Bioplastics Are Not the Answer to the Plastic Pollution Problem

Since the 1970s, the rate of plastic production has grown faster than any other material. Today, 36% of all plastic produced is used in the food and beverage industry for single-use packaging products – nearly 85% of which ends up in landfills or as litter. 

Plastic pollution is a major global environmental issue, and deciphering what can and can’t be recycled is confusing for even the most well-intended consumer. As eco-conscious customers turn to alternatives for traditional, petroleum-based plastics, the search for real solutions can become clouded by promises of “green” products. 

Plastics made from plant material, such as corn starch or sugar cane, have emerged on the market and increased in popularity amongst consumers. These so-called “bioplastics” come in many forms, the most popular of which is polylactide acid (PLA), a type of bioplastic often used in the packaging industry for takeout containers and silverware. 

Bioplastics are touted as environmentally-friendly alternatives to conventional plastics since they’re made from renewable materials and are often labeled as biodegradable or compostable — but are they really any better for the environment? 

1. Bioplastics are not as easily compostable as people think they are.

Most bioplastics, like PLA, are only compostable in highly-controlled commercial facilities, which most states and local communities lack. There are only about 50 facilities that accept compostable plastics nationwide, and some facilities that have previously accepted the material are moving away from this practice due to contamination of products that won’t fully compost. 

2. Bioplastics can take hundreds of years to decompose, similarly to regular plastics.

Due to their reputation as compostable, there may be an increased risk of litter for bioplastics due to an assumption that the product will break down in the natural environment. A recent piece in The Atlantic highlighted a study demonstrating that a majority of biodegradable plastics failed to show any degradation in the marine environment, even after three years. When bioplastics are discarded improperly and do begin to break down in the environment, they can leach toxic chemicals in addition to contributing