Bioplastics: A Sustainable Trend for a Greener Future

In recent years, there has been growing concern about the impact of plastic waste on the environment. Traditional petroleum-based plastic products have a long lifespan and are not easily biodegradable, leading to a significant amount of plastic waste in landfills and oceans. We still may ask ourselves why plastic is so bad for the environment. Here are a few reasons: 

• Longevity: Plastic takes hundreds of years to degrade, leading to a buildup in landfills and the natural environment.
• Pollution: Plastic litter, such as bags and bottles, can harm wildlife and spread toxins into the food chain.
• Energy consumption: The production of plastic requires large amounts of energy and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
• Microplastics: Plastic particles smaller than 5mm, known as microplastics, are present in the ocean and can be ingested by marine life, potentially leading to harm.
• Land use: The production of plastic can lead to deforestation, as land is cleared for oil drilling and plastic manufacturing.

Overall, the impact of plastic on the environment is significant and steps need to be taken to reduce its usage and increase recycling and proper disposal. This is why bioplastics have emerged as a more sustainable alternative, offering a greener and more environmentally friendly solution to traditional plastic products. But what is bioplastic and how is it better for the environment?

Bioplastics are a type of plastic that are derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch, sugarcane, or potatoes, instead of petroleum. They are considered more environmentally friendly than traditional petroleum-based plastics because they are biodegradable and compostable. This means that, unlike traditional plastics that take hundreds of years to break down in the environment, bioplastics can decompose within a matter of months to years, depending on the specific type of bioplastic. The process of biodegradation occurs through the action of naturally occurring microorganisms, which break down the bioplastic into its constituent parts, leaving no harmful residues behind. Because they are designed to break down in the environment within a short time frame, the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills and oceans is drastically reduced. Biodegradable and compostable bags, for example, can be a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic bags, which can take hundreds of years to degrade in the environment.

Bioplastics have a wide range of potential applications in various industries. They provide a safe and hygienic alternative to traditional plastic products as they are biodegradable and compostable and do not contain any harmful substances. They can be used in a similar manner to traditional plastics and can be molded, extruded, or cast into a wide range of products. In the food industry, bioplastics can be used for:

• Food containers 
• Cutlery 
• Straws
• Cold cups
• Can liners 

Companies, like us here at eco-pliant,  are offering these bioplastic products in order to help restaurants, bars, hotels, production companies, and more, to become more environmentally focused businesses. Companies like Starbucks, The Coca-Cola Company, Yum! Brands, Nestlé, and Wendy’s, have worked together to find solutions for paper hot or cold cups that would make them compostable. Through the NextGen Cup Challenge, Starbucks was able to take their paper hot cups from single-use to compostable by using a bioplastic lining in the cups.    

The use of bioplastics is also expanding into other industries, such as textiles, where they can be used to produce clothing and other products that are both sustainable and biodegradable. They can also be used to produce consumer goods, such as toys and other products, as well as for industrial applications, such as in the automotive and electronics industries.

Another advantage of bioplastics is that the production of bioplastics requires less energy than traditional petroleum-based plastics. The production of bioplastics does not contribute to the depletion of finite resources such as oil and natural gas, as they are derived from renewable resources. Bioplastics can also help to reduce carbon emissions, as they are often produced from crops that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. This not only helps to mitigate the effects of climate change but also supports the development of sustainable agriculture practices. 

Developing sustainable agricultural practices is not only beneficial for environmental practices since it reduces the negative impact of farming on the environment such as soil degradation, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity, but it also can help ensure a stable food supply for growing populations and reduces a country’s dependence on imports. Sustainable agriculture also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increases carbon sequestration in the soil, can improve the economic viability of farms, and improve the livelihoods of farmers and rural communities by providing stable employment and supporting local economies. Overall, the use of bioplastics is not only beneficial to the environment that we live in, but offers far reaching benefits for the communities that we live in.

Despite the benefits of bioplastics, it is important to note that not all bioplastics are created equal. Some bioplastics are designed to break down quickly in the environment, while others take much longer to biodegrade. Some bioplastics are also only biodegradable under certain conditions, such as in an industrial composting facility. It is important to choose bioplastics that are specifically designed to biodegrade or compost in a short time frame, to ensure that they are truly environmentally friendly. Bioplastics should also be compostable, which means that they can be used as a source of organic matter in composting and that they break down into carbon dioxide, water, and other natural substances.

Bioplastics may sound futuristic, but they are already becoming the future of packaging. While bioplastics feel like plastic, they are repurposed with the intention of reducing biowaste. This innovation may be more expensive for businesses right now, but it is great for the planet because the use of bioplastics offers many environmental benefits over traditional petroleum-based plastics, including biodegradability, compostability, energy efficiency, and reduced carbon emissions. 

They have a wide range of applications and offer many benefits over traditional petroleum-based plastics. Bioplastics are a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative, but it is important to choose bioplastics that are specifically designed to biodegrade quickly and effectively in the environment, and that are compostable. By doing so, we can ensure that bioplastics truly contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. As the demand for eco-friendly products continues to increase, it is likely that the use of bioplastics will continue to grow in popularity.