Is it possible to manufacture biodegradable plastic?

Introduction

Plastic is one of humanity's greatest inventions. It's cheap, durable, and it can be molded into just about any shape imaginable. However, plastic is also incredibly bad for the environment. As much as 80 percent of all marine litter is made up of plastics that have been discarded on land and made their way out to sea—and this figure doesn't include the microfibers that come off of synthetic clothing when it's washed or worn. Biodegradable plastics could help alleviate some of this problem by breaking down more quickly than traditional types do when exposed to sunlight or in other natural environments like soil or water. But before you start buying every product labeled "biodegradable" (and trust me: there are plenty!), let's talk about what biodegradable plastic really means and how it compares with traditional plastic products.

All plastics are not created equal.

Plastics are made from different types of polymers, which are long chains of molecules that form when carbon atoms bond together. Different polymers break down at different rates, but there are some that don't biodegrade at all.

Biodegradable plastics are made from renewable resources like corn or sugarcane and contain additives that cause them to decompose more quickly in the environment (they're often called compostable). But even if you're using a biodegradable product now, it may not be available in the future as companies discontinue production due to lack of demand or high costs for replacement materials like cornstarch used in these products' manufacture

Biodegradable plastic can be made from renewable resources such as corn and sugarcane.

Biodegradable plastics can be made from renewable resources such as corn and sugarcane. These materials are abundant and easily renewable, meaning that they can be grown or cultivated on a large scale without causing harm to the environment. For example, corn is used to make biodegradable plastic bags that are compostable in your backyard compost bin or municipal landfill facilities.

Sugarcane is another common source of biodegradable plastics because it's so readily available in many countries around the world (including Brazil). Sugarcane can be used to create edible food containers like cups and plates--or even packaging materials like shopping bags!

Biodegradable plastic is a good option for certain products.

Biodegradable plastic is great for many products. For example, it's ideal for things that are used in the normal course of life, like food containers and utensils. It's also good for medical devices that will be thrown away after use (like syringes) or other items where you don't want to have to deal with the disposal of non-biodegradable trash later on.

However, biodegradable plastics aren't so useful when it comes to things like consumer electronics -- these products often need to last a long time before they become obsolete, so using biodegradable materials would mean having them break down more quickly than usual. In addition, if your product ends up being buried in landfills rather than composted at home or at an industrial facility then there won't be any way for microbes in those environments to break down the plastic into smaller pieces; instead they'll just sit there taking up space until they become covered by other trash deposits over time!

You can compost biodegradable plastics, but that may not always be practical or desirable.

Compostable plastics are made from renewable resources, so they're better for the environment than traditional plastic. However, you should consider whether composting is practical (or even desirable) before purchasing them.

Some biodegradable plastics can be composted in a home compost pile but not all of them are suitable for this purpose. For example, some bioplastics don't break down as quickly or completely as others do; therefore you may need to separate your food scraps from these materials until they've finished decomposing or use a different type of container than what comes with your purchase--for example: buying an extra bucket with holes drilled into its bottom so that moisture can drain out while it sits on top of your regular trashcan full of food scraps and other compostables.

Some biodegradable plastics don't break down nearly as quickly as others do.

Biodegradable plastics have a lot of potential. They can be used to make things like food packaging, disposable cups and plates, as well as trash bags. However, some biodegradable plastics don't break down nearly as quickly as others do. In fact, some of them need to be exposed to sunlight in order for them to decompose properly!

Biodegradable plastics are not always stronger than traditional plastic either: in fact, they're usually weaker because they're made out of materials that aren't very strong or durable (such as cornstarch). This means that you may need more than one piece when you're using something like this--and even then it might not last long enough for your needs!

There are many different types of biodegradable plastics, so you should choose carefully when buying one

There are many different types of biodegradable plastics, so you should choose carefully when buying one. Some can be composted and others cannot. Composting is a process that breaks down organic matter into humus--a nutrient-rich soil amendment and fertilizer--and it's typically done in large piles outdoors. If you have access to a yard or garden where you can do this, then by all means go for it! However, if your only option is throwing away your biodegradable plastic item in the trash (or recycling), then it might not be worth purchasing at all because it may take years before they break down enough to become part of your municipal waste stream again.*

Conclusion

We hope this article has given you a good overview of the different types of biodegradable plastics and how they work. As we said at the beginning, it's important to choose carefully when buying one so that you don't end up with something that breaks down too slowly or has other problems.