If it seems like plastic is taking over the world, it’s pretty straightforward, it is. The production of plastic is at an all-time high and the projected growth shows no signs of slowing down.
As we grow and evolve as a world, the way we conduct business and consume resources changes right along with it. Plastic has replaced the previous materials such as wood, metal and glass. The replacement of previous materials with plastic is understandable when you consider its versatility.
When considering the uses and prevalence of plastic, it is imperative we must consider the impact plastic can have on our world and environment. You often hear about the overflowing landfills and evils of plastic, which is no surprise because products made from plastic are predominantly disposable ones.
What you may not be aware of though is that there are also plastics that are more ecological, those are known as bioplastics. Bioplastics, or bio-based plastics, come from renewable sources as opposed to depleting our natural resources. Sources for bioplastics can vary from agricultural byproducts to vegetable oil and many other sources in between. The benefits of this Earth-friendly plastic is not only lowering the consumption of our natural resources to produce it, but they are also quickly biodegradable.
Reuse, Reduce and Recycle
The need to recycle has become so commonplace that plastic recycling is at the forefront of modern environmental policies worldwide. It’s no wonder plastic has become so popular when you consider how it revolutionized so many industries, but with that in mind, the importance of recycling is even more imperative.
The recycling method at most plants includes a two-step process. The first step requires the plastics to be sorted and inspected to be sure they are free of contaminants. The second step involves melting the plastic down and molding it into a new shape or shredding it and melting into granulates that can be recycled into something else.
As with any production process, it is in your best interest to seek out expert help when available. With modern equipment from companies like Telstar Instruments, companies can remotely monitor the processes at recycling facilities with computers and other technology which is critical for plant safety and meeting performance requirements.
Traditional vs. Bio
Traditional plastics that we have grown accustomed to varying greatly from the new, modern, bioplastic. The former are petroleum-based and difficult to recycle, taking a toll on Mother Earth. In contrast, bioplastics are very appealing because they are obtained from renewable sources and biodegradable.
Not only are traditional plastics depleting our natural resources by trying to fill a never-ending demand, but they are also creating a non-biodegradable nightmare trying to dispose of it. Inversely, a more responsible alternative is in bioplastics because they are a sustainable solution for the long term.
Since 1950, the production of traditional plastic has risen from 1.5 to a staggering 348 million metric tons, with 64 million metric tons produced in Europe alone. Sadly, the alternative, green option of bioplastics is not yet making up a significant portion of total world production of plastics.
The struggle associated with the less than ideal amount of bioplastic being produced is because of the sheer expense and low yields. All is not lost though, through metabolic and genetic engineering, the production capabilities of bioplastics will increase while the cost will directly decrease. When you factor in recent technological advancements that continue to make production more favorable, the prevalence of the bioplastics market will certainly expand in the future. This is good news for everyone who cares about the planet.
