There are many reports stating the negative effects of degradable plastics. These plastics will degrade faster than virgin plastics and many micro-plastics will form in its surrounding environment.
K.A. Martin Xavier sir Biodegradable plastics wont degrade naturally, they need special conditions to decompose and breakdown of this plastic will not occur if it is sent to the landfill along with other waste. These so called biodegradable or green plastics pose the same problems to marine life that petroleum-based plastics do.
Biodegradable plastic 'false solution' for ocean waste problem. we cannot have a wholesale switchover to bio-based plastics, to aluminium, to glass or to paper, which all have environmental consequences themselves
Reducing demand and use remains the most logical, environmentally sound, and sustainable approach, and this should be the focal point. We should tackle our single-use culture, rather than perpetuate it, if we ever hope to create less waste.
Dear K.A. Martin Xavier,
In general, the molecules that have the ability to degradable to the main ingredient (main molecules) will have more chances to stay in the future. So, the attention should be on the degradation results, especially for naturally based materials, and for any degree, these materials degrade.
Regards,
Akram
Dear all, the best option is to use natural polymers or biosources derived polymers. These are ready and intrinsicaly biodegradable. Synthetic polymers are potentially stable towards biodegradation, and the use of additives to enhance biodegradability in most case is another addition to the problems of environmental concern. My Regards
Yes.
Biodegradable plastics are only useful to some extent. It's still bad for the aquatic environment. In soil, this can help in part. But after decomposition, the soil must be reclaimed. Regards, Sergey Viktorovich Pushkin
A distinction should be made between truly biodegradable plastics and modified plastics. The former are either hydrolyzed or decomposed by microorganisms to the final components CO2 and H2O. As a result of the decomposition of the latter, there is a risk of getting plastic microparticles and aggravating the problem.
In my opinion, we have to take a step back and think about the life cycle management of each material that we will use and then, we are not restricted to just plastic. If we dispose of our post-consumer waste in any way, we will have associated environmental impacts. If we work with a focus on circular economy, these impacts will be reduced or eliminated, no matter what type of material we generate.
Biodegradble plastic with proper dispose is show better than normal plastic
The R's-pyramid is completely upside down if you think about biodegradable materials. The first choice is to reduce materials. If not possible, then one should reuse. Then you think about recycling, material or energy. The last providence is the burial disposal or, the worst case, abandon in the enviroment. The traditional plastic allows us the reuse and the recycling. Biodegradable plastic can only be burnt (no advantage in regard to the traditional one) or buried. This is not rational.
Rogerio Parra is right in saying that first choice is to reduce materials (extraction, fabrication, usage), that is, the concept of materials design "kei-haku-tan-show" (light-thin-short-small). Still, if this is not possible, then following approaches should be considered :
'Design for Environment' (DfE)
'Life-Cycle Assessment' (LCA)
'Extended Producer Responsibility' (EPR)
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