One of today’s biggest environmental problems is plastic pollution, and biodegradable plastics offer an innovative solution. In this article, we examine biodegradable plastics in detail.
What is Biodegradable Plastic?
Biodegradable plastics are polymeric materials that can be broken down by natural microorganisms and completely decompose under specific conditions. Unlike conventional plastics, they can disappear without causing permanent environmental damage.
Key Features:
• Complete degradation within 3-6 months
• Non-toxic
• Compostable
• Can be produced from renewable resources
Common Types of Biodegradable Plastics:
- PLA (Polylactic Acid)
- Produced from corn starch
- Widely used in food packaging
- Degrades within 3 months under industrial composting conditions
- PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoate)
- Produced by bacteria
- Used in medical applications
- Can degrade even in seawater
- PBS (Polybutylene Succinate)
- Derived from sugarcane
- Durable and flexible structure
- Used in agricultural products
Advantages:
✓ Environmentally friendly
✓ Reduces carbon footprint
✓ Reduces oil dependency
✓ Compostable
✓ Produced from renewable sources
Disadvantages:
× High production cost
× Less durable than conventional plastics
× Requires special storage conditions
× Limited shelf life
Applications:
• Food packaging
• Disposable products
• Agricultural materials
• Medical supplies
• Textile products
Future Developments:
- Cost reduction through new production technologies
- Improved durability
- Broader applications
- Legislative incentives for usage
