Is it justifiable to grow cash crops for manufacturing purposes at a time when people need food to eat? You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. This can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that come from producing them, which is an obvious benefit to our environment. The most relevant applications of biodegradable plastics are packaging, including food packaging, single-use plastics, and agricultural mulch films. In particular, single use and disposable plastic items (e.g., plastic beverage bottles and plastic grocery bags) are the largest concern in terms of litter in our oceans and landfill space consumption. Your IP: Biodegradable plastics also help conserve petroleum supplies. This waste would otherwise be sent to landfills in order to discard them. The formation of traditional plastic involves use of carbon in an excessive amount. Returns to nature within . While traditional plastic releases four tons of emissions, biodegradable plastics emit only 0.8 tons of carbon - a 500% reduction! Any solution could and would be a boon to helping fight for a better future for our planet and help make our operations and the lives of people more sustainable and healthier. 8. Again, these are just some of the drawbacks of using these plastics. On average, biodegradable plastic material can take 3 months to six months or a year to decompose. They must be thrown into our landfills or other waste management systems. Our primary concern with greenhouse gas emissions is with carbon dioxide, but we must also consider the amount of methane that we release each year. However, this entails a number of challenges. In 2016, China produced approximately 290,000 tons of biodegradable plastics. 12. This can further reduce the need for making more space for them. 7. In contrast, biodegradable plastics do not release carbon or methane as no carbon is used in its manufacturing process. E. Recycling challenges. Casein polymers, PBS and PHA add up to the 2% of other biodegradable plastics in their worldwide demand (Fig. Lower petroleum consumption is also another benefit when considering biodegradable plastics. While it decomposes naturally, biodegradable plastics behave like other plastics when in the ocean. This process turns them into polymers that become useful for the industry. We might be using natural products to create biodegradable plastics, but that doesnt mean we are eliminating our exposure to chemicals through this manufacturing process. Biodegradable products are made from renewable resources like corn, sugar cane and potato starch instead of oil: 200,000 barrels of oil a day are presently used in the United States alone in the manufacture of plastic packaging, and significant portions of this use could be eliminated by employing biodegradable plastic products. He began his writing career in 2007 and now works full-time as a writer and transcriptionist. Biodegradable plastics require less energy during the manufacturing cycle. Biodegradable plastic is not a solution for overconsumption. Having biodegradable plastics as an alternative will help with the inability to recycle normal plastics. Change Plastic for Good benefits the planet through BDP which is designed to enhance the biodegradation of plastic. Traditional plastics. Switching to this product makes a lot of sense because it could eliminate the impact of pollution on the environment over time. As you can see, biodegradable plastic is extremely significant and proves to be of great importance when it comes to reducing waste and helping the environment. Biodegradable plastics may reduce the amount of recycling that we can do. Though the initial investment in the biodegradable plastics might be slightly higher, in the long run biodegradable plastics involve a lesser amount of energy in its manufacturing process and do not need fossil fuels to be recycled. Biodegradable plastic bags have a number of advantages over conventional bags. Hence, biodegradable plastics contribute to climate change and global warming. Biodegradable plastic decomposes naturally when bacteria in the environment are able to metabolize and break down the plastic structure. When choosing a "biodegradable" product, the consumer tends to forget about the fact that mountains of waste pile up every year in the landfills. AIPMA House, 2nd floor, A-52, StreetNo. The growth rate in local sales was 13% from the year before, with the entire value of this segment worth over $350 million. Plastic is a major source of pollution in the land and sea with very few ways to recycle and dispose of them. The Coca-Cola Company has already created a bio-plastic bottle that they can use with their beverages. 