Plastics Versus Bioplastics
Faizan Muneer
Abstract
Plastics are polymers of long chain hydrocarbons based on petrochemicals. Due to their physiochemical properties these are almost non-degradable and their complete recycling is impossible. High production rate and less disposal capacities have made plastic environmental pollutant resulting in severe impacts on the health of organisms and destruction of habitats thus effecting the biosphere in different ways. Biodegradation, thermal and catalytic degradation of plastics is widely studied to ensure a sustainable disposal of plastic waste with limited results until the present however, a new field where ecofriendly polymers obtained from natural biomass are used to make materials is flourishing. Bioplastics are polymers derived from biomass such as cellulose, starch, chitin and microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates that have the ability to produce products of daily use that can replace their counter parts made from the synthetic plastics. Bioplastics degrade easily in natural environment and replace the petrochemical based plastic polymers, thus saving the natural environment from plastic pollution and ensuring a sustainable environment.