The latest United Nations report on biodegradable plastics has been released
Plastic, the greatest invention of the 20th century, was once ubiquitous in every aspect of our lives, bringing endless convenience. However, this convenience also further eroded the ecological environment. Currently, global plastic waste recycling rates remain extremely low. Millions of tons of plastic waste are dumped into the natural environment each year. If left unchecked, this future will be a dire situation!
To this end, new plastics based on “biodegradable” materials have emerged. Biodegradable materials are materials that can be naturally decomposed by microorganisms or earthworms, but only under specific environmental conditions. Currently, as a potential alternative to traditional petrochemical-based plastics, biodegradable plastics have already gained a certain market share. For example, PLA biodegradable straws have become a mainstream product in the straw market.
However, can seemingly perfect alternatives truly be the perfect solution to the plastic crisis? The facts seem to be different. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recently released an assessment report, “From Pollution to Solutions: A Global Assessment of Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution,” which states that so-called “biodegradable plastics” are not a permanent solution and may pose no less harm to humans, biodiversity, and ecosystem function than conventional plastics.
Biodegradable plastics are as harmful to the environment as conventional plastics.
Why is this assessment made? To explore their environmental impacts, UNEP conducted a series of experiments in simulated environments. Data confirms that biodegradable plastic waste poses the same risks to humans, biodiversity, and ecosystem function as conventional plastics.
In marine enclosure experiments, researchers found that microplastics formed from common biodegradable plastics induce protein changes in mussels, altering their properties and affecting the diversity and abundance of invertebrates, as well as the biomass of primary producers. Land-based experiments also found that microplastics composed of PLA or synthetic clothing fibers also affect soil stability. Of course, these experiments were conducted under artificial conditions to confirm biodegradability. Based on current data, the life cycle of biodegradable plastics in aquatic environments remains uncertain. Previous data suggests that even after three years in the ocean, most materials show no signs of degradation.
Therefore, if simply discarded in the natural environment, degradation is virtually impossible. Unless specific degradation conditions are met, they will, like traditional plastics, slowly degrade into plastic pellets over time. From this perspective, this does not align with the principles of sustainable development.
Furthermore, most bio-based and plant-based plastics contain toxic chemicals and can cause similar adverse effects as traditional plastics, acting as carriers of pollutants and pathogens. Plastics made from cellulose and starch have the most pronounced chemical signatures and are the most toxic. In summary, consumers currently have many misunderstandings about biodegradable plastics. Currently, consumers don’t know how to properly dispose of biodegradable plastics. Few cities and communities currently have the infrastructure to properly handle biodegradable plastics, and most waste disposal agencies likely continue to send this waste to landfills, significantly increasing the burden on these sites.
While we shouldn’t replace one disposable product with another made of a different material, we currently have no choice but to develop products that are naturally degradable. The new biodegradable paper straws developed by the Gaoyi team offer superior performance compared to traditional paper straws and can be naturally degraded without the need for composting, making them a truly green product.