Whether you are using compostable or regular plastic bags, you may wonder how the materials are made. Biodegradable plastics are made from petrochemicals, and they break down in specific conditions. However, the environment receives no meaningful advantage from these products.
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Biodegradable plastic is made from petrochemicals
Using plastic biodegradable disposable bags is a great way to cut back on your carbon footprint. The material will decompose in about three to six months depending on the environmental conditions. In addition, it can also be composted.
Traditional plastics are made from petroleum, which is a nonrenewable resource that has been known to have negative environmental impacts. The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 5.7% of the synthetic plastics used were recycled in 2005.
Petroleum-based plastics take a long time to break down and will take up valuable space in landfills. Synthetic plastics end up in oceans and lakes, and they have been linked to toxic pollution.
A biodegradable plastic is made from renewable resources such as corn, sugar, or other plants. It will decompose in the environment more efficiently than conventional plastics.
There are many different types of biodegradable plastic. Some common examples include polycaprolactone, polypropylene, and polylactide. They can be used for food packaging, agriculture, and medical sutures.
In 2010, 191 million barrels of crude oil were used to make plastics in the United States. These chemicals have been associated with cancer, reproductive harm, and other health risks.
The biodegradable plastic industry is a growing industry with a wide range of applications. Companies are targeting consumers who are environmentally aware. They want to give them confidence in the materials they use.
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Biodegradable bags break down in a specific set of controlled conditions
Despite the popularity of biodegradable bags, research suggests they don't break down quickly in all environments. In fact, they can take up to three years to completely degrade. In addition, they're often not compatible with the recycling infrastructure that exists in many communities.
Researchers at the University of Plymouth and the International Marine Litter Research Unit tested five different plastic bag materials to see if they could break down in various environments. None of them reliably deteriorated. They tested a plant-derived biodegradable option, a traditional polyethylene plastic, and two types of oxo-biodegradable plastics.
The study examined the performance of each type of plastic in three environments. They included air, soil, and seawater. While the plant-derived plastic and the traditional polyethylene did not deteriorate in all conditions, they did deteriorate quickly.
The study noted that, while the Compost Bag itself may be compostable, it's still a good idea to read the product label to find out if the bag is actually certified as compostable. The product must be approved for use in industrial composting facilities.
The study also noted that the polymer itself is slow to degrade. Its chemical structure is composed of a repeating chain of chemicals. As a result, post-consumer sorting is difficult.
The study notes that most bio-based plastics contain toxic chemicals. These can include mineral salts, carbon dioxide, and methane.
Biodegradable bags offer no meaningful advantage to the environment
Those of us who have ever seen a grocery store with biodegradable plastic bags on display have probably wondered whether or not they actually offer an environmental advantage. These compostable bags are designed to break down in a few months, instead of the years that traditional plastics take.
Unfortunately, the reality is that these bags have no real advantage over the traditional ones. Rather, they can damage recyclable plastics and can produce methane gas, a powerful greenhouse gas. These gases can accelerate climate change.
Some companies are trying to redesign plastic packaging to be more environmentally friendly. The New Plastics Economy hopes to reduce the amount of waste in landfills by designing products that can be broken down more quickly.
During the manufacturing of these plastics, a significant amount of petroleum is used. Petroleum is a non-renewable resource and it is known to have negative environmental impacts.
In the United States, 3% of the petroleum produced is used in the production of plastics. This is a huge amount of waste. It is estimated that it is enough to cover 32 million tons of trash each year.
When biodegradable plastics are broken down in a landfill, they produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Methane is 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide, so it adds to the global warming problem.
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