Bio-plastic to save us from drowning in plastic

Plastic pollution has been globally recognized as a serious environmental problem. In India, 70 percent of total plastic consumption is discarded as waste. Around 5.6 million tons per annum (TPA) of plastic waste is generated in country, which is about 15,342 tons per day (TPD).

A single use plastic-based water bottle may only be used for a few minutes but will take years to decompose. Account for other plastic wares like grocery bags, buttons, packaging, electronics – it’s easy to see why plastic pollution is growing worldwide so rapidly. Hemp plastic better for the environment as well as human health. According to a survey, around 93% of Americans over the age of 6 have traces of BPA in their body, a chemical used in plastic that interferes with the body’s natural production of hormones. This chemical is known to lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and even cancer. While plastic as a material is too useful and efficient compared to other barrier materials to just get rid of it, it is of the utmost importance to encourage innovation by either finding a worthy replacement, change it in a way that makes it safer, or modify how we use it. Biodegradable plastic is one such innovation that is quickly picking up steam. When talking about alternative plastics, there are a couple of words that are often confused or used interchangeably when they should not be: bioplastics and biodegradable plastics. Bioplastics are plastics made from organic materials such as corn starch, and often made up of polylactic acid (PLA). PLA has properties like polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PET) and looks just like ordinary plastic. In theory, it breaks down in a matter of weeks and does so without leaching toxic chemicals back into the soil and water table. However, this can be a bit misleading, as it is not a good idea to simply let waste of any kind break down in a landfill. Like most organic material, its decomposition yields methane gas, a greenhouse gas many times more potent than carbon dioxide. Instead, PLA-based bioplastics should be taken to a commercial composting facility where it can be broken down in a controlled environment by microbes.

Biodegradable plastics, on the other hand, refer to petroleum-based plastics that are combined with an additive that makes them break down quickly. This term is often very ambiguous and used interchangeably with bioplastics when the two are chemically quite different. To help better define the difference between biodegradable plastics and bioplastics, some states and countries have passed labeling laws to keep the two terms separated. Greendorse is developing innovative alternatives to conventional plastics. Our innovative biobased and compostable polymers and formulations are designed with sustainability in mind, giving YOU the power to make a difference. Collectively, modern society needs to transition to become more eco-friendly. Together we will create a sustainable world.