A Look at Biodegradable Plastics
In Earth's story, society has portrayed plastic as a supervillain, while biodegradable plastics are the superheroes that swoop in and save the day. In theory, this analogy should make sense. By their definition, biodegradable plastics are made of plant materials. Thus, they should break down into biological elements, providing a more eco-friendly alternative than normal plastic that breaks down into microplastics and harmful chemicals. However, there's more to the story that people should keep in mind.
First off, biodegradable plastics are not required to be fully made out of plant biomass. In fact, many products advertised as biodegradable contain some amount of fossil fuel-derived materials. This is partly because of a lack of regulation from a government standpoint. However, the reality is that false advertising paired with a lack of regulation has created a blind trust on society's part in the capabilities of biodegradable plastics.
An image representing the sustainability of biodegradable plastics.
Additionally, although these materials are partly made out of materials that are better for the environment, how they are broken down is concerning from an environmental standpoint. As microorganisms work to break down biodegradable plastics, methane is released in the process because, ultimately, a biological material is decomposing. The released methane finds its way to the atmosphere, where it works to trap heat which contributes to climate change. Some will argue that the release of methane isn't a huge deal because it has a relatively short lifespan in the atmosphere compared to other gases. However, it's essential to recognize that methane is also more efficient at trapping heat than other greenhouse gases, which is why biodegradable plastics are a point of concern. Aside from trapping heat, methane can also react with other gases in the atmosphere to produce water vapor which in turn destroys the ozone layer.
One possible solution to the increased release of methane associated with biodegradable plastics is to expand methane collection at landfills. By collecting methane, it can be prevented from entering the atmosphere where it will trap heat. Instead, the captured methane can be utilized as an energy source for heating, cooking, electricity, and transportation. It can also be converted into methanol with the addition of an alcohol group which is a valuable and easily transported liquid fuel that is a building block for many valuable chemicals. In addition, methanol has proven useful in producing biofuels, another productive outlet for released methane.
Biodegradable plastic has its problems, mainly in its lack of regulation, leading to false perceptions within society and poor breakdown strategies. An alternative is compostable materials which break down faster and into nutrient-rich products. However, that is not to say that biodegradable plastic should be completely written off. With proper regulation and methane collection systems, biodegradable plastic can be a key to sustainable living and a healthy planet.
