We must also use water resources to crow the crops needed for the raw materials as well. Once the natural materials are turned into polymers, they can work with the ones that were manufactured using oil molecules. Biodegradable plastics create a new marketing platform. In fact, they still mix between the renewable and non-renewable resources. After all, using biodegradable plastic is an effective way to protect the environment. Even with the downsides of using biodegradable plastic like the costs, it would still be more beneficial to switch to biodegradable plastic rather than continuing to use plastics like how we have been for many years. Paper Example on Biodegradable Plastics: Environmental Benefits, Costs, and Regulations . Also, they do not need fossil fuels to be recycled. Biodegradable plastics are commonly used for disposable items, such as packaging, cutlery, and food service containers. The manufacturing process of biodegradable plastics requires fewer amounts of energy. With this information, you can decide if this is the right choice for you. Yes, it is! It also creates a unique disadvantage in the fact that our current technologies do not allow us to recycle these hybrid items once they reach their end-of-life cycle. 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. Made from bio-based sources such as corn, wheat, sugar-cane, petroleum-based . 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. Biodegradable plastic decomposes naturally when bacteria in the environment are able to metabolize and break down the plastic structure. 1. Bioplastics degrade under well regulated conditions of temperature and humidity in industrial settings. Biodegradable Plastic Bag Manufacturing Process: Compostable plastic granules are used as raw material and are given as feed to the hopper in which they are melted into liquid form. 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. Biodegradables eliminate these substances from being needed. Plastics have been around for about 80 years. These items are finding their way into our oceans and even contaminating our drinking water. That means we are burning fewer fossil fuels, consuming less of them during the manufacturing process, and releasing fewer contaminants when the plastics reach their end-of-life stage. Biodegradable plastics require use to use croplands to produce items. Reduction in Carbon Emission. 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. Some bioplastics will inevitably end up in landfills where, deprived of oxygen, they may release methane. Not only can biodegradable plastic be recycled, but it can be recycled more times than normal plastics. Oxo-biodegradable plastic is recyclable. The end-products of bio plastic also cause less harm to the environment as compared to the traditional plastic. Having biodegradable plastics as an alternative will help with the inability to recycle normal plastics. Biodegradable plastics are broken down by naturally-occurring bacteria. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a key ingredient in resin and plastic manufacturing. When you use biodegradable plastics instead of. BDP is blended with plastic materials during standard manufacturing to create products that provide the following benefits: The decomposition process is faster and can take days, weeks, or months. AIPMA House, 2nd floor, A-52, StreetNo. This outcome is achievable because the microorganisms in the environment are able to break down the structures which make the biodegradable plastic. That means shareholders, executives, and employees all stand to gain from the potential for higher profits. Much of it ends in the rivers and oceans, threatening humanity. Biodegradable plastics consume less energy during manufacturing. We do not need to make completely new products using biodegradable plastics to create an environmental benefit with this technology. 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. Does it really matter to you if there are biodegradable micro-plastics in your tap water instead of traditional plastics? Instead of discarding tons of plastic to languish in landfills for decades, biodegradable food packaging naturally and completely degrades. Much of the plastics that are produced today cannot be recycled or can only be recycled a few times. 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. Though biodegradable plastics has many benefits over traditional ones, it also has a baggage of disadvantages. 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. With the environment as it is now, we need to come up with ways that help the environment and ways that can leave a path for our future generations. Specialized bacteria may hold the key to reducing already-existing plastic deposits, however. After plastics are formed, the traditional products will hold their carbon. The Coca-Cola Company has already created a bio-plastic bottle that they can use with their beverages. One of the technologies that may help reduce the impact of waste is to utilize biodegradable plastics. Biodegradable plastics may reduce the amount of recycling that we can do. Bioplastics come from natural sources including crops like corn and switch grass. Traditional plastics. Manufacturers can create items using plants, starches, corn oil, or even the peels from citrus fruits. Much like it sounds, bioplastic and biodegradable plastic benefits of biodegradable plastic bags is made from more natural sources. 8. When it comes to a better solution to save the planet, bioplastics are definitely better than the conventional one. 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. Large amounts of them end in oceans, rivers, and lakes. Created to address the plastic waste problem, these plastic types will turn to compost after a certain period of time. This can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that come from producing them, which is an obvious benefit to our environment. Biodegradable plastics degrade in a much reasonable time frame and can be more renewable than plastics today. 30 This value represents approximately 0.0005 % of all plastics produced every year. Plant based, biodegradable plastics are on the rise and for good reason. Plastics that are already compostable, such poly lactic acid, have had their rate of decomposition accelerated through the use of bioaugmentation. Other forms of degradable plastic are not. Biodegradable plastics use natural products; therefore, the use of bioplastic can profoundly reduce the amount of petroleum used and consequently lessen its environmental hazards. He began his writing career in 2007 and now works full-time as a writer and transcriptionist. Plastics are but one small facet of the problem. Knowing the advantages of the options can help you address the plastic issue. Returns to nature within . If we can replace the normal plastic with bioplastic, then we can minimize the negative impact of plastic pollution. 