Why must we transition to life without plastics? The answer is simple, beyond the noticeable everyday plastic pollution; the methods of extracting the petroleum and natural gas used to produce it often devastate the surrounding environment. Plastic contains toxic materials which leach into beverages, foods, oceans, water and more. We don’t realize that there are so many plastic products used at home, our food is wrapped in it, it is simply everywhere around us.
More and more people are shifting their focus to eco-friendly alternatives that can biodegrade and enrich the soil, instead of polluting it with plastic particles.
Could these unusual alternatives help us forget about our plastic life and propel us toward a greener future? Let’s see!
Algae are sustained by carbon dioxide, water, sunlight and inorganic nutrients. They have the incredible ability to consume contaminants from the water and make it clean. Algae also capture the carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen. According to the latest research and experiments, companies can produce 100% algae-based plastic and make stuff like road signs, food packaging, lamps and more.
Fermented cornstarch is used to create a PLA or Polylactic acid which is a substitute for plastic. PLA is biodegradable, so all products with this label should be composted rather than recycled. Although PLA products are already available on the market, the material itself is made from genetically modified corn, so this is causing a lot of criticism.
The natural fiber composite harvested from the hemp is biodegradable, recyclable, bpa free, toxin-free and affordable material. Its application ranges from automotive parts to building materials. The hemp plants grow fast and are quite adaptable. They absorb the carbon dioxide and require few pesticides, water, fertilizers and are quite low-maintenance. The future of hemp bio plastics looks quite promising.
Cassava is a root vegetable that grows in Southeast Asia. A mix of vegetable oil, cassava starch and organic resins promises 100% compostable and biodegradable plastic alternative. The material takes only a few months to decompose on land or sea while leaving no trace at all.
Some companies are already using this alternative material to produce a substitute of plastic bag. It can also be used in the production of food packaging, bed covers and more.
While the banana fruit is harvested the rest of the plant is not used and goes to waste. The natural fiber from the banana tree is incredibly durable and useful in the production of molded plastics. This technique is used to make everyday items like traffic cones, water tanks and bins. The banana plant fibers are incorporated to strengthen plastics and reduce the amount of polyurethane. Research is showing that the banana tree fiber has a lot of potential for future use.
More and more alternatives to plastics are discovering every day. They promise to make our lives cleaner and healthier. We create the future with our choices today, so let’s make better consumer choices and support the development of these great new alternative materials.
Kwa nini ni lazima tufanye mabadiliko ili tuwe na maisha yasiyo na plastiki? Jibu ni rahisi, zaidi ya uchafuzi wa plastiki unaoonekana kila siku; mbinu za uchimbaji wa petroli na gesi ya asili inayotumiwa kuzalisha mara nyingi huharibu mazingira yanayozunguka. Plastiki ina vitu vyenye sumu ambavyo huingia katika vinywaji, vyakula, bahari, maji na mengineyo. Hatujui kuwa kuna bidhaa nyingi za plastiki zinazotumiwa nyumbani, chakula chetu kimefunikwa ndani yake, ni kila mahali karibu nasi. Watu wengi zaidi na zaidi wanabadilisha mtazamo wao kwa njia mbadala za mazingira ambazo zinaweza kuharibika na kutajirisha udongo, badala ya kuchafua kwa chembe za plastiki. Je, mbadala hizi zisizo za kawaida zinaweza kutusaidia kusahau maisha yetu ya plastiki na kutufanya tuendelee kuelekea siku zijazo zenye mazingira mazuri? Hebu tuone! Algae hutegemezwa na kaboni dioksidi, maji, mwangaza wa jua na virutubisho visivyo vya kikaboni. Wana uwezo wa ajabu wa kula uchafuzi kutoka maji na kuifanya iwe safi. Pia, mwani huchukua kaboni dioksidi na kuigeuza kuwa oksijeni. Kwa mujibu wa utafiti wa hivi karibuni, kampuni zinaweza kutengeneza plastiki ya 100% ya algae na kufanya vitu kama ishara za barabarani, vifurushi vya chakula, taa na zaidi. Mafuta ya mahindi ya fermented hutumiwa kutengeneza PLA (polylactic acid) ambayo ni mbadala wa plastiki. PLA ni biodegradable, hivyo bidhaa zote na lebo hii lazima kuwa composted badala ya kuchakata. Ingawa bidhaa za PLA zinapatikana tayari sokoni, nyenzo yenyewe imetengenezwa kutoka kwa mahindi yaliyobadilishwa chembe za urithi, kwa hivyo hii inasababisha ukosoaji mwingi. Fiber ya asili inayotokana na hemp ni biodegradable, recyclable, BPA-free, toxin-free na vifaa vya bei nafuu. Matumizi yake yanatia ndani sehemu za magari na vifaa vya ujenzi. Mimea ya bangi hukua haraka na huweza kubadilika-badilika. Wao hufyonza kaboni dioksidi na huhitaji dawa chache za kuua wadudu, maji, mbolea na ni chini ya matengenezo. Wakati ujao wa plastiki za kibiolojia za bangi unaonekana kuwa wenye kuahidi sana. Mchuzi ni mboga ya mizizi inayokua Kusini-Mashariki mwa Asia. Mchanganyiko wa mafuta ya mboga, wanga wa cassava na resini za kikaboni huahidi mbadala wa plastiki inayoweza kuharibika na biodegradable. Vitu hivyo huchukua miezi michache tu kuharibika kwenye nchi kavu au baharini bila kuacha alama yoyote. Kampuni fulani tayari zinatumia nyenzo hiyo mbadala kutengeneza mbadala wa mfuko wa plastiki. Pia inaweza kutumika katika uzalishaji wa ufungaji wa chakula, vitambaa vya kitanda na zaidi. Wakati matunda ya ndizi yanapokolewa, sehemu iliyobaki ya mmea huo haitumiwi na kuharibiwa. Nyuzi za asili za mti wa ndizi ni zenye kudumu sana na zinafaa sana kutengeneza plastiki. Mbinu hii hutumiwa kutengeneza vitu vya kila siku kama vile koni za trafiki, matangi ya maji na mabaki. Nyuzinyuzi za mmea wa ndizi huingizwa ili kuimarisha plastiki na kupunguza kiasi cha polyurethane. Utafiti unaonyesha kwamba nyuzi za mti wa ndizi zina uwezo mkubwa wa kutumiwa wakati ujao. Kila siku kuna mbadala zaidi na zaidi wa plastiki. Wanatupa ahadi ya kufanya maisha yetu yawe safi na yenye afya. Tunaunda siku zijazo na chaguzi zetu leo, kwa hivyo hebu tufanye chaguzi bora za watumiaji na kuunga mkono maendeleo ya vifaa hivi vipya vya mbadala.