Biodegradable, sustainable alternatives
Today, there are sustainable solutions to almost every plastic problem we’re dealing with. Bringing in an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy, while encouraging the plastic-alternative market to grow on the side, would help in gradually phasing out plastics from our environment.
Several restaurants across the country have turned to bagasse for their disposable packaging, plates, and cutlery. Bagasse tableware is made from reclaimed and rapidly renewable sugarcane pulp, a by-product of the sugar processing industry. The products are sturdier than paper plates, suitable for hot and cold foods, are economically viable, and most importantly — compostable. They are also water-resistant, microwave, and refrigerator safe. ¹ While single-use plastic tableware can be stored for long durations without a worry, bagasse tableware has a shelf-life of about 2 years, before they need to be disposed of.
Since it’s not advisable to reuse bagasse-based tableware, alternatives like bioplastics can be reused, similar to their conventional (petro-based) counterparts. Bioplastics are materials produced from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, agricultural residues, woodchips, sawdust, recycled food waste, etc.² Bioplastics are being used as an alternative to traditional PolyEthylene (PE) shopping bags in supermarkets; cutlery and tableware in restaurants; in the agriculture and horticultural sector as mulch films to help protect plants, improve soil and increase crop yields; in 3D printing; films for food packaging, among other uses. Bioplastics have also found their use, more recently, in structural, electrical, and other consumer products. ³
Some of the polymers widely used are starch-based, cellulose-based (cellulose pulp from trees), Polyhydroxyalkonates (PHA — from bacterial fermentation of sugars), and Polylactides (PLA — from fermented plant starch). ⁴ Among the different bioplastics, due to PHAs’ biocompatibility, biodegradability, hydrophobicity, and easy processing, they are an attractive choice for drug delivery; bone, and cartilage tissue engineering; and vessel stenting for cardiovascular treatments. However, some of the biomedical applications are still in their nascent stages. ⁵,⁶
Polylactic Acid (PLA) is one of the most widely used bioplastics, with its uses ranging from packaging, textiles, plastic films and bags, engineering plastics, and many medical and surgical applications. Back in the 1960s, PLA was used in surgical sutures and bone implants because of its biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and ability to hydrolyze without requiring additional surgeries. ⁷ It is now extensively used for packaging applications; for its mechanical and physical properties, which in some cases are comparable and in specific cases superior to existing petroleum-based polymers. Commercially, PLA films and packages have properties comparable to those of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and can provide better mechanical properties than Polystyrene. ⁸ These unique properties, along with the biodegradable properties of the material make it a very attractive alternative to conventional plastics.
Consumer preferences have changed over the years, which has had a major impact on the decision-making process of several companies in the country, and abroad. There have been demands from environmentalists for companies to switch to sustainable options for packaging, which have been answered by a few, with the introduction of alternatives. Some of the major e-commerce companies have taken a stand against single-use plastics used in their packaging to replace them with corrugated boxes and paper bags. Air pillows and bubble wraps used in packaging have been replaced with paper cushions, shredded material, or 2 ply rolls. ⁹,¹⁰
More recently, PLA has been considered to replace the more traditional glass, melamine, or plastic plates in several households. PLA provides an eco-friendly alternative, without compromising on functionality (Microwave and dishwasher-friendly). Plastic tableware tends to leach out harmful chemicals like Bisphenol A (BPA) and Phthalates when hot food is poured on it, while PLA, being plant-based, doesn’t have the same problems. One of the major drawbacks of eco-friendly alternatives is their price, as in some cases, they cost almost twice as much as their conventional counterparts. With advances in technical know-how on achieving manufacturing scale, the cost of Bioplastics are gradually dropping, making it a more viable alternative to petroleum-based products. The result is that most of the products we use will be made from a renewable plant-based source and will be completely biodegradable. ¹¹ These are encouraging signs, as we slowly move towards a sustainable future!
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References:-
- https://ecoware.in/blog/why-is-bagasse-most-suitable-for-tableware-products/
- https://www.iomcworld.org/medical-journals/bioplastics-48383.html
- Ashter, S. A. (2016). Introduction to Bioplastics Engineering. An Introduction to Bioplastics Engineering. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2014-0-04010-5
- http://www.bioplastics.guide/ref/bioplastics/biodegradable-bioplastics/
- Giubilini, A., Bondioli, F., Messori, M., Nyström, G., & Siqueira, G. (2021). Advantages of additive manufacturing for biomedical applications of polyhydroxyalkanoates. Bioengineering, 8(2), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.3390/BIOENGINEERING8020029
- V. Sharma, R. Sehgal and R. Gupta (2020). Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA): Properties and their Modifications
- Li, G., Zhao, M., Xu, F., Yang, B., Li, X., Meng, X., Teng, L., Sun, F., & Li, Y. (2020). Synthesis and Biological Application of Polylactic Acid. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 25(21). https://doi.org/10.3390/MOLECULES25215023
- Barros-Velázquez, J. (2016). Antimicrobial Food Packaging. Antimicrobial Food Packaging, 1–654. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2013-0-18941-6
- http://www.businessworld.in/article/Flipkart-Comes-With-Sustainable-Packaging-To-Curb-Plastic-Waste/19-05-2020-192517/
- https://www.amazon.in/b?ie=UTF8&node=17948959031
- https://qz.com/796603/dropping-cost-of-bioplastics/
