Low cost: plastic may seem cheap, but we must remember that contains oil, which is an expensive and finite source. For instance, we’ve all heard of the damage that microplastics do to animal life. The main advantages of bioplastics are, on the one hand, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the event that they are burned for energy and consequently to the environmental impact. They are generally, There is a concern that bioplastics based on terrestrial crops, Crop-based bioplastics require fertile land, water, fertilizers, and are reliant on weather conditions. After plastics are formed, the traditional products will hold their carbon. We must also use water resources to crow the crops needed for the raw materials as well. Title: Advantages of Bioplastics and Global Sustainability Author: istic Created Date: 2/13/2014 4:34:30 PM 2. Plant raw materials are renewable and sustainable unlike oil which is a limited and finite resource. In fact, between 2019 to 2024, its production capacity is expected to grow by 15% from around 2.1 million tonnes to 2.4 million+, so the demand is clear. Compostable Plastics, Advantages and Disadvantages By Axel Barrett May 20, 2020 May 27, 2020 Here's a short video on the advantages and disadvantages of Compostable Plastics made by Axel Barrett, Chief Editor of Bioplastics News. Organizations that adopt this product are often seen as being preferable because they are viewed as being concerned about the environment. Biodegradable plastics are bioplastics that are produced from petrochemicals with biodegradable additives and renewable raw materials. There are many impressive advantages of bioplastics to celebrate, but it’s also important to understand the disadvantages, too. 3. Because these items do not typically exist with biodegradable items, we would be able to take advantage of this supplemental benefit immediately. The Pros of Bioplastics Bioplastics are made from plant raw materials instead of petroleum oil, the raw material used to make conventional plastics. When we create this mixture, the plastic products often have more strength as well. Biodegradable plastics do not guarantee a net savings. Lets look at various advantages and disadvantages of biodegradable plastics. The primary benefit and advantage in using bioplastics is their capability to improve the environmental impact of a product. 3. Many are compostable, a few might be biodegradable, and some are also recyclable. Unless we can eliminate chemicals from the entire manufacturing chain, there will always be a risk of pollution to consider with biodegradables. Poland Spring is reducing the number of plastic components that they use for their packaging needs. That means many of the advantages that are possible with this product disappear in equatorial and far-northern climates. Composting goes much slower when the weather turns colder. That means shareholders, executives, and employees all stand to gain from the potential for higher profits. Reduce the costs of waste management, especially if they are used on a large scale by the food industry. Example: bioplastics perform better in the category abiotic resource depletion compared to fossil fuel-based plastics, but have higher land and water use … Making this switch could lead to significant changes in how people and other businesses see each other. Even organic crops that are sent to the plastics industry can be sprayed with natural compounds that may offer health risks during times of high exposure. This was a very general introduction. If we throw out these plastics in the landfill last we would the traditional items, then they will follow a path that is similar to the non-biodegradable option. Because some biodegradable plastics produce methane when decomposing in landfills, it is possible that some of these natural plastic items could be creating a more harmful effect on the environment than if we stuck to the traditional manufacturing cycle. Bioplastics also lower the carbon footprint. Biodegradable plastics offer a substance that is made from a natural source, so the risks of breaking down are much fewer. Many of the advantages of bioplastics rely on a net savings being created by a reducing of energy, water, or greenhouse gas emissions. 4. That is in addition to the 68% reduction in greenhouse gases that occur during the manufacturing process. In 2016, China produced approximately 290,000 tons of biodegradable plastics. Biodegradable plastics reduce the amount of waste we produce. Biodegradable plastics do not release other dangerous items upon decomposition. This outcome is achievable because the microorganisms in the environment are able to break down the structures which make the biodegradable plastic. This process turns them into polymers that become useful for the industry. Just hit the button below to get your copy (please note, this will direct you to my company Sofeast.com): Filed Under: New Product Development Tagged With: bioplastics, plastic alternatives, plastics, product design. Bioplastics include a wide and growing category of biological material based polymers that have their own unique attributes and uses. Some of these biodegradable items can break down in a measurement timed in weeks instead of months or years. By 2050, we could create a system that is emissions neutral if we make this technology a priority. The growth rate in local sales was 13% from the year before, with the entire value of this segment worth over $350 million. Biodegradable plastics offer reduces carbon dioxide levels. Advantages and Disadvantages of PLA By Axel Barrett June 9, 2020 June 16, 2020 Here's a short video on the advantages and disadvantages of PLA Polylactic Acid made by Axel Barrett, Chief Editor of Bioplastics News. Biodegradable bag supplier to share with you: Generally speaking, the biggest advantage of bioplastics is less pollution to the ecosystem and less energy carbon emissions.The current problems caused by landfills can be solved by increasing the use of bioplastics. Temperature and humidity play significant roles in the process. 