Biodegradable by T Webb Does Nature Win or Lose?

1. What is a “biodegradable plastic”? How is it made? Biodegradable plastic is able to break down (disintegrate) when discarded either in dumps or in sunlight. It is made by using additives (such as Ecolyte and cornstarch) which help the plastic to degrade.

2. How does biodegradable plastic affect society? Include both positive and negative effects in your answer. Positive: 1. Discarded plastics will degrade after time therefore there will be less litter on sides of roads 2. More room in landfills 3. Great for non-recyclable items such as diapers and garbage bags 3. Photodegradable plastic will save animals (no beer can rings causing strangulation) Negative: 1. “a license to litter” attitude 2. Can not recycle biodegradable plastic 3. It does not disintegrate completely; leaves pieces of plastic 4. Not clear if they will break down in real landfills 5. Not clear if it will breakdown into safe substances 6. Actually contains more plastic, therefore using more gas and oil resources.

3. Outline the major objection of environmentalists to biodegradable plastics. 1. Biodegradable plastics do not reduce the waste problem. 2. Scientists are unsure whether the plastic breaks down into safe substances. 3. These type require more plastic material to make them, therefore using more oil and gas resources. 4. Most biodegradable plastics can not be recycled. 5. People may not be concerned about properly disposing of materials - thinking that they will easily decompose...

4. a) As a scientist, in your mind, what would you consider to be the perfect plastic? “The perfect plastic would be one which is photodegradable in case it is thrown away. However, it should be completely recyclable so that it doesn’t end up in landfills. It should take less gas and oil to manufacturer. I still feel that alternatives to plastics should be explored and developed, especially for consumables.

b) As the head of research and development for a large plastics plant what factors might you consider before marketing your new product(s)? Factors that I would consider before marketing my new plastic would be: a) ability to recycle b) ability to photodegrade, biodegrade c) uses less gas and oil in manufacturing d) strength and versatility e) cost of manufacturing and marketing f) pollution involved in production?

c) As a consumer, would you be likely to not purchase a product unless it was in a biodegradable plastic container? Why or why not? As a consumer I would be more interested in whether the container was recyclable rather than biodegradable because recycling and reuse is better for the environment and discourages throw away attitudes. I believe that biodegradable plastic is not a solution to our waste problem because it is still waste with negligible results in terms of safely disintegrating. However I am interested in the photodegradable plastics in terms of marine life that is killed by plastic rings and nets discarded.