Biodegradable vs Recyclable Plastics
For creating environment-friendly plastic product have to use various eco-friendly resins.
Biodegradable Plastics
These are made from petrochemicals that are treated with biodegradable additives. At the appropriate conditions, the microbes attracted by these additives to break down the plastic than the traditional plastics.
This plastic is used for disposable items which will not use a second time like
- Single-use food containers
- Packaging
- Plastic utensils which are use for single time only
Biodegradable Resins
Not all biodegradable resins degrade easily. Some of them do not degrade in landfills and some have to take to industrial composting. The chemical treatment used to make plastic biodegradable, cannot be recycled with traditional plastics.
So, if you are intended to use biodegradable plastics for blow molding projects, it is important to choose wisely.
- You have to make sure that resin should meet the standards of the American Society of International Association for Testing and Material (ASTM)
- Choose the right biodegradable plastics that degrade well in landfills
- Get regular updates on current eco-plastic trends
What is the difference between Bioplastics and biodegradable plastics?
Many times, biodegradable plastics consider the same as bioplastics. But both are different.
The biodegradable is made from treating petrochemicals.
The bioplastics are the plastics made from renewable feedstocks like wood, corn, soy, sugar cane, and grasses
The bioplastics are often compostable. Composting is one step ahead of biodegradability by break down the material to support surrounding plant life. The bioplastics are most suitable for products that are using single time only like:
- Straws and Party Cups
- Disposable plates and bowls
- Single-use Utensils
The main disadvantage of bioplastics is the cost. The crude oil and natural gas prices are comparatively low. The polymers making directly from petroleum sources are economical but not today.
The larger products and items which tend to be reuse, consider the recycle resin for it.
The Plastic made from Recycled Resins
Recycle plastic is made from resin from post-consumer and post-industrial virgin plastics. Using recycled resin for blow molding products is a very eco-friendly idea. Common blow molding products made from recycled materials are:
- Products having longer lifecycles like furniture, structures, sporting goods
- Industrial parts like medical equipment, auto parts, and device shells
- Plastic utensils, flatware, cups for repeated use
- Recyclable products like food containers, water, and juice bottles, and packaging materials
Resources
The sustainability of resources is very important. Now the plastic recycling is increasing day by day and PET, HDPE, and PP resins are recycling more and more. This saves fossil fuels. For example, one ton of plastic recycling saves 16.3 barrels of oil.
Freeing the space in Landfills
The recycling takes place in the plants helps to empty the landfills and minimize the greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In the process of extracting, mining, and producing new resources generates carbon dioxide and harmful greenhouse gas. According to calculation, one ton of plastic recycling saves a ton of CO2 entering into the atmosphere. Also, the recycled plastic resins only generate half the greenhouse gases than making the virgin resin.