Ask the EcoGeek: Durable Bio-Plastics
by EcoGeek.org on 07.26.07
Dear EcoGeek,
Have there been any developments in the pursuit of sustainable, cost-effective alternatives to plastics? I am aware of the recent gains in using corn starch to produce biodegradible plastics (chocolate candy trays, shopping bags, etc.), but what about durable goods such as toolboxes, exercise equipment, or any other product made from plastic that is designed to last.
Thanks for your time and expertise.
Jim
Hey Jim,
It does seem a bit silly that we wouldn't solve two problems at once here. I mean, as long as we're removing oil from the process, why don't we move away from our foolish disposable-everything culture as well?
But this all becomes more clear if we ask a different question. Instead of “why aren't there durable bio-plastics?” we should first ask “what's wrong with durable petro-plastics?” Lets start by listing the reasons why oil sucks.
1. We will eventually run out
2. When we burn it, it creates CO2
3. When we throw away petro-plastic, it pretty much never biodegrades and can harm wildlife
4. Refining oil is energy intensive and produces toxic chemicals
5. We often have to import it from places with unstable politics
Now, those are five really good reasons to stop burning oil. Taken together, I can't quite figure out why we're still burning the stuff. But when we talk about disposable plastics, the second problem, that of carbon dioxide, isn't a problem anymore, so only four problems remain. And when we list reasons for replacing durable products, the list gets even shorter.
We don't burn it, we don't throw it away, and even if we do, it would persist as much as petro-plastics. Plus, the demand for durable petro-plastics is considerably lower than the demand for fuel and disposable plastic. Because we're talking about fewer petrochemicals in total, all of the above problems are diminished. In fact, creating durable plastics is pretty much the most intelligent use of oil, as we gain permanent benefits from the items we produce and the environmental consequences are much less significant.
That being said, the world would probably be better off if we figured out ways to completely erase our need for oil. And some people have begun creating durable plastics from biological stock. There's no technical reason why we can't do it. But there are fewer economic and ecological reasons to replace durable plastics than disposable plastics.
The question was about what developments there were in bio-plastics, not how they differed from oil based plastics. While pressing the point that durable oil based plastics are less harmful that plastic bags, cups, and wrappers may be useful, it doesn't answer Jim's question. Other than a few convenience items, has there been any substantial progress in developing new markets and applications for bio-plastics?
Thanks!
i agree that we need to stop making and buying disposable products, but what about the bio-plastics?
It doesn't seem like the question was answered at all here. What developments have been made? Are there new products on the market?
Really, don't patronize us with the lesson, answer the question. I appreciate the mental exercise, but I'm more interested in the answer to the actual question here.
Another question is: What is the definition of durable? Just because an item is durable doesn't mean it won't end up in a landfill. People throw away durable goods all the time just because they grow tired of them.
I agree that the disposable plastic items are the biggest problem, but durable plastic is a problem in the waste-stream too, as folks discard items that still have some use in them. And we are still using a non-renewable highly polluting resource to create them.
So I too would like an answer to the question of what alternatives to petro-plastic have been developed for "durable" goods.
Do you recall a few decades ago when everything that is now plastic was made of metal? Tonka Toys, camping silverware, thermoses, etc.
Perhaps it's time to revert to something that worked without the adverse side affects? Alloy research was on par with plastic varieties.
Come on EcoGeek, you sound like a slimy politician with a pushy agenda. Get off your soapbox and use your brain. The question was a good one, and instead of saying you don't know, or researching, you just spew your stereotypical hippie rhetoric. Get this writer out of here.
Coming soon: wood. Make disposable packaging out of very thin wood, perhaps with a cellophane window so you can see what you are buying. Then you could either burn the package for heat, re-use it for crafts, or recycle it. YOu cannot recycle most current plastic packaging.
As for durable goods, we build houses out of wood, surely we could build exercise equipment and computer cases out of wood also.
yes, but the question wasn't about packaging - paper/cardboard is a recyclable product - but about plastic goods tha we use in every day life - what could that be made of...
ie. kettles, toasters, televisons, computers, children's bath toys etc
are there any non-petrochemical derived plastics that we can us instead?
NB most alloys/wood would not be a good materials here?
If you check out greenplastics.com, they have some interesting info and links to bio-degradable plastics.