Biodegradable plastics

It’s the beginning of the 1900s. A new type of material has just been invented. This new material — plastic — is entirely human-made, or synthetic. It’s strong, lightweight, and flexible, as well as cheap and easy to produce. Over the next few decades, plastic finds uses in almost every area of manufacturing and everyday life.

But as plastics continue to gain popularity, some issues become apparent… One of these issues is that most plastics are produced using petroleum, which is a limited resource, likely to run out at some point. Another is that plastics are made up of very long chains of molecules — polymers — that do not occur in nature. These polymers don’t break down — decompose — the same way natural materials do. Instead, plastics can stay in the environment for hundreds of years, releasing harmful substances. So, people around the world have started to look for alternatives to conventional plastics — materials that have the same material properties as plastics, but can be made using renewable resources, and can break down fast, without causing pollution.

These are called bioplastics and biodegradable plastics. Bioplastics, also called biobased polymers, are plastics made from plant-based materials, such as parts of plants, woodchips, or even recycled food waste. Even though these plastics are made from renewable, plant-based materials, the chemical structure of the final product can end up the same as if it were made out of petroleum. For this reason, despite being made out of natural substances, not all bioplastics decompose. And those that do often need very specific conditions to break down.

The second group of alternative plastics is biodegradable plastics. These can be made from renewable raw materials, such as biomass, or from petroleum-based substances. Unlike biobased plastics, all biodegradable plastics can be decomposed, for example, by living organisms, enzymes, or ultraviolet radiation. Biodegradable plastics break down into simpler substances such as water, carbon dioxide and organic compounds. But to do so, they often require specific conditions that can only be achieved in industrial composting facilities.

Biobased and biodegradable plastics are commonly used to replace traditional plastics in packaging and other single-use products, such as disposable cups, carrier bags, and take-away food containers. The alternatives to conventional plastics have some advantages. They help reduce the use of non-renewable petroleum products which can be harmful to the environment. Manufacturing certain types of biodegradable plastics consumes less energy and produces fewer harmful emissions than conventional plastics. And if disposed of properly, biodegradable plastics decompose into simple substances in a short time, without causing pollution.

However, these plastic alternatives are a relatively new invention, and there are some concerns regarding them. The term “bio” in their name could create the notion that these plastics are good for the environment, which isn’t true. For example, if a biodegradable plastic ends up in a landfill or in nature, rather than in a proper facility, it can be as harmful as conventional plastic. And even though biobased and biodegradable plastics are recyclable, many places lack facilities for doing so. There are also not enough standards and laws in place yet to regulate the production, use and disposal of new types of plastics.

Biobased and biodegradable plastics might be a step in the right direction, but they are still far from being the ultimate solution to plastic pollution. But hopefully, with more research, more designated recycling facilities, and new regulations, they might one day become a truly environmentally-friendly alternative.