12. Bioplastics cannot decompose in ocean water because it is too cold of an environment for the material. >> Learn more about bioplastic alternatives (in detail) by reading this white paper <<. That would create fewer pressures on the overall waste stream. 7. This blog is written by Renaud Anjoran, an ASQ Certified Quality Engineer who has been involved in Chinese manufacturing since 2005. You must pay attention to the quality and labeling of the bioplastic items upon purchase to ensure that you are using items that can decompose rapidly. This means that the supply of raw materials for bioplastics are at, The 3 deadly mistakes that will hurt your ability to manufacture a new product in China effectively, How to define an informed strategy and a realistic plan, How to structure your supply chain on a solid foundation, How to set the right expectations from the start, How to get the design and engineering right. 5. The good: Bioplastics are perceived to be environmental friendly and hence, the range of their applications is expanding. The remainder goes into landfills and other waste disposal programs, where it could take up space for more than a century. These prices are coming down as our technologies improve and source material access becomes cheaper to produce. Herbicides and pesticides are not tracked by this industry, so there is no way to know what your exposure levels might be when you encounter these natural products. For one thing, they're more expensive than petrochemical plastics, costing between 20 to 100 percent more [source: Dell].The industrial processes for making petrochemical plastic have been in place for decades, so the production chain is very efficient. Biodegradable plastics create a new marketing platform. 10. Bioplastics are usually categorized into three main groups: Bio-based plastics– These include the bioplastics made out of bio polyesters. Biodegradable plastics require use to use croplands to produce items. The Coca-Cola Company has already created a bio-plastic bottle that they can use with their beverages. Biodegradable plastics are broken down by naturally-occurring bacteria. Biodegradables come from products like switchgrass or corn, which means we could redirect the petroleum being used by the industry to our transportation or heating needs instead. The best understood advantage of biodegradable bioplastics lies in the reduction of permanent litter. We are producing more waste plastic today than ever before in human history. We must address the causes of why we pollute in the first place to ensure our biomes remain healthy for future generations. 9. Bioplastic - Bioplastics are plastics derived from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable fats and oils, corn starch. Biodegradables eliminate these substances from being needed. Bioplastic is a much greener material, see below some of its advantages. An Importer’s Guide to New Product Manufacturing in China in 2020, please note, this will direct you to my company Sofeast.com, bioplastic industry is already growing steadily, damage that microplastics do to animal life, Braskem’s 200,000-tonne bio polyethylene plant, some algae-based bioplastics will break down in a matter of hours when in the water, Why The Bill Of Materials (BOM) Is A Key Document For Importers [Podcast], All the Basics About the Metal Welding Process [Videos], How To Cooperate With Your Chinese Supplier, Part 10: Jewelry & Gold Plating Problems: Exploring the process and controlling quality, The Impact Of Chinese New Year On Importers & Tips To Prepare For CNY 2021 [Podcast], Documenting Your Company’s Quality Standard into the Details, Based on organic or plant-based sources instead of oil, Recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable, Able to fulfil the same applications as oil-based plastics, Many bioplastic polymers are naturally occurring and, Common bioplastics, such as starch-based PLA and PHB, are, First, bioplastics are generally NOT cost-competitive compared to their oil-based counterparts. That means it may not be an affordable solution for everyone right now, but it could be in the future. When you use biodegradable plastics instead of items made through the traditional refinement process, then fewer greenhouse gas emissions escape into the atmosphere. Bioplastic is a biodegradable material that come from renewable sources and can be used to reduce the problem of plastic waste that is suffocating the planet and polluting the environment. Biodegradable plastics must follow a specific disposal procedure. Biodegradable plastics require the weather to cooperate with their disposal. Once the natural materials are turned into polymers, they can work with the ones that were manufactured using oil molecules. One of the main benefits that bioplastics provide is the ability to use renewable energy sources during production. Phthalates soften the plastic to turn it into PVC. Tweet Renaud here or hit the button below to get in touch. Now, let’s say you are designing a new product or wondering how the materials of an existing product can be substituted. Because of this energy savings, the long-term cost of using biodegradables could be substantially less than traditional plastics – especially if the cleanup costs from plastic pollution are added to that calculation. The manufacture of plastic through renewable resources is a great advantage. 