Eco-friendly Plastics and Their Applications
Plastic has become one of the most used substances. Because of its convenience, moldability, low price, and easy usage, plastic is widely used in life and production, such as plastic bags, beads, bottles, boxes, food containers, straws, etc.
Nonetheless, it causes significant harm to the environment in the form of air, water, and land pollution. Therefore, the use of plastic as an environmentally friendly alternative has become more demanding. So what are eco-friendly plastics made of and how they are used in manufacture?
Types of environmentally friendly plastics
Biological plastic
Bioplastic, also known as organic plastic, is made from natural materials such as cornstarch, rice flour, potatoes, and cassava. However, this type is also divided into two categories based on its degradability: biodegradable plastic and non-biodegradable bio-plastic.
Biodegradable bioplastics
Under the influence of microorganisms, biodegradable plastic will be completely transformed into CO2, H20, biomass, etc.
Biodegradable bioplastic comprises of:
- PLA (polylactic acid), which is the biological raw material produced by plant starch such as maize, potato, and cassava.
- Or in some medical cases, this resin may be made from polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) derived from microorganisms.
Degradability:
- The decomposition time of PLA resin is quite short: only a few months or a few years.
- When affected by microorganisms, this eco-friendly plastic completely decomposes into CO2, H2O, humus, which fortunately has created many positive effects on the environment.
Benefits for the environment:
- According to NatureWorks, PLA plastics will save a quarter of energy compared to conventional plastics, thereby helping to save fossil energy sources from significant depletion.
- Unlike traditional plastic, PLA bioplastics, once degraded, does not increase too much amount of CO2 in the air. In particular, after PLA plastics are buried (or incubated), they decompose and produce 70% fewer greenhouse gases.
Disadvantages:
- PLA resins can only decompose under industrial treatment conditions: Most products using PLA have this feature decompose under the conditions of temperature and microorganisms.
- PLA plastic, if handled improperly, can affect the quality of recycled plastic: PLA plastic, mixed with recycled materials, affects the quality of products after being recycled.
Application:
PLA plastics are mostly used:
- In the field of packagings, such as manufacturing food wrap, supermarket bags, garbage bags, and boxes.
- To regenerate tissue in organs such as bone, cartilage, bladder, liver, and mechanical heart valves in tissue culture technology
- To deliver drugs to patients with tetanus, diabetes or Paclitaxel to cancer patients as a carrier material
- As a biological coating in agriculture, helping to increase the ripeness of the fruit, keep moisture, and prevent weather factors.
- In the electronic field, typically computer covers, phone covers, and laptop chassis systems.
Non-biodegradable bioplastics
Though made from natural materials, such as rice flour, corn, potatoes, and cassava, etc., this bio-plastic is converted into ethanol and synthesized during the production process. to ethylene/propylene but not polylactic acid (PLA).
From ethylene or propylene, people continue to conduct polymerization to form traditional PE, PP resins. In essence, PE and PP plastics do not decompose but only decay into small pieces. Therefore, although it is a bioplastic, this plastic is not biodegradable.
However, they are made from renewable materials (rice flour, cornstarch, etc). So in a broader sense, they are still somewhat friendlier than petroleum-derived PE resins.
Biodegradable plastic
Biodegradable plastic refers to plastics that, when affected by microorganisms, will completely decompose into methane, CO2, water, and biomass. This is considered the most environmentally friendly plastic today.
Biodegradable plastics are divided into two categories, depending on the source of their materials:
- Biodegradable plastics are made from natural materials (rice starch, corn, etc). This is the same plastic as the PLA resin analyzed above.
- Biodegradable resins are made from petroleum-based materials. However, these plastics (typically PBAT resins) are biodegradable. They are also considered as a good alternative to traditional plastics.
Recycled plastic/eco plastic
As the name suggests, recycled plastic is a type of plastic created after the process of collecting and recycling old plastics. Recycled plastic helps to save materials and reduce the amount of plastic waste dumped into the environment.
Some issues to note about recycled plastic:
- Recycled plastic is not used to produce the same item the next time, but is made into lower-grade items. For example, an old plastic bottle, after not being used anymore will not be recycled into a new plastic bottle, but can be made into plastic chairs or fence or applied to make synthetic fibers …
- Recycled plastic often has a very high risk of infection if not sterilized during the recycling process. Therefore, it is advised to limit the use of recycled plastic to hot food and drinks.
How can I cut down on plastics?
- Always carry a reusable bag: Some bags are reusable, generating less waste such as cotton and canvas, calico, hemp, jute, etc
- Limit types of plastic boxes: Metal and glass cans can be used as a substitute for plastic containers to store nuts, spices, food and even soaps, shower gel, detergent, dishwashing liquid.
- Bring ‘kits’: Chopsticks, wooden spoons, straws, non-plastic food trays, and a glass water jug will help remove single-use plastic items in your life.
- Reuse and recycle plastic: Some products such as clear plastic bottles, shampoo jars, yogurt boxes, toys, and food containers are more recyclable. Whereas plastic knives, spoons, forks, film rolls, plastic coffee cups, and lids are usually disposable and have very low recycling possibilities.
- Wear natural clothing: Synthetic fibers are the main factor causing microplastic pollution (micro-plastic), a type of pollution that causes serious harm to the environment, especially the oceans and human health. Instead, choose clothes made from fabrics with natural ingredients such as cotton, wool, thorns, and silk.
- Live without plastics: If there is only one choice to eliminate, it’s gonna be plastic — you absolutely can not use it. Before acting, changing habits, the most important thing is to change thinking and perception.
Sources
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Edited by: Mehek Bhargava, Director of Research Bloggers
