Bioplastics
We'll break it down for ya!
A couple weeks ago, Elif Bilgin
(age 16) won the $50,000 prize from Scientific American’s Science in Action
competition for her project which
successfully developed a new bioplastic from discarded banana peels. Sounds
impressive, right? Imagine a world where food and agricultural waste could be
converted into plastic! Where plastics don't remain in
the ground or oceans for hundreds of years! Well that is only a partial reality in the world of bioplastics,
but as this sector of the plastics industry grows, people are starting to ask questions. Here are some answers:
What are bioplastics?
Bioplastics are plant-based
alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. The three main types of bioplastics
are made of starch, cellulose, or biopolymers. Currently, the most common uses
for bioplastics are in packaging, insulation, and plastic utensils.
Why are they important?
Switching to bioplastics has the
potential to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and hazardous waste created by
the petroleum-based industry. With the increasing price of petroleum and
potential of using agricultural byproducts and food waste in production,
bioplastics may also provide a more cost effective alternative to conventional
plastics.
Are bioplastics biodegradable?
Bioplastic products are often
labeled biodegradable, but the real question is what does this mean? This labeling is often a form of greenwashing. "Biodegradable" is an unregulated and essentially meaningless term. The term "compostable" however is strictly controlled by scientific standards. If a plastic product is labeled compostable, it must have appropriate ecotoxicity levels and experience at least 60% breakdown in 180 days. The City of Ann Arbor does not accept any bioplastics or biodegradable plastics unless they are labeled compostable, BPI certified, and have ASTM D6400, ASTM D6868, or EN 13432 certification. A list of these products can be found on the Biodegradable Products Institute website.
Are bioplastics good or bad?
Unfortunately the answer’s not so
simple. Bioplastics offer a potentially ecofriendly alternative to conventional
plastic, but critics have raised many concerns. Some point out that the high carbon emissions and use of petroleum in the production of corn and other crops make bioplastics equally unsustainable. Others have raised concerns about the impact of crop production for bioplastics on the world food supply. Bioplastics are often non-recyclable and
can contaminate recycling, lowering the quality of recycled plastics. Bioplastics
that end up in landfill may be no better than petroleum-based plastics since the landfill process ensures that materials will not decompose and the gases and
chemicals leaching from bioplastics may be just as harmful as those from
conventional plastics.
There’s no question that in order for us to reap the benefits of bioplastics, we must eliminate confusion and have the right system in place. We must dispel any misconceptions that plastics labeled
biodegradable can be chucked into the home compost pile or worse—littered onto
the street. With clear, widespread information campaigns and wider access to compostable bioplastics and commercial compost systems, bioplastics could have a real future.
Sustainable innovation in the
plastics industry is important, but remember: using uncoated paper plates,
cups, and napkins is the way to go, as these items are truly compostable, or
better yet—reusables! Reusable items like metal silverware and glass cups are always a better
alternative to single-use disposable items and an easy way to avoid all the
confusion!
Read more on bioplastics:
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