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Making Plastic Environmentally Friendly: Is It Attainable?

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August 18, 2021

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Making plastic environmentally friendly is one of the challenges until now because the demand for it is never-ending. Almost all the products today have plastic materials that is why totally getting rid of it is a difficult task. Plastics are made to last that is why there are a lot of issues when it comes to disposal.

Good thing, there are now manufacturers that make use of the latest technology that can turn plastic into a biodegradable one. There are a lot of debates and discussions if plastic can be made into a green one. In this article, we’ll know more about the ways on how to make plastic environment friendly.

Can Plastics Go-Green?

Your teacher in your elementary days probably taught you the negative impact of plastics and the simple ways that you can do to help. In reality, plastic is an important element in all industries because of its uses. It gives excellent results if used properly, but it can also do extreme damage if used in the wrong way.

Since it is almost impossible to eliminate its use, the goal is to make plastic environmentally friendly. So, can plastics go-green? Yes, there are new inventions that are a good alternative to plastics. However, not all are open to its usage because it is costly compared to traditional plastic.

Ways to Making Plastic Environmentally Friendly

It may take thousands of years for plastic to be decomposed. As it decomposes, it releases chemicals that are harmful to humans and the environment. To lessen the negative impact of plastics, the goal is to find ways on how to further innovate its use. Here are some of the ways by which plastics can be aligned with green technology.

1. Bioplastics

This is one of the best alternatives to plastics. It is made from natural materials specifically cornstarch. The difference of bioplastics from biodegradable and traditional plastics is that it doesn’t emit carbon dioxide gas when it decomposes or melts down. The drawback of bioplastic is that growing corn or sugarcane in producing it takes a lot of space.

Bioplastic is also compostable that decomposes. It blended easily with soil so having trash is prevented. In just a few weeks so you can get rid of it easily. It also dissolves in high temperatures. There are a lot of plastics in the market that claims to be bioplastics so you should check the packaging carefully before use.

2. Biodegradable Plastics

The difference of biodegradable plastics from a traditional one is that the biodegradable is infused with additives that make it faster to decompose. The decomposition of this type of plastic will be faster if there are light and oxygen. Unlike bioplastics that can be composted, biodegradable plastic still leaves harmful substances when decomposes so it is not ideal for composting.

3. Recycled Plastics

As the name implies, these are plastics that are recycled to produce a new product out of that plastic. There is no need to dispose of it so there will be less harmful. In the manufacturing industry, old plastics are created into new material.

By making it into a different product, it aims to reduce its negative impact. Like for example, used bottles are melted to produce garments. In this way, the chemical composition of plastic is somehow changed into less damaging.

Ways to Reduce Plastic Use

• Stop buying plastic bottles

Based on research, plastic bottles along with their caps are the greatest contributors to plastic trash. It is recyclable, but only a few percentages are being recycled. An alternative to reduce its usage is through reusable stainless steel or glass bottle. Every time you go to the school or office, use it so you can just refill it. You will not only reduce the trash but also the cost of buying bottled water twice or thrice a day.

• Shift into using reusable bags

Whenever you go to the mall or grocery to buy something, they’ll probably place it in plastic. Imagine the plastics that you will get in a day together with the packaging of the item you bought. With the use of a reusable bag, the production of plastics is lessened. Reusable bags are also more fashionable and durable compared to plastics.

• Consider food/product packaging

Packaging from foods and other things are the leading source of plastic pollution. As the world starts to find ways on how to live a greener, you can also contribute in your little way. It is better to dine at your house than buying from the restaurants because when you take out food, the use of plastic is not avoided like the use of plastic spoon and forks. It is also important to choose the kind of product to purchase. As much as possible support the company that considers being green as seen from their packaging.

• Practice the 5R’s

The 5R’s are reduced, recycle, reuse, redesign, and reimaging. These are self-explanatory terms, but it takes great responsibility to practice it. If all people practice it, it is an assurance that there will be less plastic and the shift into a greener community is faster. Since traditional plastics decompose in years, doing the 5R’s is the best way to deal with it.

Final Thoughts

The use of plastics has increased as time passes by. There are measures that you can do to lessen its usage, but in reality, simple ways of reducing, reusing, or recycling are not enough to save the environment. It is important to find ways on how to eliminate the use of plastic. Making plastic environmentally friendly is the only way to lessen trash and the harmful chemicals from it.