmosphere. Biodegradable plastics do not release other dangerous items upon decomposition. Biodegradable plastics can decompose quickly in specific situations. In Nappers experiment, the bag labelled compostable (which stated it adhered to standard EN 13432) disappeared entirely within three months when it was left in seawater. Try laundry. Biodegradable plastics can reduce greenhouse gas emission levels. It is, therefore, an issue in developing nations and also requires other scarce, valuable resources like water. Our current technologies require us to take over the use of croplands for the production of natural materials to create biodegradable plastics instead of using them to produce food. There are typically two forms that we use today: solid and injection-molded. The pop bottle of the future will still be the current PET bottle. Carbon Emission Reduction One of the advantages related to the use of biodegradable plastics is the minimal emission of carbon in the air during the process of manufacturing bioplastics. In the past, this substance was used in plastic tableware, water bottles, and sports equipment. 1. 1. The often-cited advantages of bioplastic are reduced use of fossil fuel resources, a smaller carbon footprint, and faster decomposition. Packaging Gateway looks into what oxo-biodegradable plastics are, whether they're bad for the environment, and the current debates surrounding the material. Biodegradable bioplastics could provide an alternative. Biodegradable plastics do not guarantee a net savings. 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. But the reality of biodegradable plastic (or "bioplastic") falls short of meeting our expectations. Apart from these, the manufacturing process of biodegradable plastic does not require to follow the lengthier technology by burning fossil fuels as done in the case of regular plastic. Cons Still demands unnecessary resources. Usually, biodegradable plastics are bioplastics that are produced from petrochemicals with biodegradable additives and renewable raw materials. Pro 2) Harvesting corn or other plant sources creates a significant amount of less energy than demanded by harvesting the crop known as fossil fuel. Microplastics, tiny bits of polypropylene or polyethylene, hide beneath the water and pose a risk as well. We have to work with you, the producer., Coca-Cola's new PlantBottle is made from 30 percent sugar cane and other plants, with the rest made from traditional oil-based plastic. While thin compostable plastics like carrier bags might break down in the ocean, the thicker and more robust PLA used to line coffee cups and make cup lids, clear plastic tumblers, drinking straws, and other food packaging is expected to act like traditional plastic in seawater, and wont break down at all. Numerous plant materials are useful in the making of biodegradable plastics today. (Often) requires less energy demand than petroleum based plastic. But herbicides, pesticides, and other chemicals are sprayed on these plants that contaminate them and can be transferred or included in the finished product. A worker examines plastic bottles at a recycling center in Santiago, Chile. What Is Biodegradable Plastic? | Greentumble However, while many of the scientific community's countermeasures against such accumulation target the effects of the most common commodity plastics, the consequences of so-called 'biodegradable' plastics in those ecosystems are seldom discussed. From coffee cups to sandwich packaging to takeaway containers, putting food in compostable plastics means that in an ideal world, at least the plastic and any food waste still stuck to it can be composted together. 7. Biodegradable plastics require using croplands to produce natural materials as they are necessary for making these plastics instead of using them for producing food.