Environmentally-Friendly Plastic and the Race for Renewable Energy

Have you ever wondered why your local grocery store doesn't offer plastic bags made of bio-degradable plastic. I did..which is what prompted me to do further research on the subject, and eventually write this blog...

So far, the issue of "environmentally-friendly" plastic has been a true catch 22 for environmentally-conscious citizens. We're stuck with two plastic options: plant-based, and petroleum-based. Currently, plant-based plastics have a larger carbon footprint than do the petroleum-based kind because of the resources (ie: corn fields) and extraction processes required to create them.

Petroleum-based plastics created from fossil fuels actually have much less of a carbon footprint, but conversely they pollute our environment with...well...plastic. The pollution left by these petroleum plastics will take many many lifetimes to break down, and when it finally does, will combine with organic matter to continually disturb our delicate ecosystem.

There are those out there who don't even like the idea of biodegradable plastic. They say the gases (mostly methane) and organic matter that discharge during the degradation process lead to potentially harmful effects to our environment and atmosphere.

This whole thing seems kind of like walking over burning coals, and it's difficult to find the next step. Lets try to stay cool though:)

So, what can we do? We can start by jumping head first into renewable energy. Although more resources are required to create these plant-based plastics, if the energy we use is renewable (and clean), then theoretically we could use as much as we want without causing any significant  harm to the environment.  Renewable energy that's used to create plant-based plastics provides an alternative that will leave a much smaller carbon/environmental footprint than any other currently available option.

Thankfully rapid innovations offer hope, and alternate solutions. Did you know we can even genetically modify plants to grow plastic now? Weird! Until that route is perfected, however, promoting renewable energy(which in my opinion, is at the heart of the "green" movement) is our best bet at tackling our plastic problem.

My final verdict: continue to promote plant-based materials while letting technology and social consciousness do the rest. I truly believe our technology is evolving rapidly enough that we will be over the renewable energy hump in my lifetime. As far as the biodegradable issue, another option is non-degradable, but completely recyclable plastic (only a portion of current plastics on the market are completely recyclable).

Just my thoughts though. Be your own judge, and do try to remember your reusable shopping bags next time you go to the grocery store. Or, at the very least...recycle your plastic/paper bags. Thanks!!

• Doug Cameron's blog
• Login or register to post comments