Severe Plastic Pollution
Every year, factories around the world produce over 400 million tons of plastic.
About 50% of this plastic is used only once, such as plastic bags, straws, and spoons, which are thrown away right after use.
So far, 7 billion tons of plastic waste have been created worldwide, but less than 10% of it is recycled.
The rest ends up in landfills, where it takes up space and even produces hazardous components.
As plastic flows from land to sea, countless marine organisms suffer entanglement and internal injuries from contact with or ingesting plastic products.
Over one million marine animals have died due to plastic pollution in the ocean!
What Makes Plastic a Problem?
Traditional plastics are mainly made of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and others.
Due to their high molecular structure and bond strength, large plastic waste takes a long time to decompose under physical, biological, and chemical effects.
These plastics break down into small pieces, known as microplastics, which are invisible to the naked eye. But they’ll never disappear.
Microplastics are easily ingested by living things but cannot be digested, leading to illness and even death as they accumulate in the stomach.
Can We Solve Plastic Pollution?
Scientists have identified a new bacterium, Ideonella sakaiensis, that produces enzymes to break down plastic.
Even though scientists have identified the genes that regulate the enzyme in this bacterium and are replicating the enzyme in large quantities in the lab, it still cannot keep up with the rate at which humans are producing plastic.
To reduce plastic pollution, we need to recycle more and use materials that break down more easily, called degradable materials.
Degradable materials can be divided into bio-based and petrochemical-based types.
PLA and PBAT are currently cost-effective options in the biodegradable plastics industry.
PLA is a biodegradable material made from high-starch crops like corn and cassava.
These crops are fermented by microorganisms to produce lactic acid, which is then polymerized.
PBAT is made from terephthalic acid, adipic acid, and butanediol, all derived from non-renewable petroleum.
Even though PBAT is based on petroleum, it still has degradable properties.
Products made from both PLA and PBAT can be broken down into water, carbon dioxide, energy, and new biomass under composting conditions.
What Can Biodegradable Plastics Be Used For?
And can they replace the traditional plastic items in our lives?
First of all, there is a very important agricultural ground cover film in the field of agriculture.
Mulch and ground cover films are usually transparent or black PE films used for ground cover to increase soil temperature, retain soil moisture, maintain soil structure, prevent pests from attacking crops and diseases caused by certain microorganisms, etc., and promote the function of plant growth.
For areas with drought, water shortage, and very low temperatures, mulch is used as a very important means to increase agricultural production.
However, if mulch is used for a long period of time, it can cause serious soil pollution due to its difficult-to-recycle and non-degradable nature.
For example, in Xinjiang, China, the average amount of film residue per acre of land is as high as 20 kilograms, which is equivalent to laying five layers of film on the land.
This can seriously affect plant growth, and it is difficult to recycle the film after it is broken and cannot be reused.
At this time, biodegradable film becomes the savior of land and crops.
The emergence of biodegradable film has not only liberated the land in Xinjiang and increased crop yields in large quantities, but also boosted rice yields.
Biodegradable plastics can not only replace traditional plastics but also have unique advantages that traditional plastics do not have.
In the fields of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, not only biodegradable mulch but even pesticides and slow-release materials for agricultural fertilizers have been taken over by biodegradable plastics.
In the field of packaging, takeaway lunch boxes are difficult to recycle due to grease stains, food residues, and a variety of contaminants that make it difficult to recycle tableware lunch boxes made of traditional plastics.
It takes hundreds of years to completely degrade the natural environment, and it can only be incinerated as garbage, which not only causes a waste of materials but also seriously pollutes the environment.
Degradable plastic lunch boxes can be degraded in different conditions, the fastest 3 months can disappear in the environment.
Not only that, traditional plastic shopping bags, garbage bags, compost bags, instant noodle bowls, and cushioning packaging materials can also already be replaced by biodegradable plastics.
In the field of hygiene products, children’s diapers, supported by biodegradable plastics, also have anti-bacterial properties, which are more suitable for small babies with delicate skin and low immunity.
In addition, in the medical field, bandages, gloves, drug release materials, surgical sutures, cardiac stents, and fracture fixation materials.
In the field of sporting goods, golf course spikes and so on, have appeared in the figure of biodegradable plastics.
However, many producers make false green claims for profit without actual testing.
Some so-called “home compostable plastics” do not fully decompose in home compost bins.
Ideally, compostable plastics should convert into carbon dioxide, water, and mineralized inorganic salts of the elements they contain, as well as new biomass, after a certain period under composting conditions.
The final compost should meet relevant standards for heavy metal content, toxicity tests, and residual debris.
How to Find Trustworthy Manufacturers?
To avoid dishonest producers, it’s important to check the producer’s qualifications and whether they have been tested by certification bodies like BPI, ABA, and Din Certco.
If you’re looking for a trustworthy supplier, Dongguan Xinhai Environmental Protection Material Co., Ltd. is a good choice.
The company has focused on researching, developing, and producing compostable plastic raw materials, various bags, and related equipment for over 20 years.
I believe it can meet your various needs.
What We Can Do About Plastic Pollution?
Lastly, degradable plastics are part of the solution, but they’re not perfect. We should still reduce our use of disposable plastics, recycle more, and choose eco-friendly materials.
Let’s reduce our use of disposable plastic products, choose biodegradable and eco-friendly materials, and work together to protect our home.
Every small change we make helps protect our planet.
By working together, we can make the Earth a cleaner, healthier place for future generations.
Let’s protect the environment and make the Earth a better place!
