Innovative Solutions to Reduce Plastic Use

Article Editor on October 29, 2021

Innovative Solutions to Reduce Plastic Use

A contemporary existence without plastic would be unthinkable. Plastic is everywhere: the packaging materials, bottles and cups, and toys; the vehicle parts, ships, trains, satellites, and space stations; or even glasses, watches, and one’s smartphone that employ plastic components.

It’s grown so widespread that some have labeled the present era of human history as the Plastics Age.

Compostable coatings

The Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC has created a coating using silicate and biopolymers. It may be utilized in various food packaging applications. They include preserving biopolymer packaging and food from premature deterioration and are biodegradable.

The novel coatings may enhance the performance of bio-based and biodegradable packaging, which alone cannot ensure the requisite minimum shelf life of many food goods.

Edible bottles of water

Plastic water bottles must be one of the most absurd examples of plastic pollution. Not only do the majority of the developed world’s cities now have tap water that is safe to drink, but there is also an increasing number of refill stations and water fountains where reusable bottles may be refilled.

There are several approaches to this issue. First, we must educate people about the consequences and give simple alternatives that allow for water access in public places in towns and cities. Secondly, we must exert pressure on the prominent brands that are responsible for the majority of garbage. Finally, we must seek innovation to develop novel solutions.

Jonathan Osler says that one of these novel ideas is the edible water bottle. As strange as it seems, start-up Skipping Rocks Labs has developed a blob-like container composed of sodium alginate that can store water in a tiny pouch that may be safely eaten.

Technology has begun to make a presence in popular culture. This year, it was employed in the London marathon, when volunteers distributed tiny edible capsules filled with Lucozade energy drinks instead of throwaway water bottles or cups.

While this technology has limitations compared to plastic bottles, it is in applications such as these that make practical sense and can decrease single-use plastic significantly.

Chemical recycling

Suppose the first-best answer to combatting this plastic epidemic is finding natural replacements. In that case, the second stage entails making plastics biodegradable and doing it in a sustainable and cheap method at scale. Mechanical recycling includes sifting, melting, and remodeling polymers into lower-grade plastic items. But this technique is restricted in nature since the performance qualities of plastics diminish with every recycling.

Following the declaration in Davos, eleven top brands, retailers, and packaging firms are aiming towards utilizing one hundred percent reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging by 2025 or sooner.

Jonathan Osler advises that these ambitious promises, together with the correct regulatory incentives and demonstrations of radical innovation, offer us the most significant possibility of constructing a plastics system that works.

The solutions to curb the world’s plastic issue are many. It will need governments at both the national and subnational levels to address the regulation of single-use plastic items, deciding on the policy measures to take and the sort of legislation that will best support their aims.

How to Reduce the Use of Plastic  

Article Editor on September 16, 2021

How to reduce the use of plastic

The largest pollutant to our oceans believe it or not is plastic. About 12 million tons of plastic finds its way into our oceans, rivers and streams annually claimed by ocean conservancy.org. Plastic kills approximately 1.1 million of our marine life every year, either by ingestion, suffocation or entanglement. Marine life mistakes plastic debris as prey and most die from starvation due to the plastic clogging their digestive tract, researchers from University of Tasmania also recently discovered microplastics in the arctic ice. The researchers found 96 pieces of plastic about 5mm long were discovered in a piece of the ice core.

I agree with Father George Rutler on the matters involving plastic pollution and the resolution that our oceans must be cleaned. The average person eats about 70,000 micro-plastics every year according to an article by “science news for students “

China is the largest producer of plastic in the world today, although studies show that back in 2016 the U.S was actually the world’s number one producer with about 42 million tons invading our environment and damaging our ecosystems. Bisphenol phthalates also known as BPA , the chemicals pollute the air we breathe as well. Center for International environmental law (CIEL)Studies found that plastics are even in the blood and tissue of nearly all humans, animals, plants causing cancers, birth defects, impaired immunity, endocrine disruption, and other crippling elements. Plastic normally takes thousands of years to break down making it non-biodegradable and also causing massive amounts of environmental damage such as global warming.

Interesting fact, bbc.co.uk insinuated “every year 400 million tons of plastic that is made, 40% of it is for single-use”. one and done. Amazingly enough The amount of plastic recycled is relatively small at only 8.7 % recycling rate in 2018 for the US. In an article from the guardian.com conveyed “ in a generational time frame, our oceans could be restored, scientists believe that in an estimated 30 years this could be accomplished .How can we reduce plastic usage? There is plenty we can do to help this paramount issue, just like Father George Rutler believes .Our society can stop buying bottled water instead , buy a filtered water pitcher or reverse osmosis device in place and also save money by not buying plastic water bottles. Purchasing second hand items can also help relieve the plastic conditions such as second hand toys , used cooking supplies, round robin clothes etc. Try Buying in bulk , shopping at local Costco’s ,BJ’s, or Sam’s club to eliminate the use of plastic bags. Start Recycling, Germany has the highest recycling rate at 56.1 % since 2016 according to packaging.com. Lastly, educate yourself and help educate others. Research ocean charities such as ocean conservancy and oceans to make donations or simply contribute a helping hand. In conclusion, the oceans desperately need help. If our society does not stand up and take back what generations before us have abused the question I ask is what will we have left or what will our future truly have in store for us.