For many years, plastic’s major fault was the fact that it was not biodegradable. Plastic dumped in landfill sites would stay there indefinitely. This has proven particularly detrimental to sea life, with plastic that has made it into the oceans harming wildlife. Despite many plastics being reusable and recyclable, there has always been the sore issue of biodegradability.
Recent developments in the plastic industry have tackled this problem. With environmental consciousness the highest it has ever been, plastic suppliers are constantly seeking to reduce the environmental impact of their products. This is done through improving the product’s recyclability, efficiency, and biodegradability.
With regards to the last point, advances in technology have resulted in a range of biodegradable plastic products becoming available to the industrial and consumer market, including product and food packaging, shopping bags, containers, etc. With less than 6% of the world’s plastic being recycled, composting waste which includes biodegradable plastic is a viable option for avoiding filling landsites with waste that could be better disposed of. As well as reducing the physical load on landfill sites, it is also much kinder to the earth, with waste decomposing and being reused appropriately.
Biodegradable plastics are often made of bioplastic; this is plastic which is derived from natural materials, like vegetable fat and oil. This greatly reduces the need for fossil fuels in plastic production, making them the more sustainable than their traditional petroleum derived alternatives.
Popular use for bioplastic includes rubbish bags, disposable consumer goods, and food packaging which is likely to be thrown away. One of the most popular uses for biodegradable bioplastic is waste bags for organic matter; these can be composted along with the organic waste they contain. A common example is the garden waste bags provided by many local councils in the UK.
Increasing the yield of a plastic escalates its efficiency. This increased efficiency can dramatically reduce the environmental impact that the plastic has. Where plastics may be used to package and secure consumer goods in transit, the carbon costs can be reduced by lowering the weight of the plastic needed. Because the plastic’s properties have increased in efficiency, less plastic is needed in the transportation of the goods, meaning reduced weight, reduced transport costs, and ultimately a reduced carbon footprint. This type of low weight, high strength plastic has many benefits for businesses aiming to reduce both their costs and environmental impact.
Polythene UK specialise in the supply of bioplastic and biodegradable plastic. For more information, you can visit their website: Compostable Bags