Image Source: bioplasticsnews.com (2019)

Hi! Welcome back to our blog. Today let’s talk about bioplastics. 

What is Bioplastic? 

Bioplastics consist of both bio-based plastics and biodegradable plastics. 

Bio-based plastics VS Biodegradable plastics. 

Bio-based plastics are plastics that are partly or completely made from biological materials. Examples of biological matter used include sugar from corn and sugarcane and potato starch. 

There are 2 main types of bio-based plastics are PLAs (polylactic acid) and PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates). PLAs are made from plant sugars while PHAs are from microorganisms. 

Biodegradable plastics refer to plastics that can be broken down by microbes within a reasonable time period in certain conditions. As such it is important these 2 terms should not be used interchangeably. 

Problems? 

The main problem with bioplastics is that there is a lack of knowledge about bioplastics among the general public. Bioplastics are often thought to be one of the best solutions for our plastic problem. 

Why? Well, bioplastics are made from natural material. It is thus less harmful compared to man-made plastics. Since it is natural, it is able to decompose and return to the environment without additional impacts. Moreover, it breaks down within a shorter period of time compared to other plastics. 

Isn’t bioplastics the best alternative to plastics then? Isn’t it flawless? 

Nope. Bioplastics have their flaws. And this is why. 

Firstly not all bio-plastic is biodegradable. It depends on the ingredients used in the plastic. In addition, certain biodegradable plastic requires specific conditions for decomposition to occur. For example, some biodegradable plastic needs high heat and pressure to disintegrate. 

These plastics thus need to be sent to industrial composting sites. This means these plastics won’t decompose in house compost systems or in the environment. Without these specific conditions, these plastics are just the same as single-use plastic. They will remain in our environment for a very long time or be incinerated if thrown out as normal garbage. 

To add on, such industrial composting sites for bioplastics are not readily available everywhere. In a place without such sites, bioplastics will be treated as regular plastics. They will be sent to either landfill or be incinerated. Which will contribute to the release of pollutants and toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. 

Another example is biodegradable plastics that only disintegrate in the open air. When buried in soil or submerged in seawater, it does not break down. These bio-based plastics thus function like single-use plastics, unable to breakdown into natural components for a long period of time. Instead of reducing plastic, these bioplastics may be contributing to the amount of plastic that persist in our environment. 

Secondly, some bio-based plastics only break down into smaller plastics. An example of this is microplastics. These plastics do not completely break down and can exist in landfills and oceans for a long time. These microplastics have been shown to have harmful impacts on marine animals. For example, they may be ingested by animals who mistake it as food. It can also harm humans, research has revealed microplastics in our salt. This means we could potentially consume plastic that contains toxins. 

What further worsen this problem is that there is a wide variety of bioplastic labels all over the world. Some labels are also ambiguous. There are also many different types of bioplastics with different properties. It is just too difficult for consumers to understand. This may lead to misconceptions about bioplastics. Which can then lead to incorrect disposal of these bioplastics.

Lastly, there is the issue of food security and land availability. With a rising global population, food security is becoming increasingly important. Are we able to support large scale production of bioplastics? What about people who are unable to access sufficient food? Will there be more people who won’t be able to access food now that resources are diverted towards bioplastic production? What will happen if farmers switch to grow much more profitable crops? Will we lose access to some food types then? 

Growing agriculture like corn also takes up a lot of lands. There is a limit on how much land can be sectioned off for growing these crops. There is hence a limit on how much crop is available to produce bioplastics. How long can this be sustained, given our large demand for plastic or plastic alternatives? 

As seen from the above bioplastics may not be the solution for plastic pollution. It may even worsen the problem. 

But fear not, there has been research in alternatives for plastics. For example, using milk skins as protective layers around food items to preserve freshness. Or using paper bags as alternatives. Then again just like bioplastic, they have their flaws. Perhaps the only way to reduce plastic pollution is to reduce the usage of plastics. Especially single-use plastics. 

Sources:

• Why Bioplastics Will Not Solve the World’s Plastics Problem https://e360.yale.edu/features/why-bioplastics-will-not-solve-the-worlds-plastics-problem 
• Are Bioplastics better for the environment than conventional plastics? https://ensia.com/features/bioplastics-bio-based-biodegradable-environment/ 
• Why biodegradables won’t solve the plastic crisis https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191030-why-biodegradables-wont-solve-the-plastic-crisis 
• What you need to know about plant-based plastics https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/11/are-bioplastics-made-from-plants-better-for-environment-ocean-plastic/ 
• Microplastics found in 90 percent of table salt https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/10/microplastics-found-90-percent-table-salt-sea-salt/ 
• Image: https://bioplasticsnews.com/2019/06/29/jabils-sustainable-packaging-combines-design-materials-recycling/