Sofia Martinez
Plastic is made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource, and is engineered to be durable and not break down. This has resulted in an environmental crisis, with plastic clogging up landfills and waterways, and contributing to high greenhouse gas emissions. However, the development of 'eco-friendly' or 'bioplastics' synthesized from renewable resources such as corn, soy, sugar cane, and other crops, offers a potential solution. Bioplastics are designed to be biodegradable or recycled, but their proper disposal is challenging as they are visually similar to traditional plastics. While bioplastics are gaining traction, with companies like Toyota and Walmart adopting them, they are not a perfect solution due to questions around their biodegradability and the energy required for production.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Bioplastics, biodegradable plastics, recycled plastics |
| Raw Materials | Ground coconut shells, rice hulls, nut shells, cotton fibre, sugar, corn, vegetable oil, soy, sugar cane, other crops |
| Degradability | Should degrade under normal landfill conditions, but the timeframe is unknown |
| Recyclability | Cannot be recycled through the same avenues as traditional plastics |
| Environmental Impact | Lessens the environmental detriment of petroleum-based plastics, reduces the use of fossil fuels |
| Downsides | Requires lots of energy to produce, clogs up landfills |
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What You'll Learn
Recycled plastics
Recycling plastic is one of the most straightforward ways to make plastic use more sustainable. Recycling can reduce dependence on landfills, conserve resources, and protect the environment from plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling plastic requires less energy than producing new materials and relieves demand for fossil-fuel-based raw materials. It also saves landfill space and reduces environmental pollution.
However, recycling plastic is low in the waste hierarchy, meaning that reduction and reuse are more favourable and long-term solutions for sustainability. Recycling plastic can cause polymer degradation at the molecular level, and requires that waste be sorted by colour and polymer type before processing, which is often complicated and expensive. Errors can lead to material with inconsistent properties, rendering it unappealing to industry. Even the most efficient filtration systems cannot prevent the release of microplastics into wastewater.
Despite these challenges, recycling plastic can still have a positive impact on the environment. Recycled plastics have a significantly lower carbon footprint than virgin plastics, and increasing the amount of recycled feedstocks can reduce the global carbon budget of materials. Recycled plastics are used across many industries to produce everything from fleece hoodies and picture frames to carpets and composite decking.
To recycle plastic responsibly, it is important to follow the instructions given by your local recycling program. If your curbside program doesn't accept certain plastics, you can consult websites like Earth911 to find an alternative drop-off site. You can also advocate for more extensive plastic recycling collections and purchase items made from or packaged in post-consumer content.
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Bioplastics
Overall, bioplastics offer a more sustainable alternative to traditional plastics by utilizing renewable resources, reducing fossil fuel dependence, and providing the potential for carbon neutrality. However, challenges remain in the recycling of biodegradable bioplastics and ensuring a truly sustainable impact on a large scale.
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Biodegradable plastics
While biodegradable plastics are a step in the right direction, they are not without their challenges. Many biodegradable plastics are designed to degrade in industrial composting systems, which requires a well-managed waste system. If these plastics end up in landfills or the natural environment, they may not break down as intended. Additionally, biodegradable plastics cannot be recycled through the same avenues as traditional plastics, which has created challenges for the recycling industry and consumers.
To address these issues, universal standards and new materials have been developed, and a compostable logo has been introduced to guide consumers. Scientists are also working on improving the biodegradability of plastics. For example, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a way to make compostable plastics break down more easily with just heat and water, within a few weeks.
Overall, biodegradable plastics offer a promising solution to the plastic pollution problem, but it is important to continue innovating and improving recycling and waste management systems to ensure their effective and responsible use.
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Bio-based plastics
The term "bioplastics" is often used as an umbrella term to describe a variety of materials. Bioplastics are typically manufactured from bio-based polymers and are made from biological materials such as sugar, corn, vegetable oil, wood, and sugar beet. They are an improvement on traditional petroleum-based plastics, which have been associated with concerns over the rising price, supply limits, and environmental impact.
