Are Biodegradable Plastics Truly Eco-Friendly? Unpacking the Facts for a Sustainable Future

October 27, 2024 / activist360

Impact Characterization of Biodegradable Plastics
Credit: Piao, Z., Boakye, A. A. A., & Yao, Y. (2024). Environmental impacts of biodegradable microplastics. Nature Chemical Engineering, 1, 661–669.

When you hear the word “biodegradable,” what comes to mind? Many of us assume biodegradable plastics are a perfect solution for reducing plastic pollution. However, these materials have complex environmental impacts that aren’t immediately obvious. While they can help reduce certain types of pollution, they also come with hidden trade-offs, including greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

In this article, we’ll dive into the environmental impacts of biodegradable plastics, explain how Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) helps scientists understand their effects, and offer tips for more eco-friendly choices.

What Are Biodegradable Plastics?

Biodegradable plastics are materials designed to break down in the environment faster than traditional plastics. They are typically made from renewable resources, like corn starch or sugarcane, or from fossil-based sources. Common types include plant-based PLA (polylactic acid) and fossil-based PCL (polycaprolactone).

To fully understand their impact, scientists use a process called Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA). LCIA evaluates a product’s environmental footprint across its entire life cycle—from production to disposal. This is essential for understanding biodegradable plastics’ real impact on our planet, including factors like greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and waste management challenges.

Benefits of Biodegradable Plastics in Reducing Microplastic Pollution

One of the most significant benefits of biodegradable plastics is their potential to reduce microplastic pollution. Microplastics are tiny plastic fragments that pollute our oceans, rivers, and even our food and water. Because they don’t easily decompose, they accumulate in ecosystems and can harm wildlife and human health.

Biodegradable plastics offer a promising alternative. When they break down properly, they are less likely to form these harmful microplastics. Scientists assess this potential benefit through a measure in LCIA called aquatic ecotoxicity, which looks at how materials impact aquatic life. Biodegradable plastics typically score lower in aquatic ecotoxicity than traditional plastics because they break down more completely, reducing the risk of long-term pollution.

Think of biodegradable plastics like “biodegradable litter.” If disposed of properly, they disappear without leaving a trace, unlike conventional plastics that break into microplastics and linger in the environment for years.

The schematic diagram of the LCA methodology for biodegradable plastics

Hidden Costs of Biodegradable Plastics: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

While biodegradable plastics can reduce visible pollution, they aren’t without environmental costs. As these plastics break down, particularly in natural environments like rivers or forests, they can release greenhouse gases (GHGs) like methane—a potent contributor to climate change.

Here’s a surprising statistic: when PCL, a common biodegradable plastic, breaks down in a natural setting, it can emit up to 16.3 kilograms of CO₂-equivalent per kilogram of plastic. This emission rate is about 16 times higher than what it would release in an industrial composting facility.

Scientists use Global Warming Potential (GWP) within LCIA to measure how much a material contributes to climate change. For biodegradable plastics, scientists often use dynamic GWP calculations, which track greenhouse gas emissions over time rather than assuming a constant rate. This approach reveals that biodegradable plastics can emit GHGs in bursts as they break down, especially under anaerobic (low-oxygen) conditions in natural environments.

In some scenarios, biodegradable plastics that aren’t properly managed may actually emit more greenhouse gases than traditional plastics.

Role of Waste Management in Reducing Environmental Impact

The environmental impact of biodegradable plastics depends heavily on how they are disposed of. Ideally, they should be processed in industrial composting facilities, where conditions like temperature and oxygen are carefully controlled to allow these plastics to break down quickly and with minimal greenhouse gas emissions.

However, when biodegradable plastics end up in natural environments, such as lakes or soil, they break down under uncontrolled conditions, leading to increased emissions.

Think of biodegradable plastics as “biodegradable litter.” Just as litter remains litter if tossed on the ground, biodegradable plastics can still pollute if not disposed of correctly.

This brings us to the End-of-Life (EoL) Impact stage in LCIA. LCIA considers the full “end-of-life” cycle of a product to evaluate its environmental footprint based on where it ends up. Without the proper disposal infrastructure, biodegradable plastics may add to environmental pollution rather than reduce it.

What the Future Holds for Biodegradable Plastics

As scientists learn more about the impacts of biodegradable plastics, they’re working to design materials that minimize environmental costs. Using tools like LCIA, researchers can adjust physical properties—such as density, degradation rates, and carbon content—so that biodegradable plastics break down with lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduced aquatic toxicity.