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. In the end, the benefits of using biodegradable plastic that are explained before is definitely promising in the long term, saving our planet and future generations! On the other hand, conventional plastic bags take hundreds of years to completely degrade. By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. Our planet is important. Essentially, the cost of producing these types of plastic is higher than one of the traditional ones. Non-degradable plastics form a significant component of waste in landfills. So, the non-renewable material still can harm the environment. 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? Your email address will not be published. PHA may provide a solution for the plastic pollution problem. Mexico researchers have been developing biodegradable plastic from prickly pear cactus. There are many benefits of using biodegradable plastics. Having something we can use to help fight the pollution of plastic can be very helpful in the future and help define the standard for future sustainable projects. Recycling biodegradable plastics is easy. All these contribute positively to curbing global warming. 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. Numerous plant materials are useful in the making of biodegradable plastics today. 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. Biodegradable plastics come at a higher capital cost. Using a printing machine, company name, logo, etc are printed . No doubt, there are many advantages and disadvantages of biodegradable plastics. During decomposition, the contamination can get to the soil or water and have harmful effects on animals and humans. 2. 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. Biodegradable plastics help conserve petroleum supplies. Conventional plastics, like fossil-fuel plastics come from natural gas or petroleum. Scientists estimate that there could be more waste plastic in the ocean than fish by the year 2050, with tap water containing microplastics up to 80% of the time. Using a material flow analysis, the challenges of the plastic market are highlighted, and with it the . 2. New, biodegradable plastics and better recycling strategies are two promising approaches to help the world cut down on plastic waste. One of the greatest issues with bioplastic is that it helps people feel better about themselves as they continue to abuse disposable materials. non-toxic as they dont contain chemicals, Biodegradable Toilet Paper: The Environmentally Friendly Alternative, Biodegradable Sunscreen: The Reef-Friendly Skincare Product, Eco-Tips: How To Dispose of Light Bulbs Safely, Eco-Tips: How To Dispose of Batteries Properly, Eco-Tips: How To Dispose of Cooking Oil Safely, Make Your Restaurant Nature-Friendly With The Best Eco-Friendly Products. This contamination gets transferred to the final products. When bioplastics enter the conventional plastic recycling stream they may contaminate the recycling process. Methane is a central greenhouse gas with higher heat absorption than carbon dioxide. Lets check this out! 2. Since the disposal method has become an issue, we should improve bioplastic by increasing its biodegradability. 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. 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. Saves Non-renewable Sources of Energy. This is very beneficial to us now more than ever. 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. 4. or solid (food containers, leaf collections bags, water bottles, etc. Are biodegradable films food grade? By 2050, we could create a system that is emissions neutral if we make this technology a priority. 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. Even if a complete breakdown does not occur, we would achieve a reduction in the amount of space needed to dispose of the materials. Bioplastics are generally compostable, which means they will decay into natural materials that will eventually blend harmlessly into the soil. Test results showed the new bioplastic is . At the moment, PHAs . The recycled materials are compatible with standard plastic manufacturing equipment, thus making a way for rapid market adoption. Biodegradable plastics will not solve ocean pollution problems. 10. The most relevant applications of biodegradable plastics are packaging, including food packaging, single-use plastics, and agricultural mulch films. Furthermore, since the materials used to create biodegradable plastics are plant-based, minimal carbon is emitted during the composting process. This indicates that, in contrast to traditional plastics, they are intended to degrade into biological components. Plastics are widely used for the manufacturing of packaging materials because of their performance and ease in production. There are positives that methane and other pollutants could also be released when traditional plastic is recycled or burned. Every year, over 19 billion pounds of plastic end up in the ocean. They found a bacteria called Flavobacterium in pools containing waste water from a nylon mill that degraded nylon. Plastics make up approximately 13% of our current waste stream. The bioplastic manufacturing process emits less greenhouse gas compared to manufacturing. Conversely, biodegradable plastics decompose naturally and blend with the soil. Biodegradable plastics have many advantages, which include: 1. One of the main advantages of using biodegradable polymers to make plastic bags is the significant reduction in the carbon emissions that happen during the manufacturing process as compared to that of regular plastic. If we were to recycle our plastics each year, then our net carbon savings alone would be up to 30%, which some researchers suggesting the savings could be as high as 80%. 7. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. This advantage can only occur if the items are disposed of properly, meaning that these items must be treated in a manner that is similar to compost. There is also the potential to create more pollution. Benefits of oxo-degradable plastics Following are some advantages of using oxo-degradable plastics: Retain the same properties and strength as conventional plastics during its product life. Another factor to consider is costs. 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