Much more likely that no company wants to use it no matter how much it costs because it degrades. We use plastic as a packing material specifically because it doesn’t degrade and lasts forever.
On the other hand, many of the things packaged in plastic also degrade, and might be fine for their safe shelf life in either biodegradable plastic or a container with that type of lining. Other liquids could be packaged in glass.
The issue isn’t material choice. It’s that plastic can’t be replaced by most materials because of the current function of our containers.
Let me pitch it like this: go to the grocery store. It’s all plastic. The meat? Plastic container. Milk is in plastic. Water in plastic. They’ll even put your potatoes in a pre-packaged plastic sack.
So the issue is that plastic has made its entire niche and therefore is irreplaceable in that niche. Whereas if we would swap over to reusable milk containers and dispensers or refillable chip bags, we’d be miles ahead even if those were all made of plastic still.
The problem isn’t containers, it’s the existence of disposable packing being the only option.
Bio degradable doesn’t mean that it will degrade on its own because some bacteria ate it. For example, PLA is bio degradable, but you need an industrial hot composter to turn it back into lactic acid. You can’t put it into a waste bin with your banana peel and expect it to degrade, that won’t happen.
The problem with many bio degradable plastics is that they also degrade either due to heat exposure (PLA will start softening at around 55°) or due to UV exposure (PLA will fall apart within months to a year when exposed to the sun) or both (like PLA). That means their use is limited. You don’t want your glasses to fall apart after a year of use, do you? But if you can use such plastics away from the sun, water, heat, etc, they can last forever.
i am sure it will be “too expensive” for the next 30 to 40 years.
Much more likely that no company wants to use it no matter how much it costs because it degrades. We use plastic as a packing material specifically because it doesn’t degrade and lasts forever.
On the other hand, many of the things packaged in plastic also degrade, and might be fine for their safe shelf life in either biodegradable plastic or a container with that type of lining. Other liquids could be packaged in glass.
The issue isn’t material choice. It’s that plastic can’t be replaced by most materials because of the current function of our containers.
Let me pitch it like this: go to the grocery store. It’s all plastic. The meat? Plastic container. Milk is in plastic. Water in plastic. They’ll even put your potatoes in a pre-packaged plastic sack.
So the issue is that plastic has made its entire niche and therefore is irreplaceable in that niche. Whereas if we would swap over to reusable milk containers and dispensers or refillable chip bags, we’d be miles ahead even if those were all made of plastic still.
The problem isn’t containers, it’s the existence of disposable packing being the only option.
bingo. ive heard of many of these biodegradable plastics and the main problem is shelf life.
honestly we should go back to CANS in many things. its a solution that has been staring us at the face.
Bio degradable doesn’t mean that it will degrade on its own because some bacteria ate it. For example, PLA is bio degradable, but you need an industrial hot composter to turn it back into lactic acid. You can’t put it into a waste bin with your banana peel and expect it to degrade, that won’t happen.
The problem with many bio degradable plastics is that they also degrade either due to heat exposure (PLA will start softening at around 55°) or due to UV exposure (PLA will fall apart within months to a year when exposed to the sun) or both (like PLA). That means their use is limited. You don’t want your glasses to fall apart after a year of use, do you? But if you can use such plastics away from the sun, water, heat, etc, they can last forever.
https://blueviewfootwear.com/
Same people, they’ve been making biodegradable footwear for a bit now.