LCIA helps scientists make informed design choices that balance eco-friendliness with practicality. For instance, certain plastics might be designed with an optimized Specific Surface Degradation Rate (SSDR), which controls the rate at which they break down in nature. This helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring the plastic still decomposes efficiently.

Think of it like a “recipe” for future plastics. Each ingredient—density, degradation rate, carbon content—needs to be carefully balanced to create a plastic that’s both sustainable and functional. Just as a recipe requires precision for the best result, so does the design of biodegradable plastics.

With LCIA as a guide, scientists and manufacturers can develop low-carbon biodegradable plastics that help protect the planet by reducing pollution and managing emissions.

What Can We Do to Make a Difference?

As consumers, we have a role to play in reducing plastic pollution and supporting sustainable materials. Here are some ways we can contribute:

Mindful Consumption: Choose products with minimal packaging and support companies that use sustainable materials.
Proper Disposal: Make sure biodegradable plastics go into the correct waste streams. Check local composting and recycling guidelines to see if your area has facilities for biodegradable plastics.
Spread the Word: Share this information with friends and family. Understanding the pros and cons of biodegradable plastics helps everyone make more informed, eco-friendly choices.

Summing Up

Biodegradable plastics are a promising step toward reducing plastic pollution, but they also come with their own environmental costs, especially when they end up in natural environments. Through Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA), scientists help us understand these trade-offs, from reducing microplastic pollution to the hidden impacts of greenhouse gas emissions.

Ultimately, while biodegradable plastics offer benefits, they are only part of the solution. Proper disposal methods, innovative material design, and mindful consumer choices are essential to building a sustainable future for our planet.

Source: Piao, Z., Boakye, A. A. A., & Yao, Y. (2024). Environmental impacts of biodegradable microplastics. Nature Chemical Engineering, 1, 661–669. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44286-024-00127-0

The Wisdom of Trees

October 6, 2024 / activist360

Lessons for Our Lives and Our Planet

Trees have a lot to teach us, if only we take a moment to listen to their quiet wisdom. They aren’t just standing silently in the background; they are alive with a purpose, vibrant, and deeply interconnected. By observing how trees live, grow, and thrive together, we can learn lessons that can enrich our own lives and strengthen our communities.

Embrace Interconnectedness

A forest is not just a collection of individual trees—it’s a living, breathing community, dependent on collaboration and connection. The mycorrhizal networks linking tree roots remind us that our strength lies in our connections. By embracing this interconnectedness, we grow stronger together, more capable of weathering life’s challenges.

Share Nutrients to Help Each Other Grow

Beneath the forest floor lies a marvelous network of fungal filaments called mycorrhiza. This hidden web allows trees to share nutrients, send signals, and even warn one another of dangers. Just as trees use these networks to nourish and protect their community, we too can share uplifting knowledge, resources, and support so we make humanity stronger, more purposeful, and abundant for all.

Provide Mutual Support

Trees form partnerships, sometimes even across species. For instance, Douglas Firs and Birches often share resources, helping each other flourish. This cooperation allows diverse species to coexist—a reminder to us that we are stronger when we support those around us, especially those who may seem different from us. Our differences, like those of the forest, make us richer and more resilient.

Send Signals and Respond

Trees are constantly communicating through chemical, hormonal, and even electrical signals. When under attack by caterpillars, some trees release pheromones that attract parasitic wasps to help eliminate the threat. Pine trees send healing sap when wounded. Nature shows us that it’s crucial to reach out when we need help, but also to respond when others need us—community thrives when others listen and lend a hand. Likewise, we must share with our friends and loved ones the urgency of protecting our climate. In addition, Project 2025 poses a significant threat to environmental protections, and it’s critical that we raise awareness about the potential harms it could bring to our planet.

Heed Warning Systems

Trees are proactive in warning each other of danger. When a giraffe begins feeding on an acacia tree, that tree releases ethylene gas, signaling nearby trees to produce bitter tannins that ward off herbivores. In our own lives, sharing information and protecting one another can make our communities safer and more resilient, just as the trees work together to guard against threats.

Nurture the Next Generation

Older trees, called “Mother Trees,” are the foundation of a healthy forest. They share nutrients with younger or struggling trees, ensuring the forest continues to thrive. When Mother Trees are removed, the entire ecosystem can suffer. We can learn from this—mentorship and nurturing the next generation helps us build a more connected and vibrant community. By offering our time and energy, we ensure that those who come after us are equipped to thrive.