Bioplastics can contribute to more sustainable commercial plastic life cycles as part of a circular economy, in which virgin polymers are made from renewable or recycled raw materials. Carbon-neutral energy is used for production, and products are reused or recycled at their end of life. Compared to fossil-based plastics, bio-based plastics can have a lower carbon footprint and exhibit advantageous material properties. They can also be compatible with existing recycling streams, and some offer biodegradation if performed in controlled or predictable environments.
However, it is important to note that the benefits of bio-based plastics come with trade-offs, including negative agricultural impacts, competition with food production, unclear end-of-life management, and higher costs. Additionally, the term "biodegradable" in the context of plastics means that the plastic can break down biologically under certain conditions, such as in an industrial compost. However, it is important to distinguish between biodegradable plastics and bio-based plastics, as the latter is not necessarily biodegradable. The biodegradability of plastics depends on the conditions it is exposed to after use, and often high temperatures and specific conditions are required for complete degradation.
The recycling process for bio-based plastics is different from that of traditional plastics, and they cannot be recycled through the same avenues. This has led to challenges in proper disposal, as bioplastics and biodegradable plastics can look very similar. To address these challenges, clear regulation and financial incentives are essential to scaling up the bioplastics market while ensuring a truly sustainable impact.
In summary, bioplastics offer a more sustainable alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics, but it is crucial to understand their limitations and manage their end-of-life effectively to maximize their environmental benefits.
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Plastic alternatives
The most straightforward way to make plastic sustainable is to reuse it instead of consuming additional petroleum products to create new plastic material. Recycled plastics are used across many industries to produce a variety of products, from milk jugs and shampoo bottles to fleece hoodies and carpets.
Bioplastics, or plant-based plastics, are another alternative to fossil fuel-based plastics. They are made from biological materials such as sugar, corn, vegetable oil, and other crops. Toyota, Wild Oats, Newman's Own, Del Monte, and Wal-Mart have all begun using bioplastics for car parts or packaging for food. However, bioplastics like PLA and biodegradable PBS cannot be recycled with virgin or recycled plastics and often cannot be recycled at all, leading to a significant problem with their disposal.
Another type of bioplastic is PHA, or polyhydroxyalkanoates, which is produced by microorganisms through bacterial fermentation fueled by plant sources. PHA stands out from other bioplastics because it is relatively easy to compost at home.
Algae-based packaging is another promising alternative to plastic. B'zeos, a Norwegian startup, was the first company to use seaweed to develop sustainable and edible drinking straws, condiment packets, cutlery, and plastic wrap, all of which biodegrade completely in less than 47 days.
Silicone is another alternative to plastic. It shares many physical characteristics with fossil fuel-derived plastics but is considered much safer and more environmentally friendly. It is strong, flexible, can withstand extreme temperatures, and does not leach toxic residues or microplastics. However, silicone products are not always accepted for recycling.
Other alternatives to plastic packaging include natural fibers such as coconut fiber, hemp, husk, cotton burs, and jute. In 2022, scientists at Rutgers University, in partnership with Harvard University, created a biodegradable spray-on coating for produce and other food items made out of plant cellulose. The spray is designed to be rinsed off with water and degrade in soil within 3 days, eliminating the need for plastic packaging.
Finally, the least damaging type of packaging is one that can be used again and again, or none at all. Reusable and refillable packaging can be found at local markets, farm shops, independent zero-waste shops, and some supermarkets.
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Frequently asked questions
Bioplastics, biodegradable plastics, and recycled plastics are considered more sustainable than traditional plastics. Bioplastics are made from plant material and degrade relatively quickly in landfills and some compost bins. Biodegradable plastics are designed to break down in a circular fashion. Recycled plastics reuse virgin plastic, preventing it from ending up in landfills.
Common forms of bioplastics include starch-based plastics, such as polyactide (PLA) plastic, and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) plastic. PLA is often used in biodegradable food-service trays and disposable cups, while PHA is commonly found in cosmetics bottles.
Paper and cardboard have the highest rate of recyclability. However, they have a lower material recovery rate than glass. Seaweed-based packaging is another sustainable alternative as it does not require arable land or fertilizers to grow and absorbs carbon. Additionally, cellulose-based biofoam and bio-based coatings for paper packaging are being developed to enhance water resistance and recyclability.
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