KOCHI:The word plastic, though the uses may be many, has always been a negative one. It has time and again established its devious character. Many countries and around 18 states in India have banned plastic bags and containers, but the menace is yet to be rooted out. The only answer to trounce plastics is to come up with alternatives which according to Dr Vasundhara Menon, an eco-warrior, are plant-based derivatives.
According to Vasundhara, these compostable plastics or bioplastics are derived from renewable raw materials like starch (from corn, potato or tapioca ), cellulose, soy protein and lactic acid. "They are not toxic and decompose into carbon dioxide, water and biomass when composted. These bioplastics make the earth healthy, unlike their synthetic counterpart," she said. Bioplastics are of food grade and have been recognised and approved by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, she added.
People need to be aware of the harmful chemicals that enter their bodies due to their dependence on plastics. "When we order takeaways from restaurants, piping hot food gets packed in plastic containers that are not of food grade," she said. When such plastics are heated, they leach phthalates and BPA (biphenyl acetates) which are carcinogenic. "But such a problem doesn't arise in the case of bioplastics," she said. And after use, the user won't have to worry about disposing of these containers. "The person only needs to dig a pit in his or her backyard and bury the container along with the food waste. In 180 days, the containers disintegrate into compost," she said. A green way to tackle the burgeoning waste problem.
"Cloth, jute and paper are not the perfect alternatives due to the high cost and also limitations in use. If you need to package liquid, you can't do that using cloth, jute or paper. However, bioplastics fit the profile perfectly. Manufacturers can use these plastic sheets to make pouches, bags, plates, spoons and forks," she said. However, since the cost is not attractive, manufacturers are hesitating in going ahead with mass production.
"This is where the government's role comes into play. It should promote bioplastics and ensure plastics are completely done away with. If other states in the country can enforce the use of bioplastics, why can't Kerala government? Banning plastic bags below 50 microns is not an answer! So is the introduction of the cloth-like bags which are actually made of polypropylene, a very hazardous chemical," she said.