Maya Ellison
Plastic waste is a major source of pollution, especially in marine environments. While paper is biodegradable and can be recycled several times, it is not always the most environmentally friendly option. Biodegradable plastics, for example, can contaminate recycling processes and are not designed to degrade in the ocean or in open-air conditions. However, recent innovations in bioplastics have led to the development of foamed CDA, which degrades up to 15 times faster than paper in seawater. This discovery could revolutionize packaging and manufacturing, reducing the environmental impact of persistent plastic waste.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Paper is biodegradable | Yes, but it takes time to degrade completely |
| Plastic is biodegradable | No, but there are biodegradable plastics |
| Paper can be recycled | Yes, up to 6-7 times |
| Plastic can be recycled | Yes, but it contaminates any recycling loop |
| Paper degrades faster in | Landfill, open environment, buried or in the sea |
| Plastic degrades faster in | Land, in certain conditions |
| Paper is sustainable | Yes |
| Plastic is sustainable | No, but bioplastics are more sustainable |
| Bioplastic degrades faster than paper | Yes, 15 times faster in the sea |
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What You'll Learn
Paper is biodegradable, but requires specific conditions to break down
Paper is biodegradable, but it requires specific conditions to break down. The time it takes for paper to biodegrade depends on its type and environmental conditions. Paper is made from wood pulp, which contains natural fibres like cellulose. Microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi break down these fibres over time. This process turns paper into organic matter, water, and carbon dioxide.
The decomposition of paper is influenced by several factors. Firstly, coatings and additives can affect biodegradability. Some types of paper are coated with plastic, wax, or chemicals, making them more challenging to degrade. For example, glossy or plastic-coated paper may not fully break down unless processed in industrial composting systems. Similarly, paper with plastic or wax linings can take years to decompose and may leave behind harmful microplastics.
Secondly, the presence of oxygen and moisture impacts the decomposition process. Paper decomposes faster in wet and oxygen-rich environments. In ideal conditions, such as high moisture and warm temperatures, uncoated paper can break down within 2 to 6 weeks. However, in landfills, where oxygen and moisture are limited, paper decomposition can take much longer, ranging from 2 to 5 months or even several years. The compaction of materials in landfills further limits airflow and slows down the decomposition process.
Additionally, the type of paper and its quality play a role in biodegradability. Thicker materials, such as corrugated cardboard, generally take longer to break down compared to thinner paper. The length of cellulose chains in the paper also contributes to its durability. Long-fibered paper, typically made from cotton or linen rags, is stronger and more durable than short-fibered paper. Proper storage conditions, such as cooler temperatures and controlled humidity, can also extend the lifespan of good quality paper.
While paper is generally more biodegradable than plastic, it is important to note that paper degradation can vary significantly depending on the specific conditions it is exposed to.
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Biodegradable plastic is designed to degrade in landfills
Biodegradable plastic is designed to degrade with the help of living organisms, usually microbes, into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. However, it is important to note that biodegradable plastics are not a silver bullet for solving plastic pollution. While they are a better alternative to traditional plastics, they still face challenges in terms of degradation, especially in landfills.
Landfills are not designed to facilitate the breakdown of waste but rather to store trash in a way that minimizes environmental impact. They are often anaerobic, lacking the oxygen necessary for organic decomposition, and have compacted layers that further reduce airflow and microbial activity. These conditions hinder the effectiveness of biodegradable plastics in breaking down.
Biodegradable plastics require specific conditions, such as microbial activity, oxygen, and moisture, to decompose optimally. Unfortunately, landfills present a challenging environment for these requirements, leading to slow or incomplete degradation. Instead of completely breaking down, some biodegradable plastics may fragment into microplastics, which can persist in the environment and contribute to pollution.
Additionally, the marketing and perception of biodegradable plastics can be misleading. Many assume that these materials will naturally degrade over time in landfills, but this is not always the case. Biodegradable plastics may take years to fully degrade in natural surroundings and often require specific conditions, such as those found in industrial composting facilities, to properly decompose.
While biodegradable plastics offer a potential solution to traditional plastic pollution, they should be approached with a comprehensive understanding of their limitations and the specific conditions needed for their degradation. Advanced technologies, such as Advanced BioRecycling™, offer promising alternatives that enhance microbial consumption in landfills and oceans without relying on industrial composting or high-heat environments.
