Bioplastics are more expensive than traditional, single-use plastics. The only hope is for a cheaper bioplastic material or a strict global ban on all oil-based plastics.
Why Bioplastics Will Not Solve the World’s Plastics Problem
Bioplastics are being touted by industry marketers as the solution to plastics pollution. But the idea that bottles and packaging made of plant-based material can simply be discarded and then break down and disappear is false – recycling and reuse are the only strategies that can work.
Seaweed, a common name for thousands of marine plants and algae found in different water bodies, not only provides food and shelter for marine animals, but it can also help solve the plastic pollution problem. Materials researchers from Flinders University in Australia and German biomaterials develo... Read more
Single-use plastics are a major environmental problem, polluting everything from the Mariana Trench to Mount Everest. Many experts say the solution is to create a circular system whereby plastics are reused instead of discarded. A Tokyo-based research team has developed a way to convert bio-based pl... Read more
Stephen Techtmann, a biologist at Michigan Technological University, and collaborators from Michigan Tech and the University of Illinois, are in the midst of a project that seems half-miraculous: turning plastic waste into edible protein.
Every day IO puts a start-up in the spotlight. Today: Tanaruz Boats. This start-up wants to make pleasure boating more widely available and the industry more sustainable.
Aboard the International Space Station, NASA is testing 3D printers that recycle old plastic to make new tools, a practice that may be a critical part of future moon missions.
UC Berkeley is a leader in 3D printing. From creating a prosthetic hand for an 8-year-old girl to a “smart cap” that senses spoiled food to large-scale cement buildings , engineers and designers on campus are pushing the technology to the limits,…
PepsiCo fired the latest shot in the ongoing green cola wars with rival Coca-Cola. The company is offering five types of eco-friendly, recyclable, and compostable cups to Foodservice customers in the United States.It’s the latest in an encouraging game of one-upmanship being played by Pepsi and C... Read more
Compostable cups should be the standard in the beverage industries like coffee shops, which are responsible for billions of plastic cups in landfills yearly.
Starbucks Is Testing Fully Compostable Cups in Five Cities - EcoWatch
Starbucks is pilot testing environmentally friendly cups that look and feel just like the company’s normal cups, but the plastic lining has been replaced with a compostable liner, making the cups recyclable and compostable. The coffee giant is introducing the cups in five major markets: New York, ... Read more
Every year, 50 billion coffee cups end up in landfills in the U.S. Most paper cups can’t be recycled, but newer technology allows for compostable paperboard cups made from raw materials that meet forest management standards and can withstand boiling water.
Water refill stations at airports are another fantastic idea for curbing plastic waste. Plus, a refill is much cheaper than the expensive bottled water sold at most airport shops.
Instead of That $5 Water Bottle at Airports, Filling Stations (Published 2017)
Rehoboth Beach has installed a water bottle refilling station in Grove Park. The city announced the recent installation on its Facebook page earlier this month. “Located on the side of the Grove Park restroom facility, this new water bottle…
Indonesia’s second-largest city has come up with a novel way to encourage its residents to recycle waste: giving free bus rides in exchange for used plastic bottles.
City links: This week’s best city stories explore a surprising transit initiative in China, successful green activism in Beirut – and reveal the city that tweets more than any other
A good idea, but such technology still has a long way to go to be viable. In the mean time, you can save the environment by re-using your plastic waste.
Most plastics don’t get recycled and end up as waste polluting the environment. Recycling your plastics at home might be the solution to end the plastic crisis.
It will take several lifetimes for all of earth’s plastic waste to decompose, when not accounting for new plastics being produced every day. Nanites that can decompose plastics can help save us from this impending doom! https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution
The use of plastics has many benefits – it is affordable, versatile, resistant, and can help reduce other forms of waste – especially food waste. However, when poorly managed it can pollute the environment and our oceans.
