Plastics! They're flexible, light weight, durable and long-lasting. They can be found almost everywhere!

Theres no reason why somebody cant love anything about these? They're made from carbon and other
materials & then broken down, heated and rebuilt as plastic resin that can be molded into almost any
shape desired. That carbon typically comes from oil, which is a kind of fossil fuel by-product that's not
good for the environment. Further, there are many kinds of plastics that really aren't biodegradable.
Although it is claimed that some plastics can be recycled, most of them just cant (maybe because that
they can't be or because people don't). Still plastics are so much required in our everyday lives that it's
quite hard to imagine life without their presence. But theres no need to get disheartened as there are
many eco-friendly alternatives are out there. Ready to meet 7 of them?
1. GLASS:
Plastic is made from fossils. Glass, unlike plastic, is made from sand. This resource is completely
renewable and doesn't contain chemicals that can permeate into your food or body. Also it's easy to
recycle glass. You can throw bottles into your recycling bin to be turned into new bottles. You could also
reuse glass jars for storing some leftovers. Its quite sure that glass may break if dropped, but it won't
melt like plastic in your microwave.
2 REUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS
It is no wonder that plastic bags seem to be omnipresent and are indispensable in the modern world but
they kill millions of sea turtles, birds and ocean mammals each year. Now you may worry that you have
to lug those groceries home somehow! So what option are you left with now? Reusable grocery bags.
Anyone can get these bags printed with his/her name or the name of bank/gym/club or any logo or
print. They come in canvas, woven plastic fiber, hemp, cotton and even leather & everyone hands them
out. There are also nylon bags that fold up into a pouch small enough to fit in your pocket. Actually any
type of bag will do so, whether or not it's meant to carry groceries.
Further, one is saved from the accumulation of plastic bags in cupboards.
3. PLASTIC ADDITIVES
Some people are busy in developing plastic substitutes, while others are bent on making conventional
thermoplastics biodegradable. How? By throwing in additives called PDCs (prodegradant concentrates).
PDCs are usually metal compounds which promote oxidation processes that help in breaking the plastic
down into brittle and low-molecular-weight fragments. These little fragments are then gobbled up by
microorganisms turning them into carbon dioxide, leave water and biomass, which contain no harmful
substances as such. They can be used to manufacture disposable (single-use) plastics such as thin plastic
shopping bags, trash bags, disposable diapers, food containers, & landfill covers.
4. MILK PROTEIN
All the newborn mammals survive on milk. If there was no milk, there wouldnt be ice cream, no cool
shakes! There's really no denying the value of milk. Scientists say that it could help produce a
biodegradable plastic for furniture cushions, packaging, insulation and other products. There is a
research going on as of converting casein, the main protein found in milk, into a biodegradable material
that is in conformity with the qualities of polystyrene. Casein is ideal for jewelry but casein-based plastic
is too brittle for much more than a piece of adornment.
5. LIQUID WOOD
Theres a new promising biopolymer that feels and acts just like plastic but the plus point is that its
biodegradable. This particular biopolymer comes from pulp-based lignin, a renewable resource.
Manufacturers mix lignin (a byproduct of paper mills) with water and then expose the mixture to serious
pressure and heat to create a composite material that's moldable and at the same time strong and
nontoxic. Researchers have introduced this plastic substitute into a variety of items that include toys,
golf tees etc. And the best part, it can be recycled as wood too (as it is made of wood).
6. PLA POLYSTERS
Producing plastic from processed corn may seem like a dream, but it's happening every day. PLA (Poly
Lactic Acid) is polyester that can be made from lactic acid. It is produced by fermentation of starch
during corn wet milling. Although it is most often derived out of corn, PLAs can be formed from
sugarcane and wheat as well. PLA has the rigidity & toughness to replace polystyrene and PET. It
decomposes within 45 days in an industrial composting site and doesnt emit toxic fumes when burned.
Producing them uses 20 to 50% less fossil fuels than petroleum-based plastics. Quite often, many
companies mix PLA with starch to reduce cost of production & increase its bio-degradability.
PLA can be found in bottles, bags and film. Scientists are trying to make PLA more heat-resistant and
stronger. This could open up new applications for green plastic from coffee cups to automobile parts.
7. STARCH-BASED POLYMERS
As a low-cost, renewable, totally bio-degradable and natural polymer, starch has been receiving lots of
attention. When theres a talk about replacing plastics, starch can't cut the mustard. It has poor
mechanical properties that mean that it has limited use for the sturdy products.
Completely biodegradable starch-based plastics can be made by blending the components with starch.
Components to be mixed are PLA, PCL and polyvinyl alcohol. Mixing in starch also lowers down plastic
manufacturing costs. Starch needs to exceed 60 % of the composite before it has a significant effect on
degradation. As the content of starch keeps on increasing, the polymers keep on becoming more
biodegradable. It must be kept in mind that adding more starch affects the properties of the plastic. So,
while there is no way for making plastics greener, a combination old ideas and revolutionary plastic
technology is a step forward in the right direction.