Experts from 5 Gyres, a non-profit research organization that fights environmental pollution, found that environmentally friendly tableware made from bioplastic does not decompose under natural conditions. results published on the organization’s website – 5 Gyres.
Bioplastic is a plastic material made from renewable biomass resources such as vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, straw, sawdust, sawdust and recycled food waste. It is positioned as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional petroleum-based products, which can survive for hundreds of thousands of years without breaking down as waste due to its molecular structure.
The research team at 5 Gyres sought to test the degradability of bioplastics. He placed 17 “eco-friendly” food samples on land and on the sea surface, including the coast. Additionally, three polyethylene, one bamboo and one paper samples were placed in similar locations for comparison. The products were left in their designated locations for 64 weeks. It turned out that not a single specimen was completely destroyed during this period. Some of them were worn down and began to break down into smaller pieces, but complete decomposition was not observed.
Researchers noted that there is a difference between compostable and biodegradable plastics. All compostable products are biodegradable, but that doesn’t mean they will break down in water or on land. For environmentally friendly disposal, such products must go to special compost facilities. This technology consists in collecting waste, processing it with reagents, and then decomposing it into components that are harmless to humans and the environment.
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