Plastics make our lives more convenient, but they are also the main culprit of environmental pollution. Can bioplastics be an alternative? We will look at the possibilities and limitations of eco-friendly products and explore solutions for a sustainable future.
Plastics and our daily lives
How long can we, living in the modern age, go without touching plastic? There is plastic in more things than we think, including the mobile phone, toothbrush, and toothpaste that we reach for as soon as we wake up in the morning. We may be surrounded by plastic to such an extent that it is easier to count the number of times we touch other materials than the number of times we touch plastic. Plastic has become an essential material in our daily lives and has greatly changed our lives. Light, strong, and inexpensive, plastic is used in countless products and has a wide range of uses.
Plastic has become a part of our lives, and we have enjoyed many conveniences. Plastic, which is used for various purposes, has made our lives more convenient and efficient. However, there are serious environmental problems behind these benefits. Due to the cheap nature of plastic, there is a strong tendency to use it once and throw it away rather than recycle it. The plastic that is thrown away like this is becoming a major cause of environmental pollution due to its non-biodegradable nature. In particular, plastic waste is flowing into the ocean, forming huge garbage islands and causing serious marine pollution. In the process of disposing of such plastic, a lot of carbon dioxide is generated, which is also negatively affecting climate change.
The emergence and potential of bioplastics
Bio-plastics have emerged as an alternative to solve the problem of plastics. Bio-plastics are an alternative to petroleum-based plastics and have environmentally friendly characteristics. Bio-plastics refer to plastics made using biomass such as corn starch or vegetable oil. Here, biomass includes all living things such as plants that produce organic matter using solar energy, animals that eat these plants as food, and microorganisms.
The most representative bioplastic is PLA (polylactic acid). PLA is made from plant-derived lactic acid, which is produced by fermenting starch using lactobacillus bacteria in plants such as corn, potatoes, rice, and wheat. The lactic acid is then heated at low pressure to convert it into lactide, which is polymerized to produce the polymeric PLA. PLA can be used for various purposes as it can have various thermal and mechanical properties.
The advantage of bio-plastics is that they emit less carbon dioxide than petroleum-based plastics. In general, a lot of carbon dioxide is emitted during the manufacturing process of plastics, but the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by bio-plastics is relatively small. For example, the carbon dioxide emitted when making a plastic garden chair is about 6 to 27 kg, while bio-plastic emits only 1.3 kg of carbon dioxide per kilogram. In addition, bio-plastic has a low impact on global warming because it naturally decomposes after use, contributing to the carbon cycle.
Challenges and the future of bio-plastic
Bio-plastics have a lot of potential, but they also have some challenges. At present, there are concerns that they may worsen hunger problems due to their low production volume and use of food. In addition, they are not yet fully capable of replacing existing plastics in terms of heat resistance and strength. However, these problems will be gradually solved through continuous research and development.
Although bio-plastics are still in their infancy, they have great potential to evolve into more efficient and environmentally friendly materials through further research and development. We must reduce our use of plastics and use alternative materials such as bio-plastics to solve environmental problems. This is our responsibility and an essential step toward a sustainable future.
To solve the plastic problem, small individual actions can add up to make a big difference. It is important to make recycling a part of our daily lives and make efforts to reduce the use of plastic. In addition, innovative technology development is needed along with policy support from the government and companies. Our small actions and efforts will add up to create a better environment.
Ultimately, we must create a sustainable future through coexistence with plastics. To do so, we must reduce the use of plastics, actively practice recycling, and promote the development and use of eco-friendly materials such as bioplastics. It is time for all of us to work together for a sustainable future.
