Plastic pollution has become one of the largest environmental crises in our world today. Conventional plastics made from fossil fuels can take millions of years to decompose, creating ugly waste that eventually will further decompose in landfills and our oceans. Another option has been biodegradable plastics, which have been touted to reduce harm as well as plastic waste itself. But how sustainable are these?
The word “biodegradable” can be problematic, because the active conditions for decomposition can vary based on temperature, moisture content and the presence of microorganisms. Some of these alternatives even require industrial composting facilities on-site for decomposing, which means it would not decompose in a landfill or ocean.
The Benefits of Biodegradable Plastics
Supporters of biodegradable plastics stress some advantages:
Less Plastic Waste: These materials decompose more quickly than conventional plastics, reducing long-term pollution.
Lower Carbon Footprint: Many biodegradable plastics are made from renewable materials, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Eco-Friendly Packaging: Businesses are adopting biodegradable alternatives for food packaging, shopping bags, and disposable plastic utensils.
Challenges & Sustainability Issues
Despite the advantages of these materials, they suffer from some disadvantages that reduce their sustainability:
1. Required Conditions for Decomposition:
A majority of these materials require specific environment conditions to decompose properly. If disposed of in a “standard” landfill or in the ocean, they are more likely to last several years, similar to traditional plastic.
2. Requires Industrial Composting:
A few biodegradable plastics require a high-temperature industrial composting facility (for composting to be effective). Most municipalities do not have the infrastructure to compost these products, and most likely they are improperly disposed of in the landfill, or improperly allowed to not be composted.
3. Risk of Microplastic Pollution. Some biodegradable plastics, do not fully decompose and will break down the leftover material into microplastics. Microplastics do not eliminate pollution, but rather add to it.
4. Production Cost. Biodegradable plastics have a higher production cost than conventional plastics, therefore its introduction or widespread acceptance is less economically viable.
5. Misleading Labels and Consumer Confusion. A majority of biodegradable or compostable products fail to mention the conditions required for decomposition, leading to misunderstanding on the part of the consumer when disposing of the implications of waste.
If we want a sustainable future, it has been suggested by experts to:
Decrease our plastics use (rather than only replacing our plastics for biodegradable plastics).
Invest in our communities’ waste sorting and compositing ability to properly decompose biodegradable plastic.
Encourage and support reusable or recyclable items that reduce waste.
Biodegradable plastics are a positive next step in reducing plastic pollution, but they are not going to resolve plastic pollution on their own. Their success is really dependent on how they are made, transported, consumed and disposed.
ALSO READ: Plant-Based Diets in 2025: What’s New and What’s Next?
In order to be sustainable and responsible consumers, we need to focus on waste reduction, continuing recycling, and being even more responsible consumers – and the best way to accomplish this is to reduce what we spend on items.
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