Just as Mother Trees nurture young saplings, we must also appreciate and learn from the elders in our own communities. Elder wisdom is a treasure that connects us to our past, providing insight and perspective that can guide us into the future. The experiences and knowledge of our elders can help us navigate challenges with resilience and grace, just as the older trees sustain the forest.

When we take time to honor and listen to our elders, we strengthen the bonds within our communities. Their stories, lessons, and wisdom are like the nutrients shared through the roots of the forest—fuel for growth and a foundation for a healthier, more connected society. By valuing and supporting our elders, we help create an environment where everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, can thrive together.

Practice Altruism

Trees display altruistic behavior, sharing resources with their neighbors in times of need. This selflessness helps the entire forest endure tough times. When we practice altruism in our own lives, we contribute to the resilience of our communities, helping others not because we expect something in return, but because we know we are all connected.

Forests are a powerful reminder that thriving is not about standing alone—it’s about supporting, sharing, and growing together. The wisdom of trees urges us to cultivate our own networks of support, to be generous, and to look out for each other. When we learn from how trees interact, we too can create resilient, thriving communities, rooted in connection and growing stronger together.

Summing Up

But today, our forests and our planet face unprecedented threats. The climate is in crisis, and all living beings are at risk. At Activist360, we believe in the power of standing together—alongside trees and nature—to protect our environment. This is our clarion call: it’s time for us to act, to support one another, and to fight for the health of our planet. Let’s take inspiration from the trees and join forces to ensure a thriving future for all. Together, we can make a difference.

How Upland Trees Combat Methane Emissions

July 28, 2024 / activist360

Footpath though Epping Forest, in Epping Upland, Essex. Credit: geograph.org.uk.

A new study, “Global Atmospheric Methane Uptake by Upland Tree Woody Surfaces,” reveals a previously under-appreciated ally in our environmental arsenal: upland trees. Known for their ability to sequester carbon dioxide, trees are now also recognized for their significant role in absorbing atmospheric methane, a potent greenhouse gas. This new understanding helps our approach to forest conservation and climate change mitigation.

What are Upland Trees?

Upland trees are defined as trees that thrive in well-drained soils, typically found in areas where excess water from rain can quickly drain away, preventing waterlogged conditions. Unlike their counterparts in wetlands, upland trees are not subjected to prolonged periods of standing water, which significantly influences their ecological roles and physiological functions.

The Role of Upland Trees in Methane Absorption

These Trees have a unique symbiotic relationship that enables them to absorb methane from the atmosphere than they emit. The well-drained soils acts as an enabler for the net sink of atmospheric methane. Unlike their wetland counterparts that release methane, upland trees utilize methanotrophic bacteria that live on their bark and within their tissues.

Methanotrophy: Nature’s Methane Filter

Methanotrophy, the process through which these bacteria metabolize methane, turns tree bark into an effective filter for this harmful greenhouse gas. The study notes that the higher parts of the tree, away from the methane-producing soil, exhibit a stronger uptake, suggesting that the trees’ own structure facilitates this environmental benefit.

Implications for Global Methane Budgets and Climate Strategies

The findings of this study have implications for our global methane budgets and strategies aimed at mitigating climate change. By quantifying the role of trees in methane dynamics, the research provides a piece of the puzzle in understanding the global methane cycle. This could lead to improved climate models and more effective strategies for managing forest ecosystems.

Enhancing Climate Benefits through Forest Conservation

The dual role of upland forests in sequestering carbon and absorbing methane underscores the added climate benefits of forest conservation and reforestation efforts. Protecting these ecosystems could be more beneficial than previously understood, offering a natural solution to reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Call-to-Action: Integrate the Role of Upland Trees in Methane Absorption Into Conservation Policies

This pioneering study invites policymakers, environmentalists, and the global community to rethink current strategies for climate change mitigation. Integrating the role of upland trees in methane absorption into conservation policies could enhance the effectiveness of these efforts, providing a cost-effective way to combat global warming. As we continue to uncover the multifaceted roles of forests in climate regulation, it becomes clear that preserving our natural environments is more crucial than ever.

Embracing the insights from this research could catalyze a shift in how we perceive and manage our forest resources, turning upland areas into valuable allies in the fight against climate change. With enhanced policies and a renewed focus on these ecosystems, we can harness the full potential of our forests to safeguard our planet for future generations.