Albi Kovatcheva
7/24/2023 1:43 PM
I learned a lot about bioplastic production and disposal, some information surprised me. Bioplastics are most often PLA, or polylactic acid. They are not necessarily biodegradable or compostable. Also, there are no federal regulations for labeling something as “biodegradable” or “compostable.”
Bioplastics, like their petroleum-based counterparts, may contain carcinogenic PFA chemicals which can contaminate soil and groundwater.
Further, many waste processing facilities reject compostable plastics because they are functionally indistinguishable from petroleum-based ones. Additionally, compostable plastics degrade in a specific time frame in specific conditions (> 122F). Also, the plants needed for bioplastics production have a high carbon footprint.
Bioplastics, like their petroleum-based counterparts, may contain carcinogenic PFA chemicals which can contaminate soil and groundwater.
In the ocean, they break down into bioplastics, just like their petroleum-based counterparts. In the landfill, they may not break down. Or if they do, they may release methane, which is a greenhouse gas 84x more potent than CO2. In the recycling bin, the entire bale me contaminated.
PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) plastics can pose the same problems as other bioplastics. However, PVA has a relatively low environmental impact compared to their petroleum-based counter parts. It is non-toxic, including when it degrades.
There’s one third-party certification that is widely trusted, and that’s from the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI). BPI scientifically verifies bioplastic composability. However, one would need access to an industrial composting facility that for sure accepts that specific brand and type of bioplastic, that is otherwise is destined for the landfill.
Many times, bioplastics have a greater environmental impact than petroleum-based plastics. That is what surprises me most. And no, my city's waste management does not accept bioplastic for composting.
