Plastic that's good for the environment?

We all know that the production and disposal of conventional plastics causes major environmental problems.

Scientists are working on a new generation of plastics known as ‘bioplastics’, products which can be tailored to be biodegradable or recyclable, and produced either fully or in part from renewable resources. But are they the environmental saviour they’re cracked up to be?

There are two sides to every story, and bioplastics is no different. They have great potential and many positive attributes, yet these are countered by an almost equal number of drawbacks. Both sides of the equation need to be weighed up when considering the environmental impact of bioplastics in our society.

PROS

They reduce the use of fossil-fuels and reliance on non-renewable resources.
Their manufacturing process can use up to 65 per cent less energy and generates fewer greenhouse gases than conventional plastic.
Some are biodegradable and/or compostable.
Some can be recycled alongside conventional plastics.
Some are non-toxic and safe for medical and internal use.

CONS

They have a higher manufacturing cost—though this is changing as more companies begin to make bioplastics.
Composting may be possible only in industrial composting processes.
Not all are recyclable.
Some can interfere with or damage standard plastic recycling processes.
Not all are biodegradable.
If sent to landfill, some can release methane—a potent greenhouse gas—into the atmosphere.
They’re not suitable for use in a number of products.
Use of plant sugar and starch sources could have a negative impact on food prices.
Bioplastics do nothing to change consumer behaviour regarding their use of plastic products.

There is no doubt that we need viable alternatives to traditional plastics. Bioplastics are an exciting potential option; however, more research is needed to ensure that we don’t replace one problem with another.