Maybe the Danish mentality means that biodegradable plastic is not the best solution for the environment after all.
Not long ago, I participated in a seminar on bioplastic where one of the more controversial points of view was that bioplastic does not necessarily have to be biodegradable. Bio-based plastic would be a better solution. I tend to agree with this point of view.
Not long ago, I participated in a seminar on bioplastic where one of the more controversial points of view was that bioplastic does not necessarily have to be biodegradable. Bio-based plastic would be a better solution. I tend to agree with this point of view.
In Denmark, the best solution as far as the environment is concerned would be to ensure that plastic is recycled. When this is no longer possible, plastic should be used as a source of energy (from incineration or thermogasification).
For many consumers the biodegradable concept means that you can dump waste in nature, because it will degrade naturally – just like, for example, the core of an apple.
However, biodegradation of plastic materials require a certain humidity, temperature, light and not least time. Consequently, the worst case scenario of biodegradation would be that there will be far more plastic in Danish nature because “it does not matter - it will degrade naturally”.
This is the reason why I think that we should rather recycle and divert our waste or, to a minimum, throw it into a rubbish bin so that it will be incinerated. By the way, plastic is a splendid source of energy if it is incinerated under the right conditions.
Debate needed
At the same time, I admit there are areas where biodegradable plastics make sense, and where it may be useful to increase the rate of degradation of plastic materials, for example in countries where plastics are disposed off in landfills. Biodegradable properties would also be desirable in disposable products which consist of other materials than plastic – like for example napkins, sanitary towels, etc.
Today, some bioplastics are not biodegradable and some fossil oil-based plastics are biodegradable. I believe that there is a need for a discussion of bioplastics and biodegration – should they be inseparable or not?
The conclusion of the seminar was clear: We are in favour of biobased plastics with the same qualities as existing plastics. And then we must recycle the plastic as much as possible.
