Written by Anita Kumari, PhD
Thanks to their versatility and durability, plastics have revolutionized human industries. However, plastic mismanagement is common, and plastic pollution is a defining characteristic of modern society.
Out of the 9200 million tons of plastic produced between 1950 and 2017, about 5300 million tons have been thrown away, overwhelming waste management systems globally.
Without significant steps, the world’s plastics and related chemicals emissions will keep increasing.
Reflecting the urgency of the problem, sustainable alternatives, such as REGEN™ Bioplastics, are needed to minimize the impact of the pollution crisis.
REGEN™ Bioplastics is a prime example of bioplastic innovators supporting international sustainability objectives. REGEN™ reduces waste, enhances product durability, and promotes circular economy practices.
What is Plastic Pollution?
Commonly used petroleum-based plastic degrades slowly in the environment. It stays in bulk form for centuries and disrupts ecosystems and natural processes.
Once used and discarded, plastic significantly contributes to the global waste crisis.
Consequences of Plastic Pollution
The growing plastic pollution crisis negatively impacts the environment and threatens the economy and public health.
Plastic breaks down gradually, forming different-sized particles. Plastic pollutants are classified according to size, including macroplastic, mesoplastic, microplastic, and nanoplastic.
While apparent hazards are associated with macroplastic (it entangles marine animals and suffocates aquatic life and birds), smaller plastic debris is more mobile and more easily absorbed by a wider variety of marine life.
The accumulation of plastics in the environment and their entry into the food chain pose health risks, leading to increased healthcare costs and loss of productivity.
Environmental Impact
Plastics represent 80% of solid waste pollution in the oceans. They undoubtedly cause an ecological crisis by being ingested by plankton, harming countless sea mammals, and choking or starving millions of birds each year.
The chemicals used in plastic production pose further environmental challenges. Less than 6% of the 16,325 chemicals known to be present in plastics are currently governed by international regulations. Nearly 4000 chemicals are known to be harmful or toxic.
During decomposition, plastics release carbon and hazardous organic molecules into the soil. Consequently, plastic pollution is influencing soil ecological functions and crop production.
Plastic waste also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions at every stage of its life cycle.
Economic Burdens
The economic repercussions of plastic pollution are significant, particularly for industries reliant on marine and coastal environments.
Marine plastic pollution negatively impacts fishing and aquaculture by damaging equipment, reducing fish stocks, and contaminating seafood.
Plastic debris on beaches and the ocean deters tourists, reducing revenue for coastal communities and tourism-related businesses. Plastic pollution can damage ships, increase maintenance costs, and pose navigational hazards, leading to economic losses in the shipping industry.
Governments and communities are also financially burdened by the expenses of cleaning up plastic pollution and reducing its effects.
Health Implications
Chemicals from plastics enter organisms by leaching directly from the packaging into consumed food, through ingestion, absorption through the skin/gills, or consuming contaminated prey.
Due to plastic chemicals’ hazardous properties, negative impacts on human and environmental health include carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, specific target organ toxicity, endocrine disruption, and ecotoxicity. They are also linked to cardiovascular incidents.
Current Efforts to Mitigate Plastic Pollution
In past years, many big brands have released plans to tackle plastic pollution. They have mainly concentrated on recycling more or making their plastic packaging more recyclable without cutting back on the amount of plastic they produce.
Substituting conventional plastics with sustainable materials is necessary. Over the past few decades, bioplastics have attracted much attention from the scientific community, and the general public has recently become more interested in them.
Global Initiatives and Agreements
The transboundary nature of the plastic waste problem calls for international solutions and diplomatic arrangements.
To create an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) formed an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in March 2022 (Resolution 5/14).
This resolution acknowledges the negative impacts that plastic pollution, chemicals, and micro- and nanoplastics have on human health, the environment, and the social systems that depend on it.
Specific international chemical regulations, such as the Montreal Protocol and the Stockholm Convention, address the use of chemicals in plastic production.
National and Local Policies
Plastic bag levies are a helpful way to ensure that the right incentives are in place to encourage environmentally friendly behavior.
Accurate product labeling and consumer education are essential in combating plastic pollution and giving consumers enough information to make well-informed purchasing decisions.
At the national and regional level, very few regulatory measures address microplastics beyond bans on microbeads in rinsed cosmetic products in the EU, Canada, and the U.S.
How Innovation and Technology Solve Plastic Pollution Crisis
A circular economy and a reduction in environmental impact require the integration of new technologies into the plastics industry.
Recent advances in plastic recycling have been an innovative area of research focused on solving environmental plastic pollution.
Because they are biodegradable and can lessen dependency on fossil fuels, bioplastics offer a sustainable solution to plastic pollution.
