Another Look at Biodegradable Plastics

Why would we even consider bio-plastics derived from foodstuffs?

It may become a tale of competing scourges.

How about suppressing one scourge by exploiting another?

The scourge to suppress is petro-plastic.

The scourges to exploit are rogue biomasses: algae blooms and seaweed.

“South Korea has launched a state project to develop biodegradable marine bioplastic materials using seaweed such as sargassum horneri, a species of brown macroalgae called “devil weed” from China that damages sea farms almost every year.” (1)

In India, “(t)he National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has developed a bio-plastic film using marine seaweed and PEG-3000 which could have a huge impact on limiting the usage of non-biodegradable plastics…” (2)

“Researchers at Tel Aviv University say they’ve come up with a new polymer for bioplastics derived from microorganisms that feed on seaweed, using a process that delivers a biodegradable product and no toxic waste.” (3)

These seaweed and algae projects sound promising.

Why would we even consider bio-plastics derived from foodstuffs?

Sources:

(1) https://algaeplanet.com/will-sargassum-become-the-new-plastic/

(2) https://dharmakshethra.com/niot-developed-biodegradable-plastic-from-marine-seaweed/

(3) https://www.theenergymix.com/2019/01/13/new-microorganism-produces-biodegradable-bioplastics-from-seaweed/

Background:

https://www.plasticstoday.com/packaging/essentials-compostable-biodegradable-and-bioplastic-packaging