Is bioplastic BS?
Anyone who is reading this newsletter understands we have a massive plastic problem. (If not, take a peek at this edition.) Chances are you’ve also been at some sort of event where you’ve been handed a plastic cup and reassured “It’s compostable!” so you can envision it dissolving like Alka-Seltzer in the ocean, instead of living lodged in a turtle’s gullet for the rest of that creature’s (now-shorter) life. Maybe you were impressed by Coke’s “plant bottle.” Maybe you’ve bought such products, paying the premium so that your baby shower or conference or family picnic could be a little greener. But was it a little greener?
I’m sorry to say . . . probably not.
Let’s dig into why bioplastics probably aren’t the panacea we’re looking for. At least not yet.
First: what is bioplastic? Instead of being made of oil, bioplastic is usually made of corn or sugarcane (a plant plastic called PHA) or algae (PLA). PLA is less common, since it’s 20 to 50 percent more expensive. These materials mimic some of the qualities we like in plastic (light, mouldable, strong without being brittle), though they’re not quite as good as liquid dinosaur. So we’re dealing with the “more expensive for a lesser product” conundrum common to eco experience.
Another thing to consider: should we be using more agricultural land to grow . . . single-use plastic? Though in wealthy countries we don’t yet have food shortages, we already use our land inefficiently because so much of it goes to feed animals: it takes 160 times more land to grow cows compared to potatoes, wheat, or rice. We also know that industrial agriculture is water-intensive and uses a lot of pesticides and herbicides, which pollute waterways, destroy biodiversity, and endanger agricultural workers. Some companies produce their bioplastic from agricultural waste products, which at least mitigates the land-use problem.
After the bioplastic is made, there are yet more hurdles. First: the lack of standards. In Canada, that compostable designation is unregulated, so really anyone can claim anything. And that’s a big issue because all “compostables” are not created equal, and not all break down in the same way. Some need the careful controls and high heat of an industrial facility. Oxo-degradable products need oxygen and UV light, which is good for an American Beauty plastic bag blowing in the breeze but not for one sitting in a landfill or even in a compost pile. In this clip, CBC’s Marketplace shows a nice A/B comparison of certain products breaking down — or not. There is hope here, including a new type embedded with a self-destruct switch, but right now most bioplastics are almost as long-lasting as their oil-based brethren.
Another issue? Getting this plant-based plastic into the proper waste stream in the first place. One reason bioplastics are appealing is that they look a lot like regular plastic, so it would be understandable if someone chucked them in with the other (theoretically) recyclable plastics. But mixing that plant-based plastic in with the petroleum plastic makes the whole lot unrecyclable. Okay, but what if it goes in with the compost? Well, that’s a problem too, because most municipal programs don’t actually accept compostable plastic. In fact, at composting facilities in Toronto, and in most municipalities, all plastic, including that “compostable” packaging (bin liners, poop bags, etc.), gets spun off and sent to landfill, where eventually it’ll produce methane, the greenhouse gas that makes mere CO2 look cute. The whole thing is almost as chilling as this doll head presiding over trash mountains for millennia.
What can we do about it?
Opt for reusable.
Reusable is always better than any kind of fancy plastic, whether compostable or recyclable, and it’s usually not as inconvenient as you’d think. One of the most magical events I ever attended was a fundraiser in the woods where we trick-or-treated at various restaurant-run stands. Everyone brought their own plate, cup, and cutlery or bought inexpensive reusables. Bringing your own place setting, whether to a picnic or a gathering hundreds strong, is something we can normalize (if we haven’t already under COVID). Sometimes you can simply skip the package all together: do you need a “compostable” coffee pod, or can you opt for a completely podless approach to your morning brew?
Choose recycled over plant-based.
If I had to choose between a plant bottle and a bottle made from 100% recycled PET (#1 plastic), like those by Ice River Springs (or President’s Choice, supplied by Ice River), I’d choose recycled. Let’s encourage manufacturers to divert and reuse the plastic we have: in 2017, Europe recycled 42 percent of plastic packaging; Americans recycled just 8.4 percent.
Learn where bioplastics go in your city.
Google your city’s trash-sorting tips and put bioplastics in the right place. It’s probably the trash. And if that makes you feel bad, channel that discomfort into finding a reusable option or talk to the retailer or restaurant.
For example, my favourite coffee company usually delivers in reusable jars, but since the pandemic has switched to bioplastic-lined paper bags. I wrote them to ask when the jars were coming back (since scientists agree reusables are safe during COVID-19) and let them know those bags go straight to landfill in our city and don’t degrade in a backyard composter. I don’t think there was evil intent to deceive here — companies can be confused by greenwashing too — and they asked for more information. By the way, here’s that coffee bag after a year in my backyard compost: the paper on the outside of the bag has mostly broken down, but that plastic liner remains.
If you happen to be running an event or gathering (one day!) and have chosen compostable items, use clear signage to make sure people put those items in the right place.
Push for true certifications and clearer communication.
If a company says something is compostable, it should be clear how. Can I put it in my backyard pile? Does it need industrial treatment? This is a governmental responsibility that should really be part of the new plastic ban plan.
TL;DR
The compostable designation is unregulated, and many products need very specific conditions to break down. Some will last almost as long as oil-based plastic.
Plant-based plastic needs to go in the appropriate trash stream (often the garbage) to avoid contaminating conventional recycling. Look up where it goes in your city.
Opt for reusable options, then choose 100% recycled over compostable.
Wins of the Week
“I believe that all organizing is science fiction — that we are shaping the future we long for and have not yet experienced. I believe that we are in an imagination battle.” — adrienne maree brown, Pleasure Activism
This week special shout-outs to
Erin, who has brought back her backyard chickens, aka my feathered nieces!
Kerry, who embraced cooking with dried beans, saving packaging and transport emissions!
Jimmy, who fixed a friend’s exercise bike, saving it from a landfill fate!
Especially in this month of grow challenges, I’ve loved getting glimpses of your wonderful gardens and green patches in the FMFP Facebook group. Keep growing, and keep sharing!
If there’s a topic you’d like submitted for FMFP scrutiny, hit reply and let me know. Thank you all for reading, for sharing, for showing up every fortnight to commit to making this planet a little better for everyone.
xo
JK
Five Minutes for Planet is written by me, Jen Knoch, and edited by Crissy Calhoun. Opening photo by Brian Yurasits.