Biodegradable "Plastics"

[Daemon Sophic]

Interesting article..... Scientists have figured out way to make algae-based plastic that completely decomposes

Basically, these researchers/producers have succeeded in making various plastic items from a base of algea. These break down at a very good clip (i.e. less than 7 months to be almost completely gone, and not even microplastic particles left in the environment).

This is a sneaker, tossed into water and biodegrading for a couple of months. Cool!!

"The study shows that their plant-based polymers can biodegrade past the microplastic level in under seven months.
Examination of samples after 90 days of aerobic composting showed a 68% decrease in the number of particles.
After 200 days, a 97% overall reduction from the starting count was observed, according to the paper."​

Now, they just need start-up funds to build algae farms.
Time to invest!!

 

[Heyo]

Interesting article..... Scientists have figured out way to make algae-based plastic that completely decomposes

Basically, these researchers/producers have succeeded in making various plastic items from a base of algea. These break down at a very good clip (i.e. less than 7 months to be almost completely gone, and not even microplastic particles left in the environment).

This is a sneaker, tossed into water and biodegrading for a couple of months. Cool!!

"The study shows that their plant-based polymers can biodegrade past the microplastic level in under seven months.
Examination of samples after 90 days of aerobic composting showed a 68% decrease in the number of particles.
After 200 days, a 97% overall reduction from the starting count was observed, according to the paper."​

Now, they just need start-up funds to build algae farms.
Time to invest!!

Good news, except "However, cost is currently a prohibitive issue to widespread use, the researchers said."
The other question is how they match up in quality.

But the production costs are the main obstacle. We've had "natural" plastics for longer than we've had mineral oil based plastics, celluloid being the best known. But the costs and the properties didn't make it universally useful.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Good news, except "However, cost is currently a prohibitive issue to widespread use, the researchers said."
The other question is how they match up in quality.

But the production costs are the main obstacle. We've had "natural" plastics for longer than we've had mineral oil based plastics, celluloid being the best known. But the costs and the properties didn't make it universally useful.

Planned obsolescence will have a field day when their products are intentionally designed to break down and requires people to buy new products that are intentionally designed to break down requiring people to buy new products that are intentionally designed to break down....

...but it's great for the environment! At least with the components that break down requiring people to buy new products that are intentionally designed to break down and requiring people to buy new products that are intentionally designed to break down.

 

[Heyo]

Planned obsolescence will have a field day when their products are intentionally designed to break down and requires people to buy new products that are intentionally designed to break down requiring people to buy new products that are intentionally designed to break down....

...but it's great for the environment! At least with the components that break down requiring people to buy new products that are intentionally designed to break down and requiring people to buy new products that are intentionally designed to break down.

There's a difference between "break down" can "can be broken down". Wood is able to be broken down when it's buried in active soil, but it can also survive for millennia when kept dry and save from worms and termites.

 

[Tinkerpeach]

Reminds me of the king who had a mouse problem so he got cats to get rid of the mice then he had a cat problem so he got dogs to get rid of the cats then he had a dog problem so he….,…

 

[Revoltingest]

Reminds me of the king who had a mouse problem so he got cats to get rid of the mice then he had a cat problem so he got dogs to get rid of the cats then he had a dog problem so he….,…

Do you know how they get rid of mice in the Kremlin?
They put up a sign that says "Kollective Farm".
Half the mice will starve. The others will flee.

 

[Revoltingest]

Planned obsolescence will have a field day....

If things are as you say, then nothing will
change with biodegradable plastics other
than improving our environment.
It's win win!

Of course, some plastics must be durable.
They'd be used for things like tools, bearings,
& other long lived products...not ephemeral
consumer goods. Then recycling is needed.