Recycling Technologies
Not all plastics are created equal when it comes to recyclability. Some are difficult or impossible to recycle due to their chemical properties, contamination risks, or lack of suitable recycling infrastructure.
Key areas of progress include chemical recycling, enzyme-based recycling, and improved mechanical recycling techniques.
Chemical technologies are important for removing microplastic and nanoplastic in water and eliminating their potential risks to organisms. Significant developments have been made, and a variety of technologies can be used to degrade them.
From an environmental perspective, it is better to prevent the production of plastic in the first place and encourage the development of sustainable materials like bioplastic to avoid producing plastic waste altogether.
Biodegradable and Compostable Alternatives
The growing demand for sustainable alternatives to traditional plastics has fueled interest in bioplastics. Numerous studies have demonstrated their environmental benefits, particularly in reducing global warming potential and fossil fuel use.
Bioplastics are less harmful to the environment in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and persistence than conventional plastics. Biobased plastics show promise for end-product recovery and energy extraction, highlighting their potential as a sustainable renewable asset. Bioplastics can be used in feedstock recovery processes to produce secondary raw materials.
Transitioning to bioplastics provides an opportunity to generate renewable energy from biogenic carbon. Bioplastics can also reduce net carbon dioxide emissions. Many bioplastics have the major advantage of being biodegradable under the right conditions.
REGEN™, a leader in this field, provides eco-friendly alternatives to traditional plastics, aligning with efforts to reduce pollution and promote sustainability.
REGEN™ Commitment to Dealing with Plastic Pollution
REGEN™ bioplastics are designed to break down in composting facilities and natural environments, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics.
Under favorable conditions, such as appropriate temperature and moisture levels, REGEN™ can degrade more effectively; however, the timeframe for degradation can vary significantly in less controlled settings.
The compostability of REGEN™ is proven by meeting rigorous compostability certifications (BPI, TUV, and CMA).
Products made with REGEN™ PHA pellets are fully biodegradable in less than 6 months at an industrial composting facility under the ASTM D6400 specification (for products up to 3 mm thick).
REGEN™ is committed to a circular economy, utilizing renewable resources to reduce waste effectively.
REGEN™ reduces greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to combating climate change.
Sustainable Plastic Solutions
REGEN™ provides eco-friendly bioplastics to tackle the environmental issues associated with conventional plastics.
REGEN™ PHA is compatible with conventional manufacturing equipment, offers competitive cycle times, and has excellent mechanical and physical properties comparable to traditional PLA resins.
REGEN™ 3D filaments are stronger, offer better adhesion between layers, and biodegrade faster than PLA while printing as easily.
Community and Corporate Initiatives
REGEN™ is dedicated to sustainability through corporate responsibility to reduce plastic waste, community involvement, and strategic partnerships.
The organization works with environmental groups and industry leaders to promote compostable materials and incorporate bioplastics into supply chains.
REGEN™ promotes awareness of plastic pollution through educational workshops and clean-up initiatives in local communities. Its corporate responsibility efforts focus on minimizing its carbon footprint and advocating for a circular economy by designing compostable bioplastics.
REGEN™ plans to expand partnerships, educate communities about waste, and invest in sustainable bioplastic technologies.
Key Takeaways
- Plastic pollutes coastlines and urban areas, persists for hundreds of years in landfills, accumulates in marine ecosystems, and threatens marine and terrestrial wildlife.
- Plastic releases toxic chemicals into the environment and impacts human health through plastic ingestion.
- Plastic pollution must be reduced, prioritized, and regulated throughout life.
- A global plastics treaty restricting the production and consumption of non-essential, unsafe, and unsustainable plastics will significantly benefit nature and society.
- REGEN™ produces biopolymer-based plastics to address the environmental impact of fossil fuel-based polymers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Main Issue with Plastic Pollution?
The most significant disadvantage of plastics is their extreme longevity and inherent poor degradability. The unprecedented accumulation and fragmentation of plastics have seriously threatened the natural environment and planet. In addition, chemical additives incorporated to enhance the properties of plastics represent a severe health hazard.
Are We in a Plastic Crisis?
Plastics account for a significant portion of the global pollution crisis, which is difficult to quantify due to the material’s immense complexity.
Marine plastic pollution is currently a major environmental problem worldwide. Around 80% of marine plastic litter flows from land to the oceans.
What Human Activities Cause Plastic Pollution?
Massive plastic production, low recycling rates, and waste mismanagement inevitably resulted in millions of tons of plastic being released into the environment. Single-use plastic food service items like takeout containers, cups, straws, and shopping bags are responsible for significant plastic pollution.