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. Another factor to consider is costs. In terms of the impact to the environment, bioplastic has a better performance. Furthermore, even if a total breakdown does not take place, it is simple to reduce the amount of area needed to get rid of the worlds plastic waste. Science Fair Project Ideas for Kids, Middle & High School Students, Environmental Protection Agency: Plastics. That leaves us with less waste to manage over all, reducing the potential for pollution in every biome. Bioplastics are generally compostable, which means they will decay into natural materials that will eventually blend harmlessly into the soil. Polystar's unique biodegradable material is made from PLA bioplastic. Other benefits that come with biodegradable plastics can include being easy to recycle, which can and will reduce the amount of space it may take up in landfills. Your email address will not be published. There is also the potential to create more pollution. The major benefits of biodegradable plastic are that it is environmentally friendly and does not contribute to pollution like traditional petroleum-based plastics. Biodegradable plastics require use to use croplands to produce items. While in some cases, the bioplastic material mixes with traditional plastic to give products more strength, any percentage that comes from a renewable source saves petroleum. Bible Commentary Bible Verses Devotionals Faith Prayers Coloring Pages Pros and Cons, 22 Should Juveniles Be Tried as Adults Pros and Cons, 6 Powerful Prayers for a Safe School Year, 50 Biblically Accurate Facts About Angels in the Bible, 50 Most Profitable Youth Group Fundraising Ideas for Your Church, 250 Ice Breaker Questions for Teen Youth Groups, 25 Important Examples of Pride in the Bible, Why Jesus Wept and 11 Lessons from His Tears, 25 Different Ways to Worship God and Praise the Lord. If your company needs assistance in making products that are more environmentally friendly and/or using plastics that are biobased, we can help. Another benefit is that biodegradable plastic does not leave harmful products in the environment. Plant based, biodegradable plastics are on the rise and for good reason. There will be a shift from a linear economy to a circular economy if plastics industries want to grow without producing toxic waste or having a detrimental impact on the environment. 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. New, biodegradable plastics and better recycling strategies are two promising approaches to help the world cut down on plastic waste. While there are many obvious benefits to people switching to biodegradable plastics, there are also problems that arise. Further study will ensure that the bacteria and the byproducts produced are nontoxic, but this could represent one possible piece of the solution to the world's solid waste problems. Some types of biodegradable produce high methane levels during the decomposition process. Here, a critical overview of the state of the art of biodegradable plastics is given. 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. Once the natural materials are turned into polymers, they can work with the ones that were manufactured using oil molecules. Biodegradable plastics may produce methane in landfills. Plastic makes up around 13 percent of the waste stream, representing 32 million tons of waste. Biodegradable plastics require composting or recycling to ensure proper breakdown of the plastic pieces. According to a business analysis from MarketsandMarkets, the market for biodegradable plastics is anticipated to reach $6.12 billion by 2023. Biodegradable plastics create a new marketing platform. Plastics can end up in the food and water we drink in the form of microplastics. This paper seeks to explain the prospects of biodegradable plastics regarding social, economic, and environmental sustainability and recognizes the latest advances in enzyme-based biodegradation of plastics in order to reduce plastics' negative effects and to make the environment safe. Plastics make up approximately 13% of our current waste stream. Numerous plant materials are useful in the making of biodegradable plastics today. The new plastic compound is BioLogiQ's NuPlastiQ GP General Purpose BioPolymer which is a 100% natural, renewably-resourced, plant-based resin that has been certified by TUV Austria to marine biodegrade in 28 days. They consumed about 130,000 tons domestically, and then exported the remainder during that year. However, scientists came up with a solution through the invention of biodegradable plastics. 9. With the help of an extrusion machine, the film or sheet is prepared which is then rolled on the rod. When it comes to a simple step you can take to save the Earth, changing your conventional plastic to bioplastic is the right choice. Traditional plastic products come from the heating and treatment of oil molecules. Keep reading to learn some of the benefits and shortcomings of bioplastics. 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. Unless we can eliminate chemicals from the entire manufacturing chain, there will always be a risk of pollution to consider with biodegradables. Because some biodegradable plastics produce methane when decomposing in landfills, it is possible that some of these natural plastic items could be creating a more harmful effect on the environment than if we stuck to the traditional manufacturing cycle. Such terms commonly thrown around include: sustainability, biorenewable feedstocks, environmentally friendly, carbon footprint, and responsible care. Plastics are a central part of modern life. Biodegradable plastics are on the rise as a solution to this problem. 