Biodegradable Plastics
Plastic waste has emerged as one of the global challenges in recent times. It is widely recognized that Plastic plays an import role in human civilization. Biodegradable plastics?are one type plastic?that can be decomposed by the action of living organisms, (i.e., microbes) into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass.?Biodegradable plastics are generally derived from renewable raw materials, micro-organisms,?petrochemicals, or combinations of all three. Biodegradable polymer offers a more sustainable approach over traditional plastics. There are 100 million tones of plastic production each year to meet human demand resulting 1.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emission. Biodegradable plastic offers a substantial reduction in CO2?emissions as they are not produced through the harmful processes. For every ton of petroleum-based plastics production, there are up to three tons of CO2?release in the atmosphere. With bio-polymers, this figure is reduced to 0.5 tons. As bio-polymer originates from plants, which means it consumes a lot of CO2?from the atmosphere for plant growth. This is identified as a ‘carbon sink’. In addition, if we consider the requirement of the energy to clean and recycle plastics, biodegradable alternative offers a less energy-intense route. On top of that, a piece of biodegradable plastic can either fully biodegrade or be reduced by a significant portion of size in 18 to 36 months depends on suitable condition. Traditional plastic can take up to 1,000 years to fully biodegrade, so the use of biodegradable polymer signifies a huge improvement.?
1. Biodegradable plastic applications towards sustainability: A recent innovation in the green product
2. Applications and environmental impact of biodegradable polymers in textile industry: A review
3. Biodegradable natural polymers and fibres for 3D printing: A holistic perspective on processing, characterization, and advanced applications
领英推荐
4. The effect of biodegradable polymer blending on the disintegration rate of PHBV, PBS and PLA in soil
5. Biodegradable polymers: from synthesis methods to applications of lignin-graft-polyester
?
As the river bends and seasons turn, Old ways dissolve, new paths we learn. The earth’s whispers guide our stride, In nature’s arms, we’ll gently reside. Not all that lasts is meant to stay— In time, even plastics find their way. In soil and sky, where life is true, The world reawakens with the morning dew.