BioPlastics may not be a viable alternative to Plastic

“It may trigger cropland expansion, which will further increase greenhouse gas emissions”.

The university of Bonn in Germany published in the journal Environmental Research letters suggests that shifting to plant based plastics could less positive effects. An increased consumption of bio plastics in the following years is likely to generate increased greenhouse gas emissions from cropland expansion on a global scale. Plastics are made from petroleum with the  impacts in terms of fossil fuel depletion but also climate change.

It is estimated that 2050, plastics could already be responsible for 15% of the global CO2 emissions. Bioplastics , on the other hand  in the  principle climate neutral they are based on renewable raw materials such as maize,wheat (or) Sugarcane.  The researchers these  plants get the CO2 that they need from the air through their leaves. Producing bioplastics therefore consumes CO2 which compensates for the amount that is later released at end of life. Overall,the  greenhouse gas balance is assumed to be zero. BioPlastics are often consumed as an environmental friendly alternative. The researchers  said at least with the current level of  this technology  issue is probably not as clear as often assumed. The Neus Escobar from the university of Bonn said the production of bioplastics in large amounts would change land use globally .This could potentially lead to an increase in the conversion of forest areas to arable land . Escobar said forests absorb considerably more CO2 than maize (or) Sugarcane annually if only because of their larger biomass.

P.P.Neelayathakshi