The Plastics Sunset and the Bio-Plastics Sunrise

Abstract

Plastics has been an integral part of our lives for the last century as the main material for various useful commodity items. Irony of fate, the same specific properties that make plastics ideal to create such a wide range of products are also responsible for the present dramatic environmental pollution. What suggestions do the technological innovations currently suggest to solve this worldwide problem? Among the others, one is to replace the traditional plastics with alternative materials derived from non-oil polymers capable of being degraded in months and not in years or centuries. But the research in this field is relatively new and undoubtedly there are still developments that need to be made. Thus, we must be aware that the plastic age is at sunset and the bio-plastics sun is just rising on the horizon.

Extrusion of Polymer Nanocomposites with Graphene and Graphene Derivative Nanofillers: An Overview of Recent Developments

“…The plastic waste production has been estimated in over 6 billion tons [95]. Currently, the production of plastic waste is approximately 300 million tons every year worldwide and only 10% of this waste is recycled [96,97]. Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most extensively used materials in functional products, as it is a biodegradable, non-contaminant material, exhibiting good mechanical properties that are frequently used in aerospace, automotive and biomedical engineering applications [98,99].…”

Black Edible Films from Protein-Containing Defatted Cake of Nigella sativa Seeds

“…It is now generally recognized that the environmental pollution due to plastic polymers is a global concern. Landfills and oceans are the main destination of the plastic waste, whereas only less than 10% of plastics produced every year is recycled [1]. Seeking biodegradable alternatives for plastics is increasing, even though they still probably represent less than 5% of the total plastic materials used today.…”

“…Plastic packaging wastes represent more than 15% and 25% of total solid wastes in the USA and Europe, respectively [2]. Nevertheless, both the demand and the production for new biodegradable packaging materials able to substitute for the traditional plastic ones are on the rise [1].…”

Biopolymers as Food Packaging Materials

“…Oil-derived plastics are the most commonly used materials for packaging because of their features, low cost, and availability of resources for manufacturing [ 1 ]. Their annual production continues to increase and, currently, the packaging sector still accounts for over 40% of the total worldwide plastic consumption, mainly because of the wide range of properties of plastics, which can be tailored according to the product requirement [ 2 ].…”

“…Their annual production continues to increase and, currently, the packaging sector still accounts for over 40% of the total worldwide plastic consumption, mainly because of the wide range of properties of plastics, which can be tailored according to the product requirement [ 2 ]. Polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene are the most common packaging plastics and, being non-biodegradable, they are responsible for a huge amount of environmental pollution [ 1 ]. Consequently, the development, characterization, and use of bio-based and biodegradable polymers are increasingly gaining importance and multidisciplinary attention, since, following their disintegration and composting, the “bio-plastic” materials can be used as fertilizers and soil conditioners [ 3 ].…”