Biodegradable vs. Biodegradable Plastics Both play an essential role in many of our current manufacturing industries, but their impact on the environment is different. Both are considered indispensable elements in the waste management and environmental protection revolution in manufacturing life, but to effectively use these material lines, manufacturers must carefully consider the related factors. The key differences, characteristics, and considerations when choosing between biodegradable vs. biodegradable plastics are always the top concerns of many manufacturers. Explore the useful information below to have a more detailed look at these two great material lines!
1. Biodegradable vs. Biodegradable Plastics: Key Differences
Degradable vs. biodegradable plastics are essential concepts in the effort to solve the global problem of sustainable materials today. They are two traditional types of plastic, each with its own mechanism of action and impact on the environment. Here, we will look at some important differences in defining these two types of materials:
1.1. Degradation
Degradable plastics are materials that break down into smaller substances when exposed to certain conditions, such as temperature, light, or additives. This means that degradable plastics are capable of degrading, but they do not completely disappear or convert into the natural environment. Typically, oxo-degradable plastics have additives that cause the material to fragment under UV light, leaving behind microplastics after the decomposition process.
Biodegradable plastics are easily broken down when exposed to microorganisms in the environment. This degradation process converts the material into natural substances such as water, carbon dioxide, and some other forms of biomass. This also means that they do not leave behind toxic residues or waste in the environment. An example is polylactic acid (PLA), which is often preferred for the production of biodegradable packaging.
1.2. Environmental impact
The environmental impact of these materials is a major concern when discussing compostable vs biodegradable plastics. For compostable plastics, they help reduce physical waste, reducing landfill congestion. However, they do have a potential risk, which is the problem of microplastic pollution.
In contrast, biodegradable plastics are more appreciated for their environmental friendliness. They have the distinct advantage of being completely biodegradable through treatment processes such as composting. We can easily come across eating utensils such as knives, spoons and forks made from starch-based plastics that can decompose well in the current waste treatment process.
1.3. Degradation conditions
Both degradable and biodegradable plastics can decompose, but they also need specific conditions to start degrading.
Degradable plastics have a decomposition process that requires external factors such as UV rays, heat or some other chemicals. Their decomposition process will take longer (even years) if they exist in a sheltered environment or in places that are not directly exposed to the above challenges.
Biodegradable plastics are said to have more specific environmental requirements for their decomposition. Products made from this material need to be processed in home composters and industrial-scale composting. Furthermore, they also depend quite a lot on the activity of microorganisms in certain environmental conditions of temperature and humidity.
1.4. Degradation timeline
Both degradable and biodegradable plastics take a certain amount of time to complete their decomposition process. The time it takes for this process to take place will depend on a number of factors.
Degradable plastics can take several years to completely decompose in the natural environment. Their rate of decomposition will depend on the conditions at that time. Of course, if there is a treatment effect from factories, they will decompose many times faster.
Biodegradable plastics have a much shorter decomposition time. They usually take several weeks to several months to completely decompose under ideal conditions. For example, starch-based plastics can decompose within 90 days under industrial composting conditions.
1.5. Common Applications
Both degradable and biodegradable plastics are widely used in many applications in human life today. Each type will have its own advantages in some specific applications thanks to its own characteristics.
Common applications of degradable plastics:
- Crop protection films: Used to cover crops, these films decompose in sunlight, reducing the need for manual removal.
- Disposable eating utensils: Lightweight and designed for single use, these items will break into small pieces. smaller after disposal.
- Packaging materials: Biodegradable films and wrappers protect goods during transport and degrade after disposal.
- Trash bags: Designed for short-term use, these bags degrade when exposed to environmental conditions.
- Sewing thread: Items such as biodegradable sewing thread are used temporarily and degrade under controlled conditions after use.
Common uses of biodegradable plastics:
- Tableware: Plates, cups, and utensils decompose completely in composting facilities, making them ideal for events and catering.
- Food packaging products: Wrapping and containers made from biodegradable materials help reduce waste and support environmentally friendly disposal.
- Agricultural mulches: These films enrich the soil as they biodegrade, eliminating waste from traditional plastic films.
- Biodegradable bags: Grocery and garbage bags completely decompose in a composting environment, helping to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
- Medical capsules: Items such as biodegradable drug capsules and sutures dissolve in the body, reducing the need for disposal.
2. Examples of each type
Degradable vs biodegradable plastics are widely used in many areas of human production and consumption today. Each group includes many different types of plastics with different functions and properties. Let’s take a look at some typical examples of each material group below:
2.1. Examples of biodegradable plastics
- Oxo-degradable plastics
Thanks to the combination of polyethylene and additives such as metal salts in oxo-degradable plastics, they can be fragmented when exposed to oxygen or UV light. In environments with direct sunlight and high levels of UV light, these conditions are ideal for biodegradable waste. This helps to quickly reduce the amount of tangible waste in the environment. In addition, one of their main advantages is that they bring positive effects in terms of cost savings because they are easily compatible with traditional plastic product manufacturing methods without the need for complex adjustments.
- Photodegradable Plastics
This material line is a product specifically designed to decompose under direct sunlight. The radiation and heat from the sun will break down their molecular structure, causing them to disperse into small pieces over time. Due to this special property, they are especially effective for outdoor applications. For example, fruit or tree mulch will decompose after harvest. The advantage of this material line is that it makes the most of the natural energy source of sunlight, helping to save on the cost of investing in waste treatment equipment. In addition, they also contribute to reducing outdoor waste, helping to save human cleaning efforts.
