Bioplastics – Detection & Disposal

Have you heard of bioplastics? This special plastic has been around for several years. You can find out what’s behind this in my article. Can you dispose of bioplastic in your compost? And is it much better than normal plastic? Now we will clarify these questions together in the article. Here we go!

WHAT ARE BIOPLASTICS ANYWAYS? 

We find plastics everywhere in our daily lives, be it in the supermarket, furniture, or pharmaceutical products. Conventional plastic is made from petroleum and cannot be broken down in nature. Over time, the plastic pieces break into smaller and smaller pieces. At the end of this chain, microplastics are produced, which are particularly dangerous for our environment since they are transported to the oceans and accumulate in living beings there. In recent years, plastic production has increased significantly, so environmental problems are increasing, especially in Asia.

Bioplastic has existed for several years as an alternative to conventional plastic made from petroleum. Bioplastics are made from renewable natural raw materials and can be biodegradable. Some types of plastics are not made from renewable raw materials but are still biodegradable. A substance is biodegradable when organisms break it down into its basic components.

Natural raw materials can be very different. For example, cellulose or starch is obtained from plants such as corn or grain. It is further processed, or the raw materials are modified by bacteria in such a way that they can be made into plastics (i.e. polymers).

The disadvantage of biodegradable plastic is that it must decompose even at low temperatures; it is not very stable in everyday life and therefore cannot be used for everything. To avoid this, substances are added to the plastic that improves these properties. These additives can make plastic non-biodegradable.

HOW CAN I REMOVE BIOPLASTICS?

Bioplastics are theoretically degradable at temperatures above 60 ° C. That means you cannot dispose of them in household compost, as the temperatures simply are not high enough for them to break down. If you find a corresponding stamp on the article or if it is written, you can dispose of the article in the organic trash. In industrial composting, significantly higher temperatures are reached due to the limited time available for compost production, so the bioplastic can break down there.

Unfortunately, bioplastic is often separated beforehand like normal plastic from organic waste, as it is considered a disruptive substance. Furthermore, bioplastic degradation does not produce usable nutrients, only water and CO2.

If there is a sufficient quantity of bioplastic, recycling would be the best option. Recycling of materials would be possible, in which the bioplastic is first mechanically crushed and then reformed. Another alternative is chemical recycling, in which the bioplastic is simply broken down into its basic components and then reassembled, so to speak. Unfortunately, bioplastics are not currently recycled because the quantities are simply too small.

Currently, bioplastics are mainly disposed of as residual waste and therefore incinerated. This is particularly unfortunate as it offers no benefits other than energy consumption. Currently, it is better to dispose of biodegradable bioplastics in organic waste.

HOW DO I RECOGNIZE BIOPLASTICS?

You can recognize bioplastics by the fact that they have their stamp. Sometimes the product is said to be biodegradable. Disposable tableware and cutlery are now often made from bioplastics, especially hinged bowls and drinking glasses. Other applications are in horticulture, as bioplastics have the advantage that farmers do not have to collect them later. In addition, bioplastics are widely used in medicine, so there is no need to re-remove threads, pins, and implants. This saves costs, on the one hand, and resources and medicines, on the other.

IS BIOPLAST BETTER THAN REGULAR PLASTIC?

Plastic is made from crude oil, a fossil raw material that is not initially regenerated, so used crude oil is not produced again. In addition, CO 2 emissions arise, which in turn intensify climate change.

In various studies and life cycle assessments, bioplastics were compared with conventional plastics. At this point, it is no more environmentally friendly than traditional plastics. It is positive that fossil resources are not used in production, which means that there are fewer greenhouse gas emissions such as CO 2 and methane. In addition, the plants used to bind to CO2.

On the other hand, areas are used for growing plants that are not available for food production and for which fertilisers and, in some cases, even pesticides are used. Depending on the crops that are grown, especially corn, monocultures are promoted, which promote the loss of biodiversity.

In general, bioplastics have some advantages over conventional plastic, but not enough to make them more environmentally friendly on their own. The environmental impact is expected to decrease in the future, as bioplastics are still in the early stages of development. In particular, residues from the food industry such as whey are an interesting and environmentally friendly alternative to cultivated plants.