While plastic waste management is a global challenge, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. A UK-based startup claims to have developed a Biotransformation Technology, a promising tool that could make plastics biodegradable, thereby significantly reducing plastic pollution.
Understanding Biotransformation Technology
Biotransformation technology is an innovative method designed to ensure efficient processing and breakdown of plastics. The technology produces plastics with a pre-determined lifespan. During this lifespan, the material retains the look and feel of conventional plastic without compromising on its quality.
Upon reaching its ‘expiry’ and interacting with the external environment, the product self-ruptures and transforms into bioavailable wax. This wax serves as food for microorganisms, converting waste into water, CO2, and biomass. The most distinguishable feature of this technology is that polyolefins, a common type of plastic, will fully biodegrade in an open environment without generating microplastics.
The Need for Biotransformation Technology
India generates 3.5 billion kg of plastic waste annually and the per capita waste generation has doubled over the past five years. A third of this originates from packaging waste. Global plastic packaging waste from e-commerce firms alone was estimated at more than a billion kilograms in 2019. Considering these numbers, a technology like Biotransformation is needed to mitigate the adverse impacts of plastic waste on the environment.
Food packaging and healthcare are two sectors where this technology can be used to reduce waste. Although it may slightly increase the cost, the benefits outweigh the inclination towards traditional non-biodegradable plastic.
Exploring Alternatives to Reduce Plastic Waste
Possible alternatives to plastic include transitioning to jute or paper-based packaging, which can also promote sustainability in the paper industry. Wooden packaging serves as another alternative, but it adds bulk and increases cost.
In an effort to highlight the alternatives, the Government of Tamil Nadu organized a National Expo and Conference of Startups. The event showcased products made using coir, bagasse, rice and wheat bran, plant and agricultural residue, banana and areca leaves, jute, and cloth.
Initiatives Against Plastic Waste
The Indian government has initiated several measures geared towards sustainability. They launched a plastic waste management gazette to combat the growing plastic pollution caused by single-use plastics. In 2022, they imposed a ban on single-use plastics to curb its use in the country.
Additionally, the National Dashboard on Elimination of Single Use Plastic and Plastic Waste Management brings all stakeholders together to trace progress in eliminating single-use plastic and managing such waste efficiently. A dedicated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal aids in improving accountability, traceability, and ease of compliance reporting relating to EPR obligations of producers, importers, and brand owners.
Moreover, a mobile application has been developed to report grievances against the sale, use, or manufacturing of single-use plastics.
Tackling Microbeads
Microbeads, small plastic particles that do not degrade in water, have become a significant concern due to their impact on marine ecosystems. These tiny particles easily pass through sewage treatment systems and end up in water bodies, where they are inadvertently consumed by marine life, causing toxicity.
Biotransformation technology could play a crucial role in mitigating the harm caused by these microbeads, providing a glimpse of the type of solutions we may need to tackle the global problem of plastic waste.
