What Are the Benefits of Biodegradable Plastic Bags

What Are the Benefits of Biodegradable Plastic Bags

The biodegradable bags has emerged in the 70s, but only since 2000 has become known worldwide.

Demographic growth and greater urban concentration have increased the demand for plastic packaging and, thus, the need for environmental awareness through the use of sustainable products such as biodegradable plastic. This material is produced from renewable sources such as starch, cellulose, cassava, among others. During manufacture, its molecular composition is formed so that carbon bonds are not as strong as those of ordinary plastic.

Biological degradation This modification at the molecular level does not interfere with the resistance of the bags, for use, that support the same weight as the normal ones, the only difference is in the degradation process. In this case, this action occurs naturally when in contact with soil, moisture and sun. The biopolymers that form biodegradable plastic are reduced to smaller molecules, quickly used as an energy source for microbial decomposition. Atoms that are not assimilated by the micro biota are absorbed by soil, water or go to the atmosphere.

Biodegradable plastic bags must be completely degraded within a maximum of 18 months. If product decomposition does not occur within this period, it cannot be considered biodegradable. However, it is important to note that biodegradation only occurs optimally under appropriate conditions, especially in composting areas. Sites such as open dumps can disrupt the decomposition of this material, leading to anaerobiosis that causes methane gas to be released into the atmosphere.

What is the difference between a biodegradable and a non-biodegradable product?

Biodegradable products are of natural origin and their decomposition does not aggravate the environment and may even be beneficial as it is a form of energy for microorganisms.

Non-biodegradable ones are generally petroleum-based synthetic and heavy metal compounds, as in the case of ordinary batteries. From their production process they release toxic products to the environment, polluting the air, water and soil.

These products can bio-accumulate in living beings from the bottom of the food chain until they reach humans, causing diseases, including cancer.

Because they do not easily degrade - such as petroleum-based plastic, which can take 500 years to decompose - they accumulate in landfills. This, when there is good conduct in the disposal of this material.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to check for improper disposal, causing such nature-damaging products to be found polluting the most diverse places.

Finally, the conceptual difference is that one is able to be digested rapidly by biological means without generating environmentally toxic products, while the other has a long degradation time, usually not being digested by microorganism and presenting extremely toxic products to the environment.

Environment.

On top of that, we have the difference in the gains and losses they bring to the biosphere and to living things as a whole.

They highlight how it interferes with ecosystems both directly, as in the case of turtles, as well as indirectly, by the action of their toxic and teratogenic byproducts, results of the decomposition process or their harmful composition.

What is a biodegradable product?

These kinds of products have achieved a lot of significance in latest times, as the global population has become more aware of the conservation of the environment.

In this context, they are indispensable for keeping the biosphere in perfect working order, that is, they help to allow life as we know it today to continue to exist.

They are called this way because of their great ease of degradation by biological action, such as the activity of bacteria. Additionally to the rapid corrosion, to be confidential as biodegradable, they can’tproduce pollutant residues that accumulate in nature.

Benefits The main advantages of biodegradable plastic over ordinary plastic are the raw materials and the degradation time in the environment. Normal plastic is made from petroleum resin which is a nonrenewable source and can take over a century to disappear from the environment. Bags made of biodegradable plastic can be reused and recycled just like ordinary bags, and after decomposition, they provide nutrients that are great for soil fertilization.

Biodegradable bags are recyclable and can be reused before degradation begins; • • • • • •

They can be made from recycled plastics; After being discarded, they can be destined for composting.

When decomposed, it produces water, carbon dioxide and biomass, an excellent soil fertilizer; Must be separated in separate collection as well as conventional plastics; Are bags tested, safe and approved for food contact; Do not emit methane (polluting gas) in its degradation;

The decomposition of these bags in open dumps - where they are normally destined for Brazil - is not 100% proven since the conditions offered in the dumps for their degradation are not known. The same is true in landfills. Moreover, what is known about the conditions offered in dumps and landfills is that they provide anaerobic biodegradation, where methane gas is released, which contributes about 20 times more to the greenhouse effect than the CO2 generated in aerobic biodegradation.

Reference

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