8. Let’s take a detailed look at the pros and cons of the ‘sustainable’ bioplastics. However, not all bioplastics can be degraded in a short time. Biodegradable plastics can mix with traditional products. As product designers look for more sustainable options to please increasingly environmentally savvy consumers, they are often looking at the advantages of bioplastics, such as lower production CO2 emissions, sustainable raw materials, biodegradability in many cases, and more…. Many of the mature markets for plastic products in the developed world are looking for ways to reduce their carbon and waste footprints. The bioplastic produced from biomass, which is non-toxic, degradable, and recyclable. Even bioplastics that are not entirely made from renewable raw materials often still contain a high percentage of them. Bioplastics are cheaper than normal plastics especially with the soaring oil … Because there is no general oversight on the manufacturing cycle from crop growth to final distribution, there isn’t reliable data available to suggest that biodegradables are useful beyond the ability to offer more profits to some companies or create compost fodder. Bioplastics provide the electronic industry with an excellent opportunity to improve their environmental credentials as they can be injection mouldedwith similar characteristics to traditional plastics without modifying any ma… That figure represents about 32 million tons of waste each year, with only 9% of that amount directed into recycling programs. 11. Manufacturers can create items using plants, starches, corn oil, or even the peels from citrus fruits. Scientists estimate that there could be more waste plastic in the ocean than fish by the year 2050, with tap water containing microplastics up to 80% of the time. When they begin to break down in the environment, bacteria in the soil begin to consume the components. Because it doesn’t break down like it would during compositing, it will either float on the surface like a conventional product or create micro-plastics that are harmful to marine life. Reduction of greenhouse gas emission. Researchers at the University of Bath have created a plastic that only uses sugar and carbon dioxide, resulting in polycarbonates that no longer need to use petrochemicals and their CO2 emissions necessary for refinement. As I wrote above, you can get our white paper on this topic (no registration required), to go into more depth about this topic. Consequently, biobased plastics can help the EU to meet its 2020 targets of greenhouse gas emissions That leaves us with less waste to manage over all, reducing the potential for pollution in every biome. Biodegradable plastics do not account for herbicides and pesticides. Plastics make our lives easier in many ways, but they can also contain potentially dangerous products that could harm our health at the same time. 6. That number is equivalent to the annual emissions of 19 million vehicles. Bioplastics are generally compostable, which means they will decay into natural materials that will eventually blend harmlessly into the soil. Saving fossil fuels. Since many of the reports cited in research involves industry-produced data, we must have access to more independent studies to understand if the advantages and disadvantages of biodegradable plastics are moving in the right direction. Cheaper alternative This is the official blog of Sofeast.com. Is it justifiable to grow cash crops for manufacturing purposes at a time when people need food to eat? When the cornstarch molecules encounter water, then they slowly absorb it, swelling up to break the item into smaller pieces. That means we are simply trading one issue for another until there is a better solution to find. These are the current advantages and disadvantages of biodegradable plastics to review. Our current technologies can produce 1 metric ton of PLA from 100 bushels of corn. Biodegradable plastics require less energy during the manufacturing cycle. Bioplastics are more marketable, for example, their usage may improve the value-add of a product … Are you ready to consider the use of a material that is not made out of oil? At our current technology levels, it costs up to 50% more to manufacture biodegradable plastics than it does to follow the traditional production cycle. A large fraction of the litter in our oceans is of disposable plastic bags. We consume over 100 million tons of plastic each year, which means the standard 5:1 ratio of production indicates that this industry produces 500 million tons of carbon dioxide that goes into our atmosphere each year. r Demonstrating the advantages of bioplastics from a carbon perspective. Plastics make up approximately 13% of our current waste stream. Most recently it has started to address the sustainability of the materials it uses in its products. Bible Commentary Bible Verses Devotionals Faith Prayers Coloring Pages Pros and Cons, 22 Should Juveniles Be Tried as Adults Pros and Cons, 6 Powerful Prayers for a Safe School Year, 50 Compelling Bible Scriptures on Direction, Proverbs 11:14 Meaning of Lack of Guidance, Matthew 6:26 Meaning of Look at the Birds of the Air, 10 Powerful Prayers for Someone Who Has Hurt You, Wealth of the Wicked Meaning and Meditation, Matthew 5:32 Meaning of Makes Her the Victim of Adultery, Matthew 24:15 Meaning of the Abomination That Causes Desolation, Matthew 10:36 Meaning of Verse and Simple Commentary. Our primary concern with greenhouse gas emissions is with carbon dioxide, but we must also consider the amount of methane that we release each year. Switching to this product makes a lot of sense because it could eliminate the impact of pollution on the environment over time. Biodegradable plastics may reduce the amount of recycling that we can do. 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