Important Pros And Cons Of Biodegradable Plastic

Plastic that can decompose naturally in the environment is known as biodegradable plastic. It is considered to be less harmful than the natural plastic materials as it decomposes easily and seldom affects the environment. These plastic materials are made of raw materials which are renewable. Biodegradable plastic can be categorized into two varieties which include solid and injection molded.

These plastics are made of natural plant materials such as plants, orange peels, starch and so forth. These plastics can be made easily by melting down of all natural materials. The liquid is then poured into different molds to form utensils, bottles and so forth.

There are various advantages of using this form of plastic. It is considered to be eco- friendly as it hardly contains carbon. It is free from all types of pollutants and therefore it decomposes easily and quickly. It is easily broken down in the soil with the help of naturally occurring bacteria. Although it is comparatively costlier than most of the other types of plastic materials, it is ingrained with many beneficial features which increase its popularity and usage. Moreover, it is an eco friendly product compared to its counterparts.

As compared to the synthetic plastic bags and items, this unique form of plastic is completely degradable. Synthetic plastic bags tend to clog the drains as it remains intact for many years together. Biodegradable materials decompose naturally and hardly release any chemicals during the process of decomposition. It is therefore safe for the environment.

Non-decomposing plastic bags and materials pose a grave threat to the environment in many ways. It can cause death of aquatic creatures and harm the environment in a drastic manner.

Nevertheless, biodegradable plastic materials are not free from problems. It is essential to dispose these materials properly so that it decomposes quickly. It seldom breaks down when it is tossed along with other waste materials in the landfill. It is quite similar to compost and therefore it must be left to decompose accordingly.

Today it is easy to buy biodegradable plastic bags and other materials quite easily from online stores at affordable price rates.

Features And Consequences Of Biodegradable Plastic

One of the best ways to tackle the issue of plastic wastages is by the use of biodegradable plastic. Not all biodegradable plastics are made of bio- material or plants as it is believed. Some of these plastic materials are made of oil which is quite similar to conventional plastic materials. It is essential to understand that even biodegradable plastic materials such as bags and bottles require specific conditions for proper degradation. It requires the right temperature, micro organisms and humidity to decompose; otherwise it ends up in the landfills and produce harmful gases.

Plant Based Plastic Polymer:

The biodegradable plastic materials are used for various purposes such as food packaging, medical and agricultural uses. Today scientists use grasses for the production of bio-fuel. Now the same grass is used for the production of biodegradable plastic polymer. Scientists discovered a type of metabolic genes which allow bacteria to produce a polymer naturally known as the PHA. These genes can be used to convert plant to plastic quite easily in a cost effective manner. Plant based polymer can be used for the production of plastic shopping bags and these bags can be bought at economical price rates.

Majority of the scientists and researchers have worked consistently on developing biodegradable plastic materials to reduce environmental pollution and its detrimental effects. However, the production methods could still prove to be dangerous to the environment in many ways. It is pertinent to know that these types of plastic materials have negative effects on the environment and human life when it is recycled. Moreover, when these plastics are decomposed, it produces methane gas which contributes to global warming.

However, biodegradable plastic can seldom be replaced with petroleum based plastics as it includes low yields and high costs during the process of production. It is essential to dispose biodegradable plastic in a proper manner. To make it effective, it is important to change the present waste management infrastructure so that it contributes positively to the environment by reducing and eliminating pollution completely. Scientists still debate over the beneficial features of both these types of plastic products and its uses.

Secrets of Biodegradable Plastic

Every year more than million tons of plastic is disposed in the environment leading to pollution. Only a small portion of plastic waste is often recycled. Biodegradable plastic is the only alternative to ordinary plastic bags and materials. It helps to reduce pollution to a large extent. Millions of plastic bags are used by people all over the world. It is quite difficult to exist without the use of these bags but it is known to be detrimental to the environment in more ways than one.          

Renewable plastic materials are made of polymers which are developed from products such as cornstarch. Regular plastic bags are made of petroleum based products such as polyester. With the use of renewable plastic bags, the use of petroleum is reduced to 80 percent as organic materials are used to manufacture recyclable plastic.

Benefits of Biodegradable Plastic

One of the greatest benefits of these plastic materials is that it can be reused many times. Recyclable plastic breaks down into eco-friendly materials such as carbon dioxide, methane and water. Once it is broken down, it is processed by fungi and bacteria. Compared to the non- renewable plastic, the recyclable plastic takes lesser time to break down. It considerably reduces the amount of waste materials that pile up in the environment. As renewable plastic is made of organic matter and natural elements such as grass and trees, it is easily decomposed.

Biodegradable plastic is environment friendly as the biomass materials decompose and seep into the soil. Compared to the non- renewable plastic materials, the manufacturing process involved in renewable plastic is less harmful to the environment. It seldom emits harmful gases that cause depletion in the ozone layer.

As renewable plastic contains biomass materials, it is less harmful to human beings. Most of the non- renewable plastic materials contain harmful chemicals and toxins which can affect human health adversely. With the use of renewable plastic materials, there is hardly any health risk involved.

Recyclable plastic materials can be renewed without sorting plastic materials. It is important to purchase renewable plastic bags and other materials so that it can be recycled easily.