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. This amount is 68% less than that of traditional plastics. Biodegradable plastics come at a higher capital cost. The most important benefit of biodegradable packaging is the potential to reduce overall waste in the food industry. Traditional plastic comes from heating and treating oil molecules until they turn into polymers, representing about 2.7 percent of America's petroleum consumption. Both techniques are discussed in the recent IDTechEx. However, bioplastic is still the better alternative to normal plastic. Biodegradable and compostable plastic is becoming a more frequent option on store shelves as the demand for "green" products grows. Our plastic scientists are available to advise and assist plastic product manufacturers evaluate the lifecycle of their products and to advise on ways to make products truly more environmentally-friendly. Even organic crops that are sent to the plastics industry can be sprayed with natural compounds that may offer health risks during times of high exposure. Biodegradable packaging materials are now more popular among brands and consumers. However, experts have yet to see verified data that clearly confirms the efficacy and safety of such products. . 3. . Required fields are marked *. That would mean we would need to come up with a system where it can be disposed of properly instead of winding up in other areas where it does not belong. For instance, a major use of recycled plastic is to mold items for use outdoors (e.g., park benches). 4 Reasons Why Biodegradable Plastics Benefit the Environment 1. When we create this mixture, the plastic products often have more strength as well. Pollution from the different industries and the ignorance that we as humans have done over the last century or two has caused so much damage that many experts in the field think that we are too far out to stop the planet from dying. Test results showed the new bioplastic is . Biodegradable plastics can mix with traditional products. As this is plant-based, the manufacturing process produces far fewer carbon emissions than traditional plastic. 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. One of the greatest issues with bioplastic is that it helps people feel better about themselves as they continue to abuse disposable materials. There are typically two forms that we use today: solid and injection-molded. The formation of traditional plastic involves use of carbon in an excessive amount. However, biodegradable plastics are still only a tiny portion of the global plastics market and require further efforts in research and commercialization. To help you fully understand, here are some advantages when you decide to use bioplastics. Some bioplastics will inevitably end up in landfills where, deprived of oxygen, they may release methane. They found a bacteria called Flavobacterium in pools containing waste water from a nylon mill that degraded nylon. Smithsonian Magazine: Corn Plastic to the Rescue. Because biodegradable plastics do not always require CO2 as part of the manufacturing process, then this greenhouse gas release may never occur during the decomposition process. While it has many advantages, biodegradable plastic can be a bad idea. Other types can take a few years to undergo complete decomposition. SUWON, South Korea -- South Korean conglomerate CJ Cheiljedang is jumping into the global market to begin mass production of PHA . We are producing more waste plastic today than ever before in human history. Since the energy requirement is less, the pollution and environmental impact are significantly reduced. Bioplastics are considered to be more eco-friendly than traditional plastics. In 1975, a group of Japanese researchers identified the basic idea behind biodegradable plastics. Serve Your Dining With Biodegradable Products, 5 Eco-Friendly Products That You Should Include In The Kitchen Ware, Harmful Effects of Non-Biodegradable Plastic Products. That means we are simply trading one issue for another until there is a better solution to find. You can recycle these plastics to create other by-products for other processes. Biodegradable plastics reduce the amount of waste we produce. Also, they do not need fossil fuels to be recycled. 6. Biodegradable plastics have many advantages, which include: The production of biodegradable plastics does not involve the burning of fossils. In fact, the creation of bioplastics results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional plastic. You can use less energy to create a large amount of plastic within a short duration. They can also reduce the amount of energy needed to produce them in factories. 