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Paper can be recycled up to 6 or 7 times
Paper is biodegradable because it is made from plant materials, and most plant materials are biodegradable. Paper can be recycled up to 6 or 7 times before the paper fibres become too short to be used for paper production, making it more sustainable than plastic. This is because, during the recycling process, each of the long fibres that characterise virgin paper has an approximately 20% chance of being cut into a strand that is too small to be useful to paper makers. At least 15% of paper products are permanently removed from the fibre cycle, such as one-time-use products (e.g. tissues, sanitary products, medical supplies) and books or files that are stored for long periods.
Paper and paperboard products make up the largest portion of municipal solid waste in the United States. About 43 million tons of paper and paperboard were recovered in 2013, with a recycling rate of about 63%. Globally, 82% of the paper we recycle is used in tissue, container boards, and other packaging or board products. Approximately 6% of the paper we recover is used in printing and writing-grade paper.
Paper will last for years if stored in dry conditions away from sunlight. However, if paper is discarded in the open environment, buried, or dropped in the sea, it will naturally degrade and be absorbed harmlessly into the local ecosystem.
In contrast, a new type of bioplastic called foamed CDA has been found to degrade 15 times faster than paper in the sea, making it the fastest-degrading plastic in marine environments. This discovery could revolutionise the way we approach packaging, manufacturing, and everyday items.
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Biodegradable plastic contaminates the recycling supply chain
Plastic waste is generated at an alarming rate of almost 400 Mt per year, and the amount of plastic accumulating in the environment is rapidly increasing. Plastic has long been seen as the safe choice for protective packaging, but it is a persistent pollutant that can remain in the natural environment for hundreds of years.
Biodegradable plastic is designed to break down into natural substances within a reasonable timeframe. However, it does not always work as intended. Biodegradable plastics are meant to degrade in landfills, but when littered, they do not break down any faster than regular plastic in the open air or at sea.
Biodegradable plastics can contaminate the recycling supply chain. Even a small amount can render recycled material unusable for manufacturing. For example, if biodegradable plastic is recycled with other plastics intended for manufacturing, the resulting product will be defective. Therefore, it is important to only recycle items that are accepted by local recycling programs.
While biodegradable plastics can help reduce waste in specific applications, such as compostable takeout containers, they are not a solution to the global plastic pollution problem. Proper waste management, such as composting, is necessary to ensure biodegradable plastics do not cause environmental damage.
Overall, while biodegradable plastics have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste, they must be managed properly to avoid contaminating the recycling supply chain.
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New bioplastic CDA degrades 15 times faster than paper in the sea
Plastic waste is being generated at an alarming rate of 400 Mt per year, and the amount of plastic accumulating in the environment is rapidly increasing. In this context, the discovery of a new bioplastic that degrades faster than paper in the sea is a significant development.
Researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have developed a new version of CDA, a bioplastic that has been in use for over 100 years. The new foamed CDA is the fastest-degrading plastic in marine environments, losing 65-70% of its original mass in a 36-week test. This is a remarkable improvement compared to common plastics like Styrofoam, which showed no degradation during the same period.
The process of accelerating the degradation of CDA involves a modification called "foaming," which makes the material porous. This foaming process enables CDA to degrade up to 15 times faster than its solid form and even faster than paper. The researchers carefully controlled variables such as light, temperature, and water flow to simulate real-world ocean conditions, providing reliable insights into how CDA would perform in natural marine environments.
The success of foamed CDA has significant implications for the future of packaging, manufacturing, and everyday items. It can be used in a wide range of products, reducing the amount of persistent plastic waste in the ocean. For example, Eastman, a material innovation company, has already launched compostable trays made from foamed CDA as an alternative to Styrofoam meat trays.
The development of foamed CDA is a step towards reducing plastic pollution and fostering sustainability for future generations. It offers a promising replacement for other foam plastic materials, such as Styrofoam, which can persist in the environment for many years. This discovery highlights the potential for bioplastics to mitigate the damaging effects of plastic pollution on marine environments.
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Frequently asked questions
Paper is generally considered more sustainable than plastic because it is made from plant materials, which are biodegradable. Paper can also be recycled up to 6 or 7 times, while plastic cannot. However, it is important to note that the time it takes for paper to degrade depends on the environmental conditions, and it may take years for paper to fully degrade.
The degradation rate of plastic varies depending on the type of plastic and the environmental conditions. Some plastics can take up to 500 or even 1000 years to completely degrade. However, a new type of bioplastic called CDA has been developed, which degrades 15 times faster than traditional plastics in seawater.
CDA, or cellulose diacetate, is a fast-degrading bioplastic that has been developed to address the issue of plastic pollution. In a study conducted by WHOI, CDA straws were found to degrade faster than straws made from standard plastic or paper. This suggests that CDA could be used in a wide range of products to reduce the amount of persistent plastic waste in the environment.
