What are bioplastics?
Bioplastics are produced using natural resources such as vegetable oils and starches. Natural resources that contain special polymers (such as cellulose and chitin) can be converted into plastic. Cellulose is a polymer found in the cell walls of plants and it is considered to be the most abundant organic material on Earth. Chitin is a polymer found in the shells and exoskeletons of crustaceans and insects. Potatoes, sugarcane, tree bark, algae, and shrimp all contain one of these natural polymers. Bioplastics often produce less emissions than petro-plastics and some of them are biodegradable. Because of this, bioplastics have the potential to both prevent and sequester carbon if they are used as an alternative for single use plastics.
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How can this solution be implemented in Hawaii?
Hawaii is already transitioning to a plastic-free future. On April 21, 2020, Maui County adopted Bill 52 to ban the sale or use of disposable plastics including to-go containers, plates and bowls, cups, cup lids, straws, stirrers, and utensils. The bill will take effect on January 1st, 2022. In addition to Bill 52, Maui already has bans on single-use plastic bags and polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) to-go containers. Honolulu has already enacted a single-use plastic ban in January 2021. Food vendors in Honolulu are banned from providing plastic ware including utensils, straws, foam plates, cups, and food containers. In January 2022, additional plastics will be banned and other businesses will have to follow the same policies.
With these new bans in place, many companies and businesses will be looking for petro-plastic alternatives. Both the Honolulu ban and Bill 52 require businesses to use paper and certified compostable products. Biodegradable and compostable bioplastics could be a key replacement for petro-plastics. However, bioplastics can only fulfill their promise as sustainable materials if they are disposed and processed properly. In order for bioplastics serve their purpose as eco-friendly alternative, special processing facilities and terms will need to be implemented. |
How can bioplastics mitigate climate change?
We produce about 310 million tons of plastic (globally) each year. Most of those plastics are made using fossil fuels. Experts estimate that 90 percent of our current plastics could be made from plant material instead. Bioplastics are made from renewable biomass sources. Bioplastic production usually creates less carbon emissions because it does not use as much oil and gas. Some bioplastics are also biodegradable and compostable.
One of the biggest challenges with using bioplastics is the method of disposal. In order for bioplastics to fulfill their promise as sustainable materials, they need to be sorted and separated from other waste and processed properly. |