- Chemically degradable plastics
For this type of plastic, they are designed to decompose when exposed to specific chemical agents, such as acids, alkalis or other solvents. Many industries take advantage of this property to precisely calibrate the decomposition time in the production process. Their unique advantage is that they possess flexible customization capabilities that allow manufacturers to predict and control the decomposition process. This makes chemically degradable plastics considered one of the ideal solutions for waste management in today’s industries.
- Thermal Degradable Plastics
The decomposition process of this material can be done by heating. This is also a type of plastic that allows manufacturers to predict and control the waste treatment process well. In particular, the thermal decomposition process occurs quite quickly, so it brings significant efficiency in terms of time. One of the convenient applications of this material line is thermally degradable garbage bags, or agricultural fertilizer packaging to meet the needs of mass production and easy waste disposal after use.
- Blended Biodegradable Plastics
One of the best features of this material family is the combination of multiple degradation mechanisms such as UV sensitivity and oxygen exposure, which improves their flexibility in degradation. They offer good biodegradability in a wide range of environmental conditions due to their low dependence on certain environmental conditions. Not being overly dependent on any single degradation agent has helped them achieve a balance between performance and cost-effectiveness for many manufacturing industries.
2.2. Examples of Biodegradable Plastics
- Polylactic Acid (PLA)
One of the prime examples of biodegradable plastics is Polylactic Acid (PLA). They are a family of green plastic materials derived from renewable resources such as corn starch, sugarcane or cassava. PLA offers significant environmental benefits by being completely biodegradable into carbon dioxide, water and biomass within a few weeks. A major advantage of PLA is its safety as it does not release toxins when in contact with food and decomposes without leaving harmful residues. PLA food packaging applications can easily be found where high consumer demand leads to mass production. Due to their excellent biodegradability, they are always an ideal choice in the development of sustainable materials.
- Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)
Their main biodegradation medium is created by microorganisms during the fermentation of sugars or vegetable oils. According to many studies, PHA is particularly valuable in solving ocean pollution because it can be completely degraded in the natural environment including marine ecosystems. The advantage of PHA in terms of biocompatibility makes them increasingly popular in applications such as biodegradable sutures and drug delivery capsules to ensure patient safety.
- Starch-based plastics
The main ingredient of this biodegradable plastic line is natural starch such as cornstarch, or potato starch combined with some other biodegradable polymers to increase durability. They are extremely effective in significantly reducing the amount of waste in landfills thanks to their ability to decompose quickly in the composting environment. This material line shows excellent compatibility with both household and industrial composting systems, providing significant cost-effectiveness at various scales. Many of their applications are widely used in everyday life such as grocery bags, food packaging and many styles for disposable items.
- Cellulose-based plastics
Wood pulp or cotton will be the main source of cellulose for this material line. Products from them can be completely reused and biodegradable. Their decomposition will take place effectively under normal composting conditions and will not leave toxic residues in the environment. This is considered one of the sustainable solutions for the growing demand of the packaging industry thanks to its durability and environmental friendliness. Moreover, packaging and wrapping films made from cellulose-based plastics are highly transparent, making them an optimal choice for displaying and preserving products inside the packaging.
- Polycaprolactone (PCL)
As for PCL, they are a synthetic polymer that is rapidly biodegradable with a low heat resistance. The degradation process of PCL is not too complicated and can be completely regulated and controlled easily. Their main advantage lies in their ability to safely dissolve in the body over time. Thanks to this optimal property, many advanced medical applications today have effectively exploited PCL, such as devices that deliver drugs and nutrients to patients, tissue scaffolds and some implants. It can be seen that this material line is extremely useful in the current healthcare field.
3. Which type of plastic should you choose?
Both degradable and biodegradable plastics can decompose, but they require different conditions. There are a few specific factors to consider before choosing between compostable vs biodegradable plastics that can be of great benefit to your project. Here are some typical solutions to help you make your choice easier:
3.1. Application Considerations
- Compostable Plastics: Ideal for temporary uses such as packaging, agricultural films or single-use items. Compostable plastics can degrade significantly faster than traditional plastics if your product will be exposed to sunlight, heat or oxygen during its life cycle.
- Biodegradable Plastics: For applications where the plastic is likely to find its way into the natural environment or composting system such as food packaging, medical products or single-use items. If your product fits into industries that are concerned with sustainability, biodegradable plastics will offer more environmental value.
3.2. Assessing the Processing Infrastructure
- Degradable Plastics: In areas without proper composting systems, compostable plastics process physical waste by breaking down faster, especially in outdoor environments where exposure to sunlight and oxygen is common.
- Biodegradable Plastics: Materials such as PLA or PHA are best for areas with industrial facilities for composting. They break down into harmless by-products, thereby reducing solid waste in the long run.
4. Conclusion
In conclusion, degradable plastic vs biodegradable plastic is highly appreciated for its great contribution in improving and solving the problem of plastic waste and environmental pollution. In particular, degradable plastics provide an optimal solution in waste treatment, bringing great benefits in minimizing tangible waste. In addition, biodegradable plastics allow materials to decompose completely without leaving toxic residues, ensuring high safety for human and animal health.
To choose the right material line between degradable plastics vs biodegradable plastics, it is necessary to carefully consider factors such as applications, available treatment systems and environmental priorities. With the continuous advancement of current technology, this shows a good sign of increasingly improving and enhancing their performance and applicability for a more sustainable and green production in the future.
