The Yale School of Environment website published an article signed by Jim Robbins, titled: Why Bioplastics Will Not Solve the World's Plastics Problem (Why Bioplastics Will Not Solve the World's Plastics Problem)
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The article pointed out that degradable plastics are being considered by the industry as the solution to plastic pollution, but in fact the idea that bottles and packaging made of plant materials can be discarded at will and then naturally decompose and disappear is wrong - recycling and reusing plastics is the only viable strategy
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The article pointed out that degradable plastics are being considered by the industry as the solution to plastic pollution, but in fact the idea that bottles and packaging made of plant materials can be discarded at will and then naturally decompose and disappear is wrong - recycling and reusing plastics is the only viable strategy
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Part of Coca-Cola's plant bottle is degradable plastic, which is also considered an important solution to the world's plastic pollution problem
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But making biodegradable plastics that are both cheap and effective remains an unsolved problem
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So, why are degradable plastics, considered an important solution to the plastic problem, far from having the desired effect?Single-use plastic packaging is the perfect packaging material - strong, light, versatile, clear, inexpensive, and protects the freshness of the product well, and can withstand the acidity and pressurization of soft drinks
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So, why are degradable plastics, considered an important solution to the plastic problem, far from having the desired effect?Single-use plastic packaging is the perfect packaging material - strong, light, versatile, clear, inexpensive, and protects the freshness of the product well, and can withstand the acidity and pressurization of soft drinks
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PLA is one-tenth the cost of PHA, so it is more widely used in disposable tableware and various packaging
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PLA is one-tenth the cost of PHA, so it is more widely used in disposable tableware and various packaging
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PHA is used as a coating for the interior of paper cups and for medical applications
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However, neither of these biodegradable plastics is widely used because they simply cannot compare with the strength and other properties of conventional plastics, and they are much more expensive
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The global plastics market size is as high as 1.
2 trillion US dollars, and the degradable plastics market is only 9 billion US dollars
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While both types of degradable plastics in use today can be broken down by microorganisms and become part of the natural world again within a short period of time, the breakdown will only be achieved when the plastic is collected and placed in tightly controlled high-temperature industrial facilities
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If degradable plastics end up in landfills without enough oxygen to break down, the effects can last for centuries, releasing methane, a powerful greenhouse gas
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Even a 100% plant-based bottle is not a viable solution
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Not only do degradable plastics enter the environment and take years to decompose, but because they are made from plants, degradable plastics also come with environmental problems caused by large-scale farming
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The sugars used to make degradable plastics often come from genetically modified crops sprayed with herbicides and pesticides that take up the land needed to feed a growing global population
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Many experts believe that the solution to plastic waste is not mainly to develop better degradable plastics, but to adjust the economic structure to greatly increase the amount of plastic recycled
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A key step is to make the government no longer take responsibility for recycling, but to require companies that use packaging to play a leading role in recycling, that is, "extended producer responsibility"
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A recent study published in the journal Science estimates that around 11 million metric tons of plastic now enter the ocean each year, 3 million more than previously estimated
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If the world continues its current trend of skyrocketing plastic consumption, production of plastic waste will triple by 2040
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The only solution to this dire problem is a massive $600 billion overhaul of the global plastics system to recycle and recycle plastics
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