3. Lets check this out! This outcome is achievable because the microorganisms in the environment are able to break down the structures which make the biodegradable plastic. Biodegradable plastic decomposes naturally when bacteria in the environment are able to "metabolize" and break down the plastic structure. Producing and recycling biodegradable can be expensive. To unpack this, that means that a bioplastic can be inherently non-biodegradable. It degrades naturally in base compounds in a reasonable amount of time. Biodegradable plastics have ignited a revolt against ubiquitous plastic bags and by using them one can effectively contribute in conserving non-renewable resources of Earth that are depleting at a high-speed. The packaging industry alone produces 161 million tons of plastic . This contamination gets transferred to the final products. There are other places where we could help. Most companies these days are jumping on the go green bandwagon and looking for ways to promote their plastic businesses by using certain words and phrases in their corporate mission statements and sales literature. The traditional plastics are thrown on the scrapheap at landfills. Biodegradable plastics have a clear benefit, they reduce waste and leave less of an impact on the environment than normal plastics. It will last for many years if stored indoors. Switching to this product is not a magic solution that will resolve our pollution problems. Moreover, biodegradable plastic production produces lower carbon emission. These prices are coming down as our technologies improve and source material access becomes cheaper to produce. The benefit of helping our planet is something that we cannot overlook. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Plastics are but one small facet of the problem. 10. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Many biodegradable plastics are designed to degrade in industrial composting systems. Thankfully, biodegradable plastic is an effective solution to mitigate the world-wide epidemic of non-biodegradable plastic bags and provide feasible alternatives to improve the environment and save marine species. Phthalates soften the plastic to turn it into PVC. We must also use water resources to crow the crops needed for the raw materials as well. For instance, you can use them to create renewable energy biogases or as compost material in your yard. Also, the environment matters. 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. It can be any combination of being partially bio-based, fully bio-based, non-bio-based, biodegradable, compostable or non-biodegradable, so long as . So what are the pros and cons of biodegradable plastic or bioplastics? Advantages of Using Biodegradable Plastics 1. 8. This is the only place where we can call our home and yet, we are slowly killing it. As you may know, the raw materials for producing these plastics come from plants such as corn and soybeans. 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. prodegradant additives) creates a significant challenge. Paper Example on Biodegradable Plastics: Environmental Benefits, Costs, and Regulations . 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. Many plastics today leave a huge impact on our environments and that can have huge consequences on peoples livelihoods. Source Reduction. The design of the circular economy mimics the living environment itself and is restorative and regenerative. . Hence, plastic, defined as biodegradable, is made of molecule that can break down naturally by the action of micro-organisms. Advantages of Biodegradable Plastics. After plastics are formed, the traditional products will hold their carbon. 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. GreenCore is a biodegradable shotshell wad that decomposes on exposure to bacteria naturally present in the environment. In addition, it generates 68 percent fewer greenhouse gases during its manufacture, representing a significant environmental benefit. The other option makes the other plastic items that we consume. They must totally and quickly decompose biologically or be compostable if they are made from plant biomass such as maize starch, sugar cane, or wheat. 7. However, these bacteria will turn up their nose at traditional plastic. There are some who are trying new ways to do things in hopes of slowing down the effects. Having to switch to biodegradable plastics will be very beneficial to us in the long run and will have a positive impact on our planet. 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. When you use biodegradable plastics instead of. These are harmful to the overall health of a person and can lead to long-term health problems. For now, our biodegradable facial sheet masks are: Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol and our NEW Cica + Niacinamide. Our current technologies can produce 1 metric ton of PLA from 100 bushels of corn. Every year, over 19 billion pounds of plastic end up in the ocean. In some cases, microbes have developed this ability due to a lack of other nutrient options, and in other cases, scientists have been able to induce the ability in microscopic organisms. 10. Our plastics scientists and engineers have decades of experience. Biodegradable reduce the amount of plastic ending in a landfill. The current state of our plastic problem is a problem, and something needs to be done about it. 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