Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
The definition of bioplastics is still up for debate. The phrase is frequently used to refer to a wide range of diverse goods that may be biobased, biodegradable, or both. This could imply that polymers made from oil can be branded as "bioplastics" even if they have no biological components at all. [5]
Bioplastics also cause carbon dioxide emissions from harvesting vehicles. [59] Other minor environmental impacts include high water consumption for biomass cultivation, soil erosion, soil carbon losses and loss of biodiversity, and they are mainly are a result of land use associated with bioplastics. [64]
Accelerated soil burial tests are used to record the degradation process of the plastic in the ground by replicating the conditions of a landfill, a typical disposal site for plastics. These tests are used after the service life of the material has been depleted, and the next step for the material is disposal.
Declining soil quality is a food security concern across Africa. In Zimbabwe, once a regional breadbasket, about 70% of soils are acidic, according to the government.
In typical parlance, the word biodegradable is distinct in meaning from compostable.While biodegradable simply means an object is capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms, "compostable" in the plastic industry is defined as able to decompose in aerobic environments that are maintained under specific controlled temperature and humidity conditions.
Biodegradable technology is established technology with some applications in product packaging, production, and medicine. [31] The chief barrier to widespread implementation is the trade-off between biodegradability and performance. For example, lactide-based plastics are inferior packaging properties in comparison to traditional materials.
[1] [2] Current science is not clear if there are negative impacts on food or once food grown in plasticulture is eaten by humans. [1] Because of these impacts, some governments, like the European Union under the Circular Economy Action Plan , are beginning to regulate its use and plastic waste produced on farms.
Air pollution in Africa is coming to the forefront and must not be ignored. For example, in South Africa the mercury levels are severe due to coal combustion and gold mining. Mercury is absorbed from the air into the soil and water. [19] The soil allows the crops to absorb the mercury, which humans ingest.