Page 27 - Plastics News December 2017

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What is Biodegradable plastic melted, that carbon is then released into the atmosphere.
Biodegradable plastics do not release carbon, because no
Biodegradable plastic is plastic that decomposes naturally in carbon is involved in the manufacturing process. Methane
the environment. This is achieved when microorganisms in and other forms of pollutants could also be released from
the environment metabolize and break down the structure traditional plastic when they are recycled and burned.
of biodegradable plastic. The end result is one which is This is not the case with biodegradable plastics, which
less harmful to the environment than traditional plastics. do not contain those polluting materials.

One of the many positive aspects of biodegradable plastics
is that they are able to be broken down by naturally
occurring bacteria, which again will be beneficial to the
environment.
Aside from a slightly higher cost to produce, biodegradable
plastics hold many advantages over standard plastics,
with a lesser impact on the environment being one of its
greatest advantages.
Pros and Cons of Biodegradable Plastic

Biodegradable plastics do have some drawbacks. For
example, they do not decompose unless they are disposed
of properly, meaning that biodegradable plastics must be
treated similarly to compost. The natural breakdown of
the plastic will not occur if it is simply tossed in a landfill
with other trash. This is something that concerned citizens
will need to be mindful of. Some scientists also suggest
Biodegradable plastics can be composed of bio-plastics, that greenhouse gases are locked within the plastic and are
which are plastics made from renewable raw materials. released into the atmosphere when composted. However,
There are normally two forms of biodegradable plastic, everything used in the production of biodegradable
injection molded and solid. The solid forms normally are plastic is natural. As such, these plastics do not contain
used for items such as food containers, leaf collection the harmful chemicals and materials that traditional
bags, and water bottles. plastics do.
Making Biodegradable Plastic Some biodegradable materials do contain small pieces
of metal. There is concern that when biodegradable
Biodegradable plastics are made from all-natural plant
materials. These can include corn oil, orange peels, starch, plastics break down, those metals will be released into
and plants. Traditional plastic is made with chemical fillers the environment. However, to date there is no evidence
that can be harmful to the environment when released of that causing any significant issues.
when the plastic is melted down. With biodegradable The benefits would seem to outweigh any potential
plastic, you get a substance made from natural sources drawbacks, but the question of whether or not
that does not contain these chemical fillers, and does not biodegradable plastics will someday replace traditional
pose the same risk to the environment. plastic is still a matter of debate.

The process of making biodegradable plastics begins with Biodegradable plastics: are they better for the
the melting down of all the materials. That mixture is then environment?
poured into molds of various shapes such as plastic water Litter is a problem with a very negative social and
bottles and utensils. environmental impact. Some people believe that one way
Regular Plastic Vs. Biodegradable Plastic to tackle this problem is to use biodegradable plastics as
an environmentally-friendly solution for things such as
After formation, regular plastics hold carbon. When they plastic bags. This might seem sensible at first glance, but
are disposed of and begin to decompose or when they are is it really better for the environment?

27 December 2017 Plastics News