Explained | What is Biotransformation technology

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained | What is Biotransformation technology” published in The Hindu on 26th March 2023.

What is the News?

A UK-based startup claims to have developed a technology that could alter the state of plastics and make them biodegradable. The company calls the process “biotransformation”.

What is Biotransformation Technology?

Biotransformation technology is a novel technology that would digest plastic waste naturally with the help of microbes and biodegrade the waste without leaving behind any microplastics. 

This technology ensures plastics that escape refuse streams are processed efficiently and broken down. 

Why does India need this technology?

As per the government, India is generating 3.5 billion kgs of plastic waste annually. The per capita plastic waste generation in India has also doubled in the past five years. Of this, a third comes from packaging waste.

Also, as per one estimate, E-commerce giant Amazon generated an estimated 321 million kilograms (709 million pounds) of plastic from packaging waste in 2021 alone. These plastic packaging often ends up in the world’s freshwater and marine ecosystems as pollution.

Application: Food packaging and healthcare industries are the two prime sectors that could use this technology to reduce waste.

What are the steps taken by the Indian government to address the issue of plastic waste?

Indian government has launched multiple initiatives to move the country towards sustainability. Some of those initiatives are:

Introduced a plastic waste management gazette to help tackle the ever-growing plastic pollution caused by single-use plastics.

It imposed a ban on single-use plastics in the country.

The National Dashboard on Elimination of Single-Use Plastic and Plastic Waste Management brings all stakeholders together to track the progress made in eliminating single-use plastic and effectively managing such waste.

An Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal helps in improving accountability, traceability, and facilitating ease of compliance reporting in relation to EPR obligations of the producers, importers and brand-owners.

Developed a mobile app to report single-use plastics grievances to check sale, usage or manufacturing of single-use plastics in their area.

What are the other alternatives to reducing plastic waste?

A switch to jute or paper-based packaging could potentially cut down plastic waste. This could also build sustainability within the paper industry, and save on the import bill for ethylene solutions. Wooden packaging is yet another alternative, but that will make the packaging bulkier and increase the cost.