There are no two ways about it but plastic is one of the highest produced materials on our planet today with more than eighteen trillion pounds of plastic have been produced to date, and eighteen billion pounds of plastic flows into the just ocean every year. It is no wonder our planet is in a sorry state. The harm that plastics cause on a day-to-day basis is worrisome to the point that many countries have tried to do away with the polythene packaging that would be the most convenient. The fight against plastics continues and this wouldn’t be a problem if we devised useful and sustainable ways to reuse our plastic waste without dumping it into the environment. 

This fight against plastics has forced several consumers and manufacturers to scramble for an alternative to the ubiquitous material, and bioplastics have emerged as a potential alternative. As explained last week, bioplastics are plastic made from plants or other biological materials instead of petroleum. It is also often called bio-based plastic. It can either be made by extracting sugar from plants like corn and sugarcane to convert it into polylactic acids (PLAs), or it can be made from polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) engineered from microorganisms.

The environmental impact of bioplastics is a complex issue with both benefits and challenges to consider. On the bright side of things, bioplastics have the potential to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional plastics made from petroleum. Additionally, because some bioplastics are designed to be biodegradable or compostable, they offer potential advantages in waste management. It’s important to note that not all bioplastics are created equal, and their environmental performance depends on various factors such as the cost of manufacturing them. Below are some of the key things we must put into consideration when dealing with bioplastics:

1. Life cycle analysis. Assessing the overall environmental impact of a product requires considering its entire life cycle, including production, use, and disposal. While bioplastics may have advantages in certain stages, they can still contribute to pollution if not properly disposed of or if they end up in the wrong waste stream.
2. Recycling infrastructure. Bioplastics can present challenges in recycling systems. Some bioplastics are not compatible with existing recycling infrastructure, which may result in contamination or increased costs. A proper waste management infrastructure and consumer education are crucial for ensuring the effective recycling or composting of bioplastics. That alone would put a burden on nations to come up with said systems for themselves. For less developed countries, would this seem like a plausible possibility?
3. Resource requirements. Bioplastics often require land, water, and energy to grow and process raw materials, such as crops like corn or sugarcane. If not managed sustainably, increased demand for these resources can lead to deforestation, water scarcity, and competition with food production. Already it can be argued that this is already a battle that many countries are facing day to day. The question is, though bioplastics seem like a solution to the problem, don’t they simply add a burden to our environment? 
4. Overall plastic consumption. While bioplastics have their merits, reducing overall plastic consumption remains a fundamental goal for environmental sustainability. It’s important to explore alternatives to single-use plastics, promote reuse, and encourage responsible consumption habits.

Bioplastics have the potential to be more environmentally friendly than the traditional plastics we have on our market today, but their overall impact depends on multiple factors. We can’t deny that this is possibly a step in the right direction, however, informed decisions must be made. It’s important to consider a holistic approach that encompasses the entire life cycle of materials, including their sourcing, production, use, and end-of-life management. So no, it’s safe to say that bioplastic can’t completely save the world on its own, but they sure do try. 

Bioplastics: The smart solution for a sustainable world.