What are bioplastics? Briefly explain the different variants of bioplastics being used and promoted? Critically examine the impact of bioplastics on the environment?
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Background:
This year 2018, on June 5 world celebrated ' World Environment Day 2018 ' with the theme - Beat Plastic Pollution to combat the usage of single-use plastics. India is hosting this year WED 2018. There are NGO, governments of various countries all over the world are participating in United Nations Environment Programme’s Beat Plastic Pollution campaign. Plastic is contaminating and non-biodegradable & it is effecting not only the planet but also the various other forms of life. As per survey, each year around 200 million tons of plastic are consumed on the planet.
Bioplastics as the word says it is a biodegradable ( may not be always) materials that are manufactured from the renewable sources such as vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, cellulose, sugarcane etc. It can be used for packaging, crockery, pots, bowls, and straws, agriculture, textile industry, medicine.
Different types of bioplastics:
Types of bioplastics:
Cellulose based bioplastics - used to make wrappers.
Starch based bioplastics - used in the production of drug capsules.
Polylactic Acid (PLA) based bioplastics - mobile, computer casings, cups, pots, bottles, etc
Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) - banknotes, car parts, etc
Polyamide 11 (PA 11) - used in making pipes (oil & gas) & cables.
Are they safer alternative to plastics or whether they lead to several other issues which exacerbate the problem?
To some extent, they are safer than the single - use plastics.
Advantages of bioplastics:
Reduces carbon footprint.
Energy savings in production.
Non - toxic.
Does not involve the consumption of non-renewable raw materials.
Reduces non-biodegradable waste, which is harmful.
Does not change the flavor or scent of the food contained.
Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency.
Disadvantages of bioplastics:
Production of these bioplastics requires almost 80% of the energy required to produce common plastic.
Cause enormous harm to the ecosystems
To compost, it requires industry type facilities, many days.
There is no proper differentiation between the usual plastics & bioplastics, which makes it difficult to identify.
Alternatives to the use of Bioplastics
Proper composting of the biodegradable materials can be one of the alternatives we can go for.
We should change our modern style behaviour such as usage of unnecessary plastic in our everyday life. For example: Straws while drinking cold drinks, juices, etc and use of box to store food instead of wrapping in a plastics.
Conclusion:
By looking at the advantages of bioplastics over the single use plastics. We can say that bioplastics can reduce the many of problems posed to the environment & other living organisms by the normal plastics. As everything has some pros & cons. It is better to go for bioplastics & it should be encouraged.
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