shakul rai |
Location
dubai, UAE
Role
Packaging Materials SupplierIndustry
FoodJob Title
managing directorCompany
excel international fzcComments
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highly commendable
It is highly commendable that Planet People have chosen 'refillable/reusable'' option. They are practicing the three R's initiative of "Reduce-Reuse-Recycle" which by far is the most green approach to the plastics issue. They seem to have done their due diligence exercise very carefully and have not fallen for 'Bioplastics' bottles, which are actually very harmful for the environment and society.
Oxo-Biodegradable additives do not have heavy metals
Deep Dish's information on Oxo formulation is either outdated or he is misinformed. First of all, none of the major brands of Oxo additives such as 'd2w', 'Reverte', 'TDPA' etc contain any heavy metals. They all use metal salts such as Iron, Ni,Co etc which are found as nutrient elements in many of the fruits/vegetables/fish we consume regularly. ( please see http://www.biodeg.org/position-papers/transition-metal-salts/?domain=biodeg.org). The content of these salts in the Oxo-Biodegradable plastic is really very miniscule, posing no risk, as has been verified in actual usage conditons as well as laboratory testing. This is tested as per protocol given in Tier 3 of ASTM 6954-04 test standard. Secondly, Oxo-Biodegradable plastics degrade by a two step process. Step one is Oxidative breakdown by chain scission to smaller molecular weight in presence of air,heat and UV/Sunlight.( this happens in litter, soil and in upper layers of landfill ). Step 2 is bio-assimiliation of low molecular weight plastic by micro-organisms present in the disposal environment. The end product is Water, CO2 and humus. Thirdly, Oxo-Biodegradable plastics can be re-used and recycled, if collected. If they are discarded irresponsibly and do not get a chance to be recycled, they degrade as explained in above paragraphs.
PLA - is pure GREENWASH !!!
I fully agree with Thomas Aris, PLA or Bioplastics is not at all 'green' or 'sustainable' due to various negative attributes, as pointed out by him. A number of LCA studies have shown them to have a very adverse impact on the environment. Please see: (http://www.kunststoffverpackungen.de/en/news/LCA%20waste%20bags%20-%20Study%20Extract%20B.pdf) - Life Cycle assessment and (www.greenbag.com.au/UserFiles/Boustead_LCA_Assessment.pdf ) : Chet Chaffee and Bernard R. Yaros, Life Cycle Assessment for Three Types of Grocery Bags. Above studies are eye openers; still, there are several FMCG companies who are trying to project to the gullible consumers that they are 'green' by using PLA bottles/packaging. 'Reduce, Reuse and Recycle' is the best strategy and PLA/Bioplastics are not compatible. At best, using PLA/Bioplastics is a 'fashion statement', which is doing much harm to the environment and society.
Using sugarcane to make
Using sugarcane to make plastics - this is pure green-wash ! There has been a world wide shortage of sugar and as a result of which prices of this commodity have shot up considerably in the past, putting sugar out of reach of many millions of poor living in Asian countries. Yet there are companies willing to divert precious food resources to make plastics, when plastics can be made very economically from naphtha; a by-product of crude oil refining. Similarly, there are many MN C's who are using Bio-plastics packaging made from corn, another staple food, thereby inducing shortages and price increase ! In fact, a couple of LCA studies have shown Bio-plastics have a very adverse impact on environment. It does not make environment,economical or social sense to use food for plastics. It is becoming "fashionable" to project a green image at the cost of environment and society. I hope better sense prevails amongst CEO s and people responsible for CSR in these companies. Shakul Rai, Dubai
Oxo-Biodegradable Plastics vs Bio-plastics
I agree with OPA's comments about Oil derived Plastics having a better LCA as compared to Bio Plastics. Bio-plastics look 'sustainable and green', but they are actually not, as has been proven by the Germany’s Institute for Energy. As long as oil and gas are available ( perhaps 40-50 years ?), it makes sense to use the by product to make plastics, instead of burning it off, which would create enormous CO2 emission. Problem is not with the oil derived plastics, it is with the careless disposal of plastics waste after usage. Therefore, post consumer disposal of plastics waste needs to be done in a disciplined manner so that maximum plastic is collected in an economical way and recycled, instead of littering our streets or country side or ending up in the land fill. Usage of Oxo-Biodegradable plastics acts as an insurance; if unintentionally, plastics waste gets littered or ends up in landfill, it would degrade by a two stage process, viz., Oxidative cleavage into smaller molecules and then be bio-assimiliated( bio degradation) by available micro-organisms.The time frame could be two years or four years or little more, depending upon temperature and microbial activity ( but definitely not a few centuries which is the life of normal plastics !) As far as Bio-plastics are concerned, they would become relevant, when all the oil is finished. However, Bio-plastics production is defintely going to cause a shortage of agricultural land as well as water for food production and we can imagine food prices shooting up further, as a consequence.