Breaking Down the Future: Biodegradable Plastics

Plastic Today

Plastic is everywhere nowadays. It’s in the bottle you drink your water from, the hair tie on your  wrist, and in the fabric that makes up your clothes. The omnipresence of plastic in our everyday  lives inevitably leads to negative consequences, particularly to our Earth. Just to name a few,  plastic pollution harms marine wildlife, forms microplastics, and contaminates water sources.  Current plastic sources don’t biodegrade easily, and they can take from 20-500 years to  decompose. This has led to The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an island of plastic located in the North Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and California that is two times the size of the state of Texas. The material of plastic has led to lasting  consequences that are actively harming the planet. Also, when plastic decomposes, they form microplastics which are small plastic debris that aren’t visible to the naked eye. Microplastic contamination not only harms the wildlife and marine life on our Earth, but also acts as a medium for toxic substances that can cause oxidative damage, DNA damage, liver infection, cardiovascular disease, etc. The buildup of microplastics in our environment will continue to hurt our planet and will lead to detrimental long-term effects to not only our Earth, but the people, plants, and animals living on it. This led to the invention of biodegradable plastics, which is a key invention to resolving this issue.

Introduction to Biodegradable Plastics 

Biodegradable plastics are plastics that can be decomposed completely by living organisms into  products that can be found in nature such as water and carbon dioxide. The first biodegradable  plastic, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), was discovered in 1926 by French researcher Maurice  Lemoigne. It is predicted that biodegradable plastics only take 3-6 months to fully decompose,  which is significantly less than traditional plastics, which can take hundreds of years. A recent  study found that biodegradable plastics don’t erode into permanent secondary microplastics upon  deterioration. However, the threat of microplastics isn’t completely removed. Nevertheless,  biodegradable plastics are a big step towards creating a cleaner and greener future. Additionally,  biodegradable plastics produce significantly less greenhouse gasses in their lifetime when  compared to traditional plastic. Biodegradable plastics are a unique and innovative idea that can  pave the way for more eco-friendly solutions to the ongoing environmental crisis.  

Impact of Biodegradable Plastics 

Biodegradable plastics are an important Greenovation that is key to the green future of our  planet. Biodegradable plastics can fully decompose, produce less microplastics, and create less greenhouse gasses. These eco-friendly plastics are key to reducing negative health concerns arising from microplastic contamination. They also prevent marine animals from consuming or getting stuck in plastic waste. The quick decomposition time prevents the formation of another Great Pacific Garbage Patch and helps stop toxic chemicals from leaching into the Earth.  

All in all, biodegradable plastics are an innovative solution to the pressing challenges posed by  traditional plastics. As time goes on, biodegradable plastics may potentially be incorporated into our daily life. By prioritizing biodegradable plastics, we are taking a step close to a greener and  cleaner future.