Bioplastics may not be better for climate: Study

Bioplastics may not be better for climate: Study

News:

A recent study from the University of Bonn suggests that shifting to bioplastics may lead to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions

Important facts:

Key takeaway from the Study:

1. According to the study, at the current level of technology, an increased consumption of bioplastics may generate increased greenhouse gas emissions due to deforestation and expansion of arable land.

About Bioplastics:

1. Bioplastic or bio-based plastic simply refers to plastic made from plant or other biological material instead of petroleum
2. It can either be made by extracting sugar from plants like corn and sugarcane to convert into polylactic acids (PLAs), or it can be made from polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) engineered from microorganisms.
3. The often-cited advantages of bioplastic are reduced use of fossil fuel resources, a smaller carbon footprint, and faster decomposition.