Photo by Naja Bertolt Jensen on Unsplash
Plastics have revolutionised industries and provided many conveniences, becoming an essential part of our everyday life. But because plastics persist a long time and break down into microplastics, the growing usage of plastic also contributes to environmental issues. The creation of novel plastics has become a vital undertaking in our quest for a more sustainable future.
Conventional plastics, the most commonly used plastic, comes from non-renewable fossil fuels, are problematic since they don't biodegrade and end up in landfills and the ocean. Scientists, researchers, and engineers are pursuing a variety of approaches to find novel plastics that are economical, eco-friendly, and operationally efficient due to the pressing demand for sustainable substitutes.
Currently, recycling methods are a key component of creating new polymers. Efficient recycling procedures can help us cut down on trash and lessen our reliance on virgin resources. Researchers are always looking for ways to make plastic recycling processes better, like chemical recycling and sophisticated sorting systems, so that plastics can be successfully reused and repurposed in a closed-loop system.
Using bio-based materials is one promising direction in the development of sustainable plastics. Renewable resources like plant biomass, agricultural waste, or microbes are used to make these polymers. One bio-based plastic made from fermented plant sugars, mainly corn or sugarcane, is called polylactic acid (PLA). PLA reduces carbon emissions and performs similarly to traditional plastics while being compostable.
Biodegradable plastics are becoming more and more popular as a way to combat plastic waste because they are made to organically decompose in the environment. These plastics lose some of their permanence in ecosystems as a result of microbial breakdown or other natural processes. A class of biodegradable polymers known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are made by bacteria and can be utilised to make a variety of goods, such as packaging and disposables.
These are just some examples of newly developed plastic or substitutes for plastics. With advanced technology, there will be more being developed and promoted in the coming future. However, it’s still a good idea for us to reduce the use of plastic, to completely lower the effect of plastic pollution.
Even though new development and production of plastic is booming, there’s still challenges to be overcome before anything can become fully commerised. It is necessary to handle the following factors: cost-effectiveness, wide adoption, and production scalability. Additionally, thorough life cycle assessments and stringent testing are necessary to guarantee that new plastics actually provide enhanced environmental advantages throughout the course of their lifetime.
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