What's the deal with bioplastics?

With covid-19 on the rise plastic is often seen as the more eco friendly alternative.. especially bio plastic. But what is this "bio plastic" I speak of and what misconceptions are hidden? Read more to find out.

“More than eighteen trillion pounds of plastic have been produced to date, and eighteen billion pounds of plastic flows into the ocean every year. It ensnares the marine animals we cherish and the fish we put on our plates.“ - National Geographic

What are bioplastics?

Bio plastics are a form of plastic referred to as PLA (Polylactic acid). They are made of plant based materials, hence the name, such as corn. A special heating and cooling process turns the crop's sugars into PLA.

Disposal

Many often make the point that bioplastics are a more eco friendly alternative due to their ability to degrade but far too often are the details left out. Like any other plastic once you recycle the material it gets weaker unlike glass, metal, or paper. Due to this plastics can only be recycled into "new" plastics a few times. When it comes to bioplastics that same pattern occurs. Meaning that when disposing of it, it may not get new lives like other highly recyclable materials.

The other option for it to be put to "good use" would have to be composting -- but not just any composting, industrial composting. Industrial composting uses a lot more heat and surpasses the requirements needed to properly break down the bioplastic. If the item was just dumped into a landfill even though it's made out of biologically degradable material it wouldn't be able to degrade due to the conditions.

Carbon Footprint + Food Security

The next thing most people consider with eco friendly products is it's carbon footprint and negative impact on the environment. While many say it has a lower carbon footprint than plastic because it is NOT made of fossil fuels there are other factors to consider. The biggest one being the use chemicals.

As we know bioplastics are made out of plant based materials -- often times corn. Producing this crop usually consists of an extensive use of chemical fertilizers. These fertilizers then negatively impact the water in that area, soil (may be a cause of soil degredation), and the whole eco systems in general.

The last issue to discuss would be food security. Bioplastics are said to divert land for food production. This land is often taken away from Indigenous communities who then have to fight with the little resources and power they have to get it back. Like most environmental discussions social justice is often involved.

Final Thoughts

While bioplastics have their pros there are also a heavy set of cons to consider. Like other plastics one of the best things you can do is to avoid where possible. It is truly an attainable goal for many to be completely plastic free but avoiding it where you can and building that conscious mindset is the first step.

resources: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/11/are-bioplastics-made-from-plants-better-for-environment-ocean-plastic/

https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2017/12/13/the-truth-about-bioplastics/