Plastic bag compostable is becoming a household word. To understand what led to the invention of biodegradable plastic, we need to start by understanding the world of plastics and the problems that surround them. There are growing concerns about plastic accumulation as it is used in almost every industry. In particular, the impact of discarded plastic bags on the environment has increased significantly. The accumulation of plastic bags is not only a physical and visual problem, but also a serious environmental problem.
Compostable plastic bags have emerged as a viable alternative.
Type of material for compostable plastic bags
It is difficult to dispose of plastic. Burning them releases toxic gases. Recycling is often not a convenient option either. That's because recycling requires the separation of different types of plastic that go through different processes.
Biodegradable plastic bags have evolved as an acceptable solution to the growing plastic problem.
The eco-friendly variants of plastic fall into three broad categories:
Bioplastics
As the name suggests, bioplastics are made from biological materials that break down easily. The idea is to replace the good properties of plastic with a material that is friendlier to Mother Earth. Corn starch is a material used primarily to make bioplastics. Various types of bioplastics such as PLA (polylactic acid) are absolutely similar to their petrochemical counterparts.
PLA has performed well in the food industry and is used to manufacture food containers, food packaging, etc. Another positive factor of PLA is its compostable nature. Breaking them down is as simple as putting them in a compost bin. A lot of bioplastics can break down into smaller pieces in a matter of weeks!
Biodegradable material
You'll notice the labeled plastic bags used in supermarkets these days. Prints usually say "biodegradable plastic bags" or "photodegradable" or "oxidized biodegradable plastic bags."
What are these and how are they different from bioplastics? Biodegradable plastics are those that decompose in the presence of oxygen and light. Chemically, they are just like their traditional fossilized Cousins. They just use certain pro-oxidation additives, which make them break down faster under the right conditions.
Biodegradable plastic bags are the most used alternative to traditional plastic bags. However, certain concerns about the process of decomposition have raised concerns in the ecological community. Incomplete decomposition of
biodegradable plastic bags can produce smaller plastic fragments that pose a threat to wild Marine life.
Recycled plastic
Recycling old plastic into new plastic is the easiest way to solve the plastic problem. Recycled plastics are now used to make all kinds of products, such as outdoor furniture, doors, etc. Recycling, however, has its own problems. Recycling requires isolation at source, which is not always convenient. Different plastics can have different molecular compositions. This means they also have different recycling mechanisms. For example, plastic bags may require a different process than plastic bottles and packaging materials.
Effectiveness of biodegradable plastic bags
Now that we know the main types of environmentally friendly plastics commonly used, let's take a closer look. Other forms of biodegradable plastics include hydraulic and photodegradable plastics. However, lack of adequate water or light conditions can lead to incomplete decomposition, which is an environmental problem. Eco-friendly plastic bags are either recycled through the usual channels or degraded in the environment through natural processes.
While there's no denying the many applications of plastic, Green Planet is having a hard time breathing. Garbage dumps for plastic bags have been steadily growing. The only promising alternative science has come up with is
biodegradable plastic bags. With their rapid and natural ability to decompose, they can make a significant difference to current pollution levels.
Having said that,
plastic bag compostable won't solve the problem alone. They need to be handled according to the guidelines. Moreover, it is impossible to make a transition without changing consumer behaviour. There is a shared responsibility to work towards a sustainable future. So far,
biodegradable plastic bags are an acceptable solution.
Andrea Marshall
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