AIPMA House, 2nd floor, A-52, StreetNo. It would be inaccurate to say that these items are free from emissions since it requires petroleum to grow crops in the first place. The future of our future generations needs to be accounted for and having a place where they can thrive is important. Made from bio-based sources such as corn, wheat, sugar-cane, petroleum-based . Learn more about the benefits. Traditional plastic comes from heating and treating oil molecules until they turn into polymers, representing about 2.7 percent of America's petroleum consumption. It takes less energy to manufacture. The Guardian also reported in 2009 that one brand of biodegradable plastic contained high levels of lead and cobalt, which raised questions about the potential toxicity of what gets left behind after the decomposition process. 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. Biodegradable plastics help conserve petroleum supplies. The manufacturing process of biodegradable plastics requires fewer amounts of energy. Are biodegradable films food grade? Biodegradable plastics are broken down by naturally-occurring bacteria. What Are the Benefits of Biodegradable Plastic? Fruit yields were higher with MB film than LDPE (+9.5%), irrespective of soil texture. Biodegradable plastics come at a higher capital cost. Biodegradable plastics also help conserve petroleum supplies. It releases fewer harmful substances when breaking down. Conversely, biodegradable plastics decompose naturally and blend with the soil. Biodegradable plastics have a clear benefit, they reduce waste and leave less of an impact on the environment than normal plastics. Look out for the 100% biodegradable icon on our product pages and labelling on our sachets to be sure that you are choosing the right option for you. For instance, these plastics cannot decompose in the ocean and other marine habitats. This waste would otherwise be sent to landfills in order to discard them. Not only that, but so much of plastic is disposed of. Biodegradable plastics also help conserve petroleum supplies. For example, the corn-based plastic polymer PLA uses 65 percent less energy than creating a similar polymer from raw petroleum. 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. Because corn products represent 40% of the U.S.-based bioplastics industry, so it is notable that one acre requires 3,000 gallons of water for each bushel of yield. Though the initial investment in the biodegradable plastics might be slightly higher, in. biodegradable plastics are also extremely . Required fields are marked *. Bioplastics cannot decompose in ocean water because it is too cold of an environment for the material. 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. Waste is a major problem that we encounter every day. Plastics like these break down naturally, only depositing the amount of gas back into the environment that was used to create it in the first place. Poland Spring is reducing the number of plastic components that they use for their packaging needs. 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. Switching to biodegradables is a step in the right direction, but it is not the final solution that we require. On the other hand, biodegradable plastics are petroleum-based plastics with an additive that harnesses their decomposition. By 2050, we could create a system that is emissions neutral if we make this technology a priority. 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. A number of conditions have to be met for biodegradable and compostable plastics to have positive environmental impacts. 2. Science Fair Project Ideas for Kids, Middle & High School Students, Environmental Protection Agency: Plastics. 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. The remainder goes into landfills and other waste disposal programs, where it could take up space for more than a century. 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. Waste Reduction. As these technologies mature, they offer the capability of producing plastic packaging and items even after the world's oil has run out. 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. 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. Biodegradable Plastics are Easy to Recycle. If you were to throw out a bucket-full of traditional plastics into a landfill, then you would have methane and other forms of pollutants release as the product begins to decompose. However, scientists came up with a solution through the invention of biodegradable plastics. Furthermore, since the materials used to create biodegradable plastics are plant-based, minimal carbon is emitted during the composting process. This amount is 68% less than that of traditional plastics. Other forms of degradable plastic are not. The formation of traditional plastic involves use of carbon in an excessive amount. So, the non-renewable material still can harm the environment. Much of the plastics that are produced today cannot be recycled or can only be recycled a few times. Another factor to consider is costs. 3. It will last many years if stored indoors. 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. Biodegradable plastics could create new export industries. Lower petroleum consumption is also another benefit when considering biodegradable plastics. Bioplastics are generally compostable, which means they will decay into natural materials that will eventually blend harmlessly into the soil. Equally important, these wads do not simply break down into smaller micro-plastics, but are 100-percent biodegradable, leaving behind no particles or toxic residue. They claim they have developed additives that, when blended into plastic, will accelerate the environmental degradation. Moreover, biodegradable plastic decomposes naturally in the environment when microorganisms metabolize and break down the structure. List of the Advantages of Biodegradable Plastics 1. Conversely, traditional plastic comes from heating and treating oil molecules until they turn into polymers and demands more energy in its production and burning of fossil fuel. They do not decompose due to low temperatures. If were talking about the bio ingredients that can decompose faster than conventional plastic, these materials are safe for the environment. In spite of the U.S. producing more plastic debris than ever before, recycling rates are declining. At our current technology levels, it costs up to 50% more to manufacture biodegradable plastics than it does to follow the traditional production cycle. Biodegradable plastics may contain small pieces of metal. Its polymers occur naturally. While around 9 percent of that plastic goes into recycling programs, the remainder enters landfills, where it takes up space for hundreds of years or more. Numerous plant materials are useful in the making of biodegradable plastics today. There are other places where we could help. Given the fact that a dump truck's worth of plastic waste enters our oceans each minute, it's not surprising that people are looking to use their purchasing power in ways that will presumably leave a smaller footprint. So, biodegradable plastics are a good idea for conserving the environment and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Because it doesnt break down like it would during compositing, it will either float on the surface like a conventional product or create micro-plastics that are harmful to marine life. 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. 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. In the past, this substance was used in plastic tableware, water bottles, and sports equipment. Plastics make up approximately 13% of our current waste stream. 2. The products produced are non-toxic as they dont contain chemicals or toxins if compared to traditional plastic. Biodegradable plastics offer a substance that is made from a natural source, so the risks of breaking down are much fewer. This is a greenhouse gas 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide. 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. As you may know, the raw materials for producing these plastics come from plants such as corn and soybeans. That is why we must be mindful of recycling programs and waste-reduction initiatives to ensure that we can all take advantage of the benefits that the natural products offer. 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