Current Affairs 2022: Bioplastics and Plastic Waste Management in India
Reports suggest that Bioplastics can be produced with a lower carbon footprint than their fossil counterparts.
Bioplastics & Plastic Waste Management
Plastics are one of the substances that have become so ingrained in our daily lives that getting away from them is far more difficult than anyone could have imagined. Recently, we learned that a massive plastic waste patch was formed in the Pacific Ocean due to non-decomposition and improper disposal of plastics. To combat this, scientists have developed the concept of biodegradable plastics, also known as Bioplastics, which have properties and applications similar to plastics, with the difference being that they can be decomposed biologically.
What is Bioplastic?
Bioplastic is a type of plastic that is made from renewable biomass resources. Some of the renewable biomass resources include vegetable fats and edible oils, cornstarch, recycled food, and so on. Some bioplastics, such as starch, proteins, sugar, and other natural compounds could be produced directly from natural compounds. As a raw material, the independence of bioplastics from fossil fuels is important because fossil fuels are a finite and globally unevenly distributed resource. It is linked to petroleum politics and negatively impacts the environment. According to life cycle analysis studies, bioplastics can also be produced with a lower carbon footprint than their fossil counterparts. For example, when biomass is used as raw material and a source of energy, the carbon footprint of some bioplastics can be reduced. However, the manufacturing processes of other bioplastics are less efficient and result in a higher carbon footprint than the manufacturing processes of fossil plastics.
Forms of Bioplastics
Bioplastics are available in a variety of forms. To name a few, starch-based bioplastics are frequently combined with biodegradable polyesters to form blends such as starch/polylactic acid, starch/polycaprolactone, starch/Ecoflex, and starch/polylactic acid (polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate, which is manufactured by BASF). In addition, the manufacturers claim that these blends can be used in industrial applications and that they are biodegradable. Manufacturers such as Roquette have developed a different type of starch/polyolefin blend that is similar to the first. Their carbon footprint is significantly lower than the carbon footprint of petroleum-based plastics used for the same applications, despite the fact that they are not biodegradable. These bioplastics are inexpensive to manufacture, abundant in natural resources, and renewable.
Cellulose can be transformed into a thermoplastic material if it is subjected to extensive modification. An example of this is cellulose acetate, which is expensive and, as a result, is only used in packaging. When cellulosic fibres are added to starch, they can improve mechanical properties, permeability to gas, and water resistance. This is because they are less hydrophilic than starch and, as a result, have greater water resistance.
Applications of Bioplastics
In the commercial world, bioplastics are only used in a small number of applications. Cost and performance issues have remained a source of contention for some time. It is instructive to look at the experience of Italy, where biodegradable plastic bags have been mandatory for shoppers since the implementation of a specific law in 2011. In addition to structural materials, electroactive bioplastics, which have the potential to transport electric current are being developed for use in electronics.
A few examples of disposable items made of bioplastics include packaging, disposable crockery and cutlery (including cups and plates), bioplastic pots and bowls, and bioplastic straws.
The use of biopolymers as coatings for paper is becoming more common as an alternative to the petrochemical coatings for paper today.
Drop-in bioplastics are used in the bioplastics industry and are chemically identical to their fossil-fuel counterparts. However, they are made from renewable resources rather than fossil-fuel sources, making them more environmentally friendly. Bio-PE, bio-PET, bio-propylene, bio-PP, and bio-based nylons are just a few examples of these types of products. The use of drop-in bioplastics is simple in terms of technology implementation because they can be used in conjunction with existing infrastructure. When compared to fossil-based alternatives, a dedicated bio-based pathway allows the production of products that are not possible to obtain through traditional chemical reactions.
The Significance of Plastic Waste Management
Despite the fact that India generates 15 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, only one-fourth of this waste is recycled due to the country's lack of a solid waste management system. As a result, the burden on landfills increases, and the socio-economic conditions of waste pickers, the majority of whom are women, deteriorate. The socio-economic conditions can be significantly improved with the introduction of bioplastics. When plastic is biodegraded, it occurs at the solid/liquid interface, where enzymes in the liquid phase depolymerise the solid phase, ultimately resulting in the degradation of the plastic. Environmental biodegradability is possible for certain types of bioplastics, as well as for conventional plastics that are treated with additives. The ability to biodegrade in a variety of environments distinguishes bioplastics from conventional plastics, which are more environmentally friendly. Biodegradability of bioplastics can occur in a variety of environmental conditions, including soil, aquatic environments and compost. The structure and composition of a biopolymer or bio-composite have an impact on the degradation process, and changing the composition and structure of the polymer or bio-composite may be advantageous in increasing biodegradability.
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