Sustainable packaging: Biopolymers may be less eco-friendly than petroleum-based materials
Are biopolymers really delivering the eco benefits many claim? Perhaps not, according to a new study by University of Pittsburgh researchers.
Are biopolymers really delivering the eco benefits many claim? Perhaps not, according to a new study by University of Pittsburgh researchers.
An article published by news syndicate ANI says the University of Pittsburgh study indicates bioplastics can produce a bigger carbon footprint than petroleum-derived plastics, due farming and energy-intense chemical processing.
In conducting the study, researchers compared 12 finished plastics, evaluating their energy efficiency, biodegradability, wastefulness and toxicity. They found that biopolymers in many cases were more environmentally harsh, due to land use for farming, agricultural fertilizers and chemicals, and intense processing needed to create plastics from plant matter.
In addition, the team reportedly found that biopolymers can also be a large contributor to ozone depletion, with corn-based polyhydroyalkanoate, PHA-G, the worst offender. The study is also said to have determined that bioplastics are also higher than most petroleum-based polymers for carcinogen emissions.
The study did, however note that biopolymers are indeed generally more eco-friendly once in use.
In conducting the study, researchers compared 12 finished plastics, evaluating their energy efficiency, biodegradability, wastefulness and toxicity. They found that biopolymers in many cases were more environmentally harsh, due to land use for farming, agricultural fertilizers and chemicals, and intense processing needed to create plastics from plant matter.
In addition, the team reportedly found that biopolymers can also be a large contributor to ozone depletion, with corn-based polyhydroyalkanoate, PHA-G, the worst offender. The study is also said to have determined that bioplastics are also higher than most petroleum-based polymers for carcinogen emissions.
The study did, however note that biopolymers are indeed generally more eco-friendly once in use.
Source: University of Pittsburgh
All content and features on this website are copyrighted with all rights reserved. The full details can be found in our privacy statement
