Page 40 - Plastics News April 2025
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FEATURE NEWS
polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) synthetic fabrics makes up 35% of the total pol-
as their preferred safe plastic materials for lution.
packaging. Manufacturing operations which
involve some plastic products leak out two Ways to reduce microplastic pollution:
toxic materials known as Bisphenol A (BPA) ♦ Using microfiber-catching laundry filters
and phthalates. Strict usage regulations im-
posed by FDA and the European Food Safe- ♦ Natural clothing materials such as cotton
ty Authority (EFSA) control the presence of wool and hemp should be selected for pur-
plastics in consumer products. chase.
♦ BPA-free plastics alongside other safer al- ♦ Developing biodegradable tire materials
ternatives have begun to appear in the mar-
ket which minimizes health risks. Myth 8: Bioplastics Are the Perfect Solution to
Plastic Pollution
Myth 6: Paper Bags Are Always a Better Alter-
native to Plastic Bags Reality: Bioplastics Still Have Challenges
The perception of bioplastics as environmentally
Reality: Paper Bags Have a Higher Environmen-
tal Footprint friendly products from plant resources turns out
to hide their limited status as solutions. Challeng-
♦ The process to manufacture paper bags re- es include:
quires energy levels four times greater than
those needed for creating plastic bags de- ♦ A high percentage of bioplastics need indus-
spite their biodegradability. Additionally, pa- trial processing sites for their decomposition.
per bags: ♦ Most plastics remain pollutants when people
fail to handle them appropriately for dispos-
♦ Require more water for manufacturing
al.
♦ Produce higher greenhouse gas emissions
♦ Industrial-scale bioplastics production dis-
♦ The practical life of paper bags ends sooner putes food agriculture land which affects its
and users cannot use them as frequently as cultivation for human consumption.
plastic bags.
The development of better waste management
Myth 7: Microplastics Only Come from Plastic systems through enhanced plastic recycling
Waste technology represents a more productive solu-
tion than bioplastics do.
Reality: Microplastics Also Come from Clothing
and Car Tires The Way Forward: Sustainable Plastic Use
Synthetic clothing together with lasting tire wear The effective approach would be to remove the
represent bigger emission sources of microplas- negative stigma from plastics by utilizing sus-
tics compared to plastic waste degradation in tainable practices in their management.
nature. According to investigative studies, mi-
croplastic pollution originating from washing 1. Encourage Extended Producer Responsi-
40 PLASTICS NEWS April 2025
