Plastic turns eco-friendly!
Thursday June 5 2008 00:00 IST Express Features
Even as another World Environment Day approaches, the global concerns of most environmentalists remain the same-growing pollution, global warming and that old villain that refuses to die or degrade, plastic.
The Government of Kerala banned plastics below 30 microns and encouraged the use of alternatives to plastic like paper, cloth and even jute. But none of them could replicate the sturdy utility of plastic.
Given the scenario, an alternative which has all the advantages of plastic and is also biodegradable, seemed the best answer and this is exactly what Kochi-based Biomate Enterprises is trying to market in Kerala.
OXO-biodegradable plastics are plastics with a very small amount of pro-degradant additive added during the manufacturing process.
This additive helps degradation, initially by oxidation and then enables the microorganisms to access the carbon and hydrogen in plastic, making it biodegradable.
While the process can take from a few months to a few years, it is accelerated by sunlight and continues as long as there is air.
The benefits of oxo-biodegradable plastic are many. Apart from being completely degradable, it can also be recycled.
It does not require to be segregated during waste collection and disposal. Since it releases carbon slowly, it also produces high quality compost.
Most alternatives to plastic are about 300 to 400 times more expensive to produce; the only extra cost to consider here is the cost of the additive.
When one adds the fact that pollution caused during production is negligible compared to the production of paPlastic turns eco-friendly!
Thursday June 5 2008 00:00 IST
Express Features
Even as another World Environment Day approaches, the global concerns of most environmentalists remain the same-growing pollution, global warming and that old villain that refuses to die or degrade, plastic.
The Government of Kerala banned plastics below 30 microns and encouraged the use of alternatives to plastic like paper, cloth and even jute. But none of them could replicate the sturdy utility of plastic.
Given the scenario, an alternative which has all the advantages of plastic and is also biodegradable, seemed the best answer and this is exactly what Kochi-based Biomate Enterprises is trying to market in Kerala.
OXO-biodegradable plastics are plastics with a very small amount of pro-degradant additive added during the manufacturing process.
This additive helps degradation, initially by oxidation and then enables the microorganisms to access the carbon and hydrogen in plastic, making it biodegradable.
While the process can take from a few months to a few years, it is accelerated by sunlight and continues as long as there is air.
The benefits of oxo-biodegradable plastic are many. Apart from being completely degradable, it can also be recycled.
It does not require to be segregated during waste collection and disposal. Since it releases carbon slowly, it also produces high quality compost.
Most alternatives to plastic are about 300 to 400 times more expensive to produce; the only extra cost to consider here is the cost of the additive.
When one adds the fact that pollution caused during production is negligible compared to the production of paper and cloth bags, biodegradable plastic clearly wins over other alternatives.
This kind of biodegradable plastic has already been used with some success in supermarkets in countries like the UK and Portugal. Major users include leading food chains like Pizza Hut and KFC.
Biomate Enterprises has sent a proposal to the State Pollution Control Board, but they have not yet received an official response. Biomate is planning to market its product with the help of big hotels, hospitals and supermarkets in the state. In fact, Best Bakers in the city is one of the first to start using OXO biodegradable plastics.
Hopefully others will follow the lead. For details, contact 6492728, 9249582728.
per and cloth bags, biodegradable plastic clearly wins over other alternatives.
This kind of biodegradable plastic has already been used with some success in supermarkets in countries like the UK and Portugal. Major users include leading food chains like Pizza Hut and KFC.
Biomate Enterprises has sent a proposal to the State Pollution Control Board, but they have not yet received an official response. Biomate is planning to market its product with the help of big hotels, hospitals and supermarkets in the state. In fact, Best Bakers in the city is one of the first to start using OXO biodegradable plastics.
Hopefully others will follow the lead. For details, contact 6492728, 9249582728.
I believe that all great achievements and success in life, and all changes for the better, have one powerful characteristic in common: The First Step. Take the first step, and the journey has a way of taking care of itself.”
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