With technological advances and the increase in the global population, the demand for plastic products has exploded. Unfortunately, most conventional plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate are non-biodegradable, meaning that they can take up to 500 years to degrade. Their increasing accumulation in the environment has become a major threat to the planet.
We produce more than 380 million tons of plastic every year and an estimated 20 million tons of plastic don’t make it into landfills and end up in the environment. A proposed solution to this is biodegradable and bio-based plastics. However, it is important to understand the difference between these plastics.
Biodegradable plastics are derived from fossil materials, and although microorganisms can degrade them in a reasonable amount of time, they can release harmful chemicals as they decompose and may break down into microplastics. Bio-plastics, on the other hand, are derived from biomass and break down into organic materials that can then nourish soil. They also break down in just a few weeks with exposure to water and heat.
For both biodegradable and bio-based plastics to degrade, microorganisms and enzymes need specific conditions that may not be found in landfills, where most plastics end up, such as high heat and moisture to work effectively. Home composting conditions are far too unpredictable and do not always meet the needs of plastic-degrading microorganisms. This presents a problem with plastic disposal.
Industrial composting facilities, however, have shown promise as a solution to this problem. These facilities have the ability to compost at high temperatures and high moisture levels, which allow thermophilic microorganisms to be more productive. As of 2018, there were around 5,000 industrial composting facilities in the U.S., and the industry grows nine percent each year. It is expected that the industry will grow to 11.83 billion by 2028.
While biodegradable plastics are a promising solution to reducing plastic waste, their effectiveness and environmental benefits depend on proper disposal and specific degradation conditions.
