Biodegradable Plastics: Friend or Foe



Biodegradable Plastic:

Using cheek flaps to identify a friend or for biodegradable plastics that dissolve when exposed to different conditions has become the leading solution to the increasing pollution by plastics. Polymeric products, based on petroleum, need hundreds of years to degrade, thus causing detrimental effects on soils, waters, and landscapes alongside adverse impacts on mammal, bird, and fish populations. Biodegradable plastics, which degrade quicker under normal circumstances, seem like perfect substitutes. The actual effects of these primary activities on the environment are not straightforward and call for a more nuanced consideration.




Keywords: Environmental degradation, Biodegradable Plastics, Government Regulations 1. 0 Introduction some of the most established and comprehensive advances of the recent past have tackled issues relating to environmental degradation due to the use of non-degradable plastics in societies today. Biodegradable plastics are designed to break down faster than regular plastics in those natural processes involving microbes. This property could drastically help minimize the waste in the dump site and the plastic material floating on the ocean.



That is so because biodegradable plastics can be derived from renewable resource bases like cornstarch or sugarcane, unlike normal plastics, which are derived from fossil fuels. As for biodegradable plastics, if these are properly sorted and sent to industrial composting facilities, they will decompose into nontoxic substances like water, carbon dioxide, and biomass within several months. It, in addition, reduces wastage and may also add organic amendment to the soil during the process.



However, there are some demerits to using biodegradable plastics, the following being an illustration. One problem that is directly linked to the use of these plastics is the fact that they can only biodegrade under certain conditions, including high temperatures and the presence of specific microorganisms. Such conditions are favorable for industrial composting but not for oceanic settings or conventional landfills.



Thus, if biodegradable plastics are thrown away inappropriately, they may stay in the ecosystem as long as conventional plastics will. Another issue is the dilution of biodegradable plastics disposal because consumers misunderstand and do not know what to do with biodegradable plastics. A good share of folks seems to think that all of these products will disintegrate within any setting they are placed in within a short span of time, hence the irresponsible disposal. For instance, the use of biodegradable plastics, if they find their way into the seas, will not fade away and will also pose threats to aquatic beings. This is an unfortunate misperception that negates the environmental impact that mass production might have and even amplifies pollution issues. However, the manufacture of biodegradable plastics is not without consequences, as they have the potential to alter the ecosystems in which they exist.



Agricultural practices like that of cultivating plants for bio plastic production obscure environmental impacts such as deforestation and degradation of the soil, with impacts like those of pesticides or fertilizers. However, manufacturing of biodegradable plastic tends to involve high energy consumption and emissions that may not be significantly lower than that of conventional plastics. Before biodegradable plastics can become a friend rather than a foe, the following aspects must be addressed. One of these is focusing on educating the public so as to enable them to practice proper methods of disposal of these materials.



Further improvement might be to put clear labels and good instructions that will ensure that the biodegradable plastics will not be deposited in the wrong areas where they cannot easily degrade. Industrial composting also requires increased infrastructural development. An increase in collection and transportation to composting facilities will guarantee that biodegradable plastics are processed under the best circumstances for the benefit of the environment. Nevertheless, such an outcome requires more extensive research into the development of biodegradable plastics capable of decomposition in various environments and enhancement of the sustainability of the production processes.



Biodegradable plastics represent perhaps a somewhat better solution for the problem of plastic waste than the use of conventional plastics, albeit it is still far from being an ideal solution. Their shelf depends on the method of disposal and the conditions under which they are recycled. The main reasons for these misconceptions about biodegradable plastics have to be addressed, and along with proper investments in the infrastructure and the technology needed for this type of plastic, people will be able to enjoy more specific benefits from this kind of material. Thus, indeed, biodegradable plastics can be much more beneficial or friendly than being a foe in the battle against plastic pollution.

Thanks For Reading