Our report identifies key challenges to achieving a system based approach determining the future of bioplastics, including end-of-life management, labelling and certification, regulation, costs, knowledge gaps, trust, awareness, and environmental risks.
There are a number of reasons that bioplastics and other compostable plastics are not the great solution they might seem like at first glance.
In reality, bioplastics are not the solution to plastic pollution—despite what the bioplastics industry wants you to believe.
Biodegradable plastics are those plastics able to be broken down by microorganisms into elements found in nature. Importantly, biodegradable here doesn’t specify how long or under what conditions plastic will break down.
Many manufacturers claim their bioplastics products break apart faster in the environment, are made from safer materials, and have smaller climate change impacts. But with no federal standards defining or regulating bioplastics, companies have free rein to label whatever they want as “biodegradable” and “compostable.”
Bioplastics are said to be the “better” plastic of the future: biodegradable, eco-friendly and just as convenient. But is that actually true?
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.
Bioplastics differ from conventional plastics in that they are biodegradable, biobased or both.
Biodegradable refers to a natural process during which micro-organisms that are available in the environment convert materials into natural substances such as water, carbon dioxide and biomass. Look at the advantages and disadvatages between the two.
Despite the benefits of using bioplastics, there are potential drawbacks. For instance, the production of bioplastics can require significant amounts of energy and resources, and the end-of-life management of bioplastics can also be challenging.
Anything that helps humankind solve the plastics problem has to be a good thing, right? Unfortunately, environmental issues are never quite so simple.