Zaragoza, Bernadette J.

9-Calungsod

BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS

Biodegradable plastics are materials that can be tear out naturally in our environment. This can

be achieved through the help of microorganisms like bacteria that can destruct or break down

this kind of materials. And is less harmful to our surroundings.

These are plastics that are made from renewable raw materials. Like plants, orange peel,

cornstarch corn oil. These does not contain chemical filters that are harmful to the environment.

Unlike plastic bottles, plastic bags and spoon & fork which contain chemical filters. Which also

contain carbon, when they are melted that can be released to our surroundings.

Biodegradable does not include carbon when manufacturing process. They can naturally

breakdown by bacteria. It is advantageous to our environment.

Ordinary plastics include methane and other pollutants released when they are burned and

recycled.

But we have to know how to make these materials breakdown properly. It will not decompose

when you just throw it in a landfill. We have to mind these things. They should be dispose

properly. It is faster to decompose than the ordinary plastics. It takes 3 to 6 months to

decompose.

There are 3 basic resources that we need in order heat and light for biodegradable to occur. But

there are still disadvantages oxygen that can occur with this process. It can add to global

warming when it is not properly decompose.

There are advantages too, like waste reduction, source reduction, help to conserve petroleum

supplies, energy savings, plastic-eating Bacteria.

Getting rid of plastics is hard. Burning them can give toxic chemicals such as dioxine. Recycling

them is also hard. Them are different plastics and recycled in different process. We’re drowning

in plastic.

Plastics that are environmentally friendly, there are 3 types of it.

1) Bioplastics - from natural materials such as cornstarch.

2) Biodegradable plastics – made from traditional petrochemicals, which can breakdown

easily.

3) Eco-recycled plastics – plastics made from recycled plastic materials rather than raw

petrochemicals.

The researchers wanted to lessen the use of plastic bags made from non-biodegradable materials.

The goal of this research is to make a kind of plastic that is biodegradable and reusable, but it

could work as handy and as flexible as a non-biodegradable plastic bag. Corn starch is the main

ingredient of this experiment, along with glycerin and other ingredients that could basically work

if they are mixed properly. This research needs a certain amount of time to be finished. It is quite

easy to do if you all the materials needed and if you follow the instructions very well. The study

could help minimize pollution, even in the littlest of ways; which is again, the main goal of this

research.

No matter how rebundant this sounds, pollution is truly everywhere. We could not annihilate it

completely, but we know now that we could do certain things to minimize pollution. By using

plastic bags that are made from biodegradable materials, we may help reduce the never-ending
issue of pollution. The goal is to help lessen the production of plastic by using alternative

material. This main material, namely the corn starch, would decompose in a short span of time,

unlike plastics that have petroleum that could take several hundred years to decompose. In the

internet, would see many ways to make a biodegradable plastic, an eco plastic and a bio-plastic

because these kinds of plastics are made from recycled plastic materials, natural materials and

cornstarch. Hence, with the right materials and procedure, anyone could do it in their homes with

the help of an adult.

The researchers deem that there is a need to find a useful, yet cheap alternative component that

will help make bio-plastic. Consumers will benefit from this because plastic will cost less. Also,

the environment will benefit from this because it will be less harmful and will cause less

environmental problems.

The study shows the capability of the corn starch to be daily used plastic bags. The benefactors

of their study are everyone, as everyone uses plastic bags for their daily works.

Polylactic acid is a substance usually used for plastic substitution made from fermented plant

such as starch (usually from corn). In this research, the researchers will prove it’s effectiveness –

it’s durability, longevity and limits. The researcher will also estimate the costs of the materials

needed for the experiment and assure that it will be cheaper than the usual chemical – based

plastics that we can find in the market.

It can indeed help to lessen the pollution cause by plastic bag since it can be use to produce

plastic bags that are biodegradable and will not be harmful to the environment.