THE TRUTH BEHINDPLASTICALTERNATIVES7
Written by: Isabella WoodEdited by: Aastha GokaniLayout by: Jessie LiaoPhotography by: Zara YapThe invention of plastic has revolutionised the worldand has made modern life possible. We have dependedon it, but now we’re drowning in it. The introductionand rapid growth of single-use plastic usage havedetrimentally altered the ecosystem, causingbiophysical bodies to be permanently damaged.With reports flooding the media on the limited timehumanity has until Earth reaches a point of no returnin global warming damage, the spotlight has begunto shine on the issue. Since 2018, there has been anincreased demand for plant-based and other materialalternatives for plastic products. But are they as friendlyas we’re led to believe?The Danish EPA published a study this year that hitthe press with a shocking headline: when comparedto plastic alternatives, plastic bags have the lowestenvironmental impact! Materials commonly used assubstitution for plastic these days are biopolymers,bamboo, and cotton. Through the review of life cycleassessments conducted by various companies, it issupported that there are environmental tradeoffsin the production of biopolymers as comparedto petrochemical polymers. It is affirmed that theproduction of these organic materials imposes anegative environmental effect, as land is clearedto create space for farming, which contributes toacidification and eutrophication, the harvesting andtransportation process produces a high amount ofgreenhouse gases, the processing plant requires alarge number of fossil fuels to generate energy, and allof these processes result in high levels of ecotoxicity.However, it is essential to note that all these reports andfindings do not take into account the accumulation andthe leaching of plastics into the environment.For the eco-conscious consumers market, brandshave latched onto the idea of being sustainable,and merchants have replaced plastic bags withbiodegradable, oxo - degradable, compostable,biobased bags. However, the multitude of labels hascreated consumer confusion, and most of the timesthese products are not disposed of in the right oxygen,temperature, and soil conditions for degradation.Additionally, the plastic alternative movement isbeginning to be perceived as a trend. Consumers buymetal straws and drink bottles such as the Hydroflaskin order to seem like the picture perfect eco-consciouscitizen. But hey, if I leave that fancy metal straw athome I can still grab a straw right? The consumers’ iffyapproach causes further environmental implications.If plastic alternatives aren’t any better than singleuseplastic, then what can we do? We cannot solelyrely on these supposedly safe alternatives to stop thedegradation of the environment. Encouraging theuse of plastic alternatives shouldn’t be the only thingpushed to stop the problem of plastic use. Instead, weshould also be pushing for legislation to be put in placeto help nations lower their environmental impact andcarbon footprint. It is also important that we bettereducate ourselves on what plastic alternatives are doingthe same damage as single-use plastic are, and howthese damages can be managed. Proper use ofplastic alternatives can help not only preventfurther damage to the environmentbut also save us moneyin the long run.8
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