We are producing over 300 million tons of plastic every year, 50% of which is for single-use purposes – utilized for just a few moments, but on the planet for at least several hundred years. More than 8 million tons of plastic is dumped into our oceans every year. Over 90% of seabirds have plastic pieces inside their stomachs. Mentioning this problems, we are here to introduce an alternative for the single-use plastics. Our product is environment friendly and can cause no harm to animals both in land or in water. This said plastic can also serve as a fertilizer for the plants.

Plastics and their byproducts are littering our cities, oceans, and waterways, and contributing to health problems in humans and animals. In the case of littering, plastic wastes fail to reach landfills or incinerators. It is the improper way of disposing plastics and is identified as the cause of manifold ecological problems. Plastics may be beneficial at some point but its cons weigh more than we can benefit them. It takes hundreds of years for them to decompose causing environmental harm as well as harming our ecosystem. By the intake of plastics of animals, we are also affected because we ingested contaminating chemicals that may damage our health. The production of so-called 'bioplastics' or biodegradable plastics is currently very low: estimated at around 4 million tonnes per year (which would be just over one percent of global plastics production). 'Biodegradable' plastic is typically defined as plastics which break down at faster rates than standard plastics.

The philosophical view that is connected to the idea of bioplastics is utilitarianism. According to utilitarian philosophers, in order to alleviate suffering in the world, people should focus on actions that are beneficial to society. Bioplastics is a solution to make our environment sustainable for living. The use of bioplastics are greatly beneficial to our environment and society. It makes our environment better to live in not only for humans but also for other living organisms. We currently experience the extreme effects of nature everywhere. With bioplastics, it lessens the chance of catastrophes that hits humans and our environment. This can alleviate and lessen the environmental problem felt by the society.

Biodegradable plastics are materials that must follow a specific disposal procedure. We can definitely benefit from the presence of biodegradable plastics because they can decompose effectively in our environment without creating pollutive effects. If we throw out these plastics in the landfill like we would with traditional items, then they will follow a path that is similar to non-biodegradable plastics. That is why we must be mindful of recycling programs and waste-reduction initiatives to ensure that we can all take advantage of the benefits that these natural products offer.

We should always be mindful about the recycling that we are accustomed to. We reduce the amount of traditional plastics by mixing biodegradable molecules in with the oil-based ones, thus depending less on petroleum. These plastics may also affect the people who make segregating as their way of living. It also creates a unique disadvantage for the reason that our current technologies do not allow us to recycle these hybrid items once they reach their end-of-life cycle. They must be thrown into our landfills or other waste management systems. That means we are simply trading one issue for another until there is a better solution to find.

With the stated problem, we came up with the idea of biodegradable plastics. This product is an environment friendly and can reduce carbon dioxide levels. We can still obtain benefits from single used plastics but in this case we are also helping minimize land and water contamination. Biodegradable plastics are also easier to recycle and can be of many use. With the cooperation of the community, we can make this idea plausible. We are taking a step closer towards the development of environmental problems but we need all the support we can get and that includes every person.

Biodegradable plastics can lead to a lot of benefits that will and can help the environment advance towards progress. One example is source reduction, wherein these plastics can help preserve petroleum supplies. Bioplastics come from different kinds of natural resources, like corn, cassava, and switchgrass. They offer the capability of producing a “plastic” packaging without compromising the supply of oil. Another benefit is that bioplastics need less landfill area. As these plastics tend to decompose and get absorbed by the soil, it no longer needs an area where it needs to be discarded. Lastly, because it is biodegradable, it is safe for the environment and preserves nature. It can be used in plants as fertilizers and is safe to consume by animals. One type of bioplastic, which contains cassava starch, dissolves instantly in hot water, making it safe to consume.

In conclusion, we must broaden everything that we can do to the best of our abilities to preserve our environment. We cannot deny that plastic has played a key role in integrating and building an industrialized society; but we must also be aware of the dangers it causes us, not for us humans, but for the Earth as a whole. Bioplastics are very good alternatives to single use plastics, because it can decompose in a shorter amount of time compared to traditional plastic. Not only that, but it is 100% biodegradable, thus safe for the environment too. It is made out of natural resources, often made from plant-based material. Though it has a positive mindset, the disposal of it can be complicated. Because it is not thoroughly plastic, it has a complex way of disposal. It has a complicated process of recycling that will need further studies to be successful. Nevertheless, bioplastics offer a great solution in combating plastic pollution and will serve as tiny steps in order to achieve social change.

Introduction:

Andersen, J. (2019, January). Facts. About Plastic. Retrieved from https://plasticoceans.org/the-facts/.

State of the Problem:

Regoli, N. (2019, March 27). 22 Advantages and Disadvantages of Biodegradable Plastics. Retrieved from https://connectusfund.org/7-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-biodegradable-plastics.

Benefits:

Kazmeyer, M. (2018, March 9). What are the Benefits of Biodegradable Plastic? Retrieved from:https://sciencing.com/benefits-biodegradable-plastic-22789.html

Bioplastic Bags from Cassava and Shrimp Waste on Plastic Bag Free Day. (2017, July 3). Retrieved from: https://materialdistrict.com/article/bioplastic-bags-cassava-shrimp/

Statistics:

Ritchie, H. (2018, September 2). FAQs on Plastics. Retrieved from: https://ourworldindata.org/faq-on-plastics#how-much-plastic-and-waste-do-we-produce.