| There are many advantages of biodegradable plastics, and the technology that is used will save our planet from plastic pollution. Bioplastics come in many types and forms, and each one has benefits and drawbacks involved. There is plastic made from biomass, like corn or potatoes among other starchy foods, and this type will break down faster, and can be used in a compost heap. Biomass based plastics can break down by more than half in as little as half a year as long as the certain requirements needed are met. This type of bioplastic must have heat, water, and airflow, and if all three of these are present the degrading time takes a lot less. These are not ideal for most traditional landfills though, because in a landfill situation the aeration is missing, and these products will not decompose as fast when they are just tossed into a landfill and left. Starch based bioplastics can not be recycled, and they can cost more than normal plastics. Another concern is that food starch is needed to create this type of biodegradable plastic, and that can raise concerns about food crops being used for non food uses. The advantages of biodegradable plastics that are based on food starches are not exactly what many people believe, even though these plastics can be more environmentally friendly when properly produced and discarded. It takes less than half of the energy to create these products, from a compound called PLA which is made from lactic acid in the starch, than it does traditional plastics, and many well known names are getting in on this green packaging. Wal-Mart is one of the leading store chains in the country, and the company has recently made the switch to biodegradable plastic packaging for some produce. Another product is in the form of a thin film, and this is a bioplastic film that breaks down much faster with the addition of either heat or moisture. This film is used for garbage bags and food coverings, and can prevent a large percentage of plastic pollution that occurs today. Landfills contain more than one fourth of their garbage in the form of plastic that is not biodegradable, and these products can take years or longer to break down and be absorbed back into the earth. With the films, adding heat or moisture can prevent this, and allow the plastics to break down much faster so that space is made in the landfill in a much shorter time. The advantages of biodegradable plastics can prevent plastic pollution from becoming worse, and other methods can be used to help clean up any of this pollution that is already present. Waste to energy programs, and other alternative uses for traditional plastics that are cluttering up landfills and other areas, can eliminate the plastic garbage buildup that harms the earth and environment. The oceans have millions of plastic bottles, wraps, and other packaging floating. The problem of plastic pollution has become so bad that recently a large jet went down in the ocean and rescuers thought that wreckage from the jet was located. On closer inspection, it was determined that the piles of debris were not from an airplane, but were actually part of the garbage that collects in the area from around the world. The currents and tides had brought the items to the area, where the trash was left to float. One of the advantages of biodegradable plastics is that moisture or heat degraded plastics would break down faster, so that the items could not travel as far or collect in large amounts. These products may have some disadvantages, but with advances in technology these can be minimized or eliminated completely. As biodegradable plastics fall under the "green" category, they exhibit high potential for growth compared to other thriving environment-friendly technologies in the renewable energy and chemicals segments. Opportunities are proliferating in key application areas such as packaging/plastic bags, agriculture, consumer goods, electronics, automotive, and healthcare. Growth in this sector occurs due to factors such as climate change, favorable governmental measures, and green procurement policies practiced by governments as well as corporate entities. Stringent environmental regulations are driving the development of bio-based products and triggering the growth of the biodegradable plastics industry. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Biodegradable Plastics--A Strategic Assessment of Technology Status and Application Prospects, finds that consumer products and packaging has emerged as the application sectors having the highest potential for biodegradable plastics. Analysis revealed that film packaging and rigid packaging scored the best in terms of level of attractiveness and possibility of success. "Traditional packaging materials contain a range of oil-based polymers, which are largely non-biodegradable," notes Technical Insights Research Analyst W.F. Kee. "Packaging waste forms a significant part of municipal solid waste and has caused increasing environmental concerns, resulting in strengthening of legislation in order to reduce packaging waste." With the ramping up of the attraction quotient in recent years, green products are clearly gaining advocates. It has become increasingly fashionable for the public to support green products. The popularity of hybrid cars and reusable bags is a good example. Eco-friendly products have been unleashed in various sectors including food, appliances, and cars. |
