Sustainable Bioplastics: An Environmentalperspective
In the realm of technological advancements, Dr Elspeth MacRae, a renowned scientist, has highlighted the crucial role of plastic, particularly in space travel and airplane flight. Recently, she has been advocating for the use of bioplastics, a more sustainable alternative to traditional plastics.
Dame Juliet Gerrard, the Former Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor, is also discussing the potential of new materials to replace plastics. Gerrard's ideas include the development of bioplastics by Scion, a research organisation based in New Zealand.
Scion's bioplastics are produced from renewable sources, such as agricultural waste or other biomass, using microorganisms like bacteria. The process involves supplying these bacteria with carbon-rich feedstock in a controlled fermentation environment, where they accumulate biodegradable polymers like polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) intracellularly. After fermentation, the PHAs are extracted, purified, and converted into polymer granules that can be processed using conventional plastic manufacturing equipment.
The key steps in this process include selecting appropriate carbon feedstock from renewable biological sources, using specific bacteria capable of PHA synthesis, performing controlled fermentation, extracting and recovering PHA polymers from biomass, and processing PHA into granules for thermoplastic applications.
Compared to traditional plastics made from fossil fuels, these bioplastics offer several environmental benefits. They are derived from renewable biomass feedstocks rather than finite fossil fuels, reducing dependence on petrochemicals. Their production generally uses less energy, leading to a smaller carbon footprint. PHAs and similar bioplastics are often biodegradable under natural conditions within months to a few years, helping reduce plastic pollution in the environment. The carbon in bioplastics is biogenic, meaning it originates from recent atmospheric CO₂ fixed by plants, contributing less to net carbon emissions compared to fossil carbon.
However, it's important to note that not all bioplastics are biodegradable. Dr Florian Graichen, another scientist, has clarified that bioplastics can be made from renewable materials like sugar from trees, but they are not necessarily biodegradable. Proper management of bioplastics at the end of their life is essential to ensure proper disposal.
This innovative approach by Scion reduces fossil fuel use, lowers energy consumption, and results in compostable end products, offering significant environmental advantages over conventional plastics from fossil fuels. The video excerpt discussing these bioplastics is from a production by Point of View Productions, directed by Shirley Horrocks. For more information and referencing details, please visit Referencing Hub media.
References: 1. Scion 2. Bioplastics: The New Green Revolution
- Dame Juliet Gerrard, the former advisor to the Prime Minister on science matters, is promoting the development of bioplastics by Scion, an organization specialized in environmental science, as a potential solution for addressing climate-change issues related to plastic waste in the environment.
- In an industry shift towards sustainability, Scion's bioplastics, created from renewable sources like agricultural waste or biomass, present a viable alternative to traditional plastics, which are usually derived from finite fossil fuels.
- Financing renewable-energy projects and investments in environmental-science research, such as the one led by Scion on bioplastics, could significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the plastics industry and combat climate change while promoting a cleaner and safer environment for future generations.