Where does the plastic in our oceans come from and what can we do to reduc... Read more
Bioplastics are more expensive than traditional, single-use plastics. The only hope is for a cheaper bioplastic material or a strict global ban on all oil-based plastics.
Why are seaweed bioplastics not yet mainstream?
Check out these scientists that are turning food waste into eco-friendly bioplastics that can replace oil-based plastics.
https://showme.missouri.edu/2023/engineering-researcher-helps-turn-food-wastes-into-plastic/
We could also turn plastics into fertilizer and use them to grow crops.
It’s a novel idea, but it will be pretty hard to convince people that food made from plastic is safe.
Scientists are researching how plastic can be turned into food during deep space missions.
https://www.axios.com/2023/04/04/plastic-space-food-3d-printing
Check out this ice cream made from plastic waste.
3D printers can even make boats out of plastic waste! The possibilities are endless.
NASA uses 3D printers to recycle plastic waste at the International Space Station.
Some 3D printers can even re-use plastic from 3D-printed products.
It’s been done already! Check out this 3D printer that uses plastic waste to produce finished plastic products.
3D printing can help curb the plastic crisis by upcycling plastic waste that usually ends up in landfills and water bodies.
You can find compostable cups in plenty on Amazon.
Check out these coffee and tea cups that aren’t only biodegradable, but you can even use them as planters.
https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/polish-startup-picup-launches-europes-first-100-biodegradable-plantable-coffee-tea-cups/
Pepsi is another big brand that’s going the eco-friendly way with compostable cups.
https://www.businessinsider.com/cola-wars-20-2011-5?r=US&IR=T
Compostable cups should be the standard in the beverage industries like coffee shops, which are responsible for billions of plastic cups in landfills yearly.
Check out this coffee brand that is testing out compostable coffee cups!
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/five-watt-leads-composting-efforts-in-the-local-beverage-business/
Water refill stations at airports are another fantastic idea for curbing plastic waste. Plus, a refill is much cheaper than the expensive bottled water sold at most airport shops.
Beverage refill stations are pretty common in shopping malls and restaurants.
Coca-Cola and Pepsi beverage companies have a refillable bottle program, but it’s not very widespread.
Disney World has several water and beverage refill stations. Other destinations should borrow from them.
https://wdwnt.com/2021/04/update-disney-now-letting-guests-fill-their-own-refillable-mugs/
Check out these water refill stations at a public park; what a cool idea!
https://www.capegazette.com/article/water-bottle-filling-station-installed-rehoboth%E2%80%99s-grove-park/264503
Installing water refill stations in public spaces is the much-needed answer to the piling plastic waste problem.
The plastic fare concept is spreading quickly; Indonesia has introduced a similar idea, but for bus fare.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-environment-plastics-bus-idINKCN1MX1OD
In China, you can pay for your subway fare with plastic bottles!
I love this idea of plastic banks – offering people cash for their plastic waste.
https://www.brightvibes.com/the-plastic-bank-how-turning-plastic-trash-into-cash-could-save-our-oceans/
Naturally biodegradable should be the international standard for every packaging material.
Watching this water bottle disintegrate is both fun and satisfying!
Check out this article about a #biodegradablebottle that falls apart when it enters a water body!
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/water-bottle-dissolves-in-water/
A good idea, but such technology still has a long way to go to be viable. In the mean time, you can save the environment by re-using your plastic waste.
Check out this concept for a plastic recycling machine connected to a 3D printer to make new plastic materials at home.
Most plastics don’t get recycled and end up as waste polluting the environment. Recycling your plastics at home might be the solution to end the plastic crisis.
How about these plastic-eating enzymes?
These nanites can break down microplastics into CO2 and water. So maybe there is hope for our planet yet!
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/this-new-nanotech-could-help-clean-up-earths-microplastics
It will take several lifetimes for all of earth’s plastic waste to decompose, when not accounting for new plastics being produced every day. Nanites that can decompose plastics can help save us from this impending doom!
https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution