For the past few weeks, the Fusion Interiors blog has been
focusing on the role of plastic in the United States. The goal has been to
promote finding ways to use recycled plastics and develop a system where
plastics can be used over and over again for many uses. Plastic should have a
“cradle to cradle” process, not a production to landfill result. When plastics
end up in a landfill, they are not able to be used again, which means we must
go in search of the raw materials that plastic is derived from—petroleum and
natural gas. Both petroleum and natural gas are finite resources that do not
renew themselves within even 10 human generations. By using these resources to
produce plastics and then throwing them away we are wasting precious resources
that could be put to higher valued uses. The chart below shows in percentage terms, how much emissions come from the petroleum we use!
Instead of searching for these finite resources to extract
from the Earth, many companies are instead seeking out alternative ways to
produce plastic and different products that work even better as plastic.
Natureworks, a company that produces a bio plastic called Ingeo, has been
working on developing a plant-based plastic since 2003. This plastic, Ingeo,
can be composted in 60 days, and if it is separated properly it can be melted
to its virgin form and re-processed as an almost perfect, new plastic material!
Once bio plastics reach the end of their life, they can be turned into nearly
any product that is derived from plastic: baby wipes, snack packaging, laptops
and even T-shirts (Tolve 40).
While there are so many benefits to bio plastics, there is
still criticism of the bio plastic process. Some critics feel that bio plastic
being made from corn and sugar cane is taking away from agriculture for food
consumption. However, to counteract the “stress” the corn market may be facing,
Natureworks has starting developing technologies that allow them to use
agricultural waste products!
Natureworks was one of the first companies to enter the bio
plastics market, but there are companies following in their footsteps. One of
those companies is Metabolix, a firm based in Massachusetts. Metabolix is
developing a plastic derived from microbial fermentation! After the plastic is
used, the plastic biodegrades in fresh or salt water, soil, and compost. This a
great step because not only is Metabolix finding a plastic that is not produced
from petroleum based products but they are creating a plastic that will be less
harmful to the environment and the many ecosystems on Earth.
These companies and the information in this article is just
the tip of the iceberg for the future of plastics in our world. You can do your
part in creating a better planet where plastics are seen as helpful rather than
destructive. Visit the company websites that are linked above and, as mentioned in our previous articles, recycle plastics whether
you are at home or on the go. Find an incentive program that will give you
points for recycling if that helps you stay on the recycling wagon! Feel
free to look at our other article about upcycling to learn about some crafty
ways to re-use plastic and other waste in your own home. Also, if you need assistance with your sustainability questions or wish to start making your home more sustainable, visit Fusion Interiors to contact Sarah Sumner. Sarah's passion is to promote sustainability through modern, beautiful design. Call her today to learn more about creating a sustainable living space that you love!
Resource: Tolve, Andrew. “Plastic Fantastic.” Ode Magazine. Spring 2011: 37-40. Print.
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