Page 56 - Plastics News February 2025
P. 56

IN THE NEWS



          The Future of Biodegradable



          Plastics: Myths vs. Facts





                                                                structures that microbes convert into water and
                                                                carbon dioxide and biological materials. The
                                                                aim of biodegradable plastics lies in reducing
                                                                environmental existence beyond conventional
                                                                plastic degradation  times.  Actual performance
                                                                alongside  environmental  effects  and  extent  of
                                                                scalability proves difficult to predict even though
                                                                biodegradable plastics receive much public at-
                                                                tention.

                                                                Myths vs. Facts about Biodegradable Plastics

                                                                Myth 1: All Biodegradable Plastics Break Down
                                                                Completely

                                                                Fact: All biodegradable plastics do not degrade
                                                                totally nor efficiently because certain areas lack
                                                                the environmental conditions needed for com-
                 he global plastic waste crisis grows in-       plete  decomposition.  The  achievement  of  bio-
                 creasingly severe because millions of tons     degradation  requires  particular  environmental
          Tof plastic waste continue to accumulate              confines including elevated temperatures com-
          throughout landfills, marine environments and         bined with regulated humidity and the existence
          natural habitats.  Biodegradable  plastics gained     of particular microorganisms which are usually
          popularity for addressing harmful effects of tra-     limited to industrial composting facilities. Popular
          ditional plastics while the environmental chal-       bioplastic polylactic acid (PLA) requires temper-
          lenge continues to grow. Biodegradable plastics       atures higher than 50 C to undergo decomposi-
                                                                                       0
          face widespread myths among consumers and             tion. Natural environments like oceans and soil
          policymakers even though their industrial use         make these plastics stay intact for many years
          continues to rise. This research examines wide-       while they produce  additional environmental
          spread misinterpretations about biodegradable         problems instead of solving the pollution issue.
          plastics to establish their factual performance
          and function for future sustainable waste man-        Myth 2: Biodegradable Plastics Are Automati-
          agement systems.                                      cally Eco-Friendly


          Understanding Biodegradable Plastics                  Fact: The manufacturing process of biodegrad-
                                                                able plastics lacks sustainability characteristics
          Biodegradable plastics feature engineered             at its core. Manufacturing biodegradable plastics



             56   PLASTICS NEWS                                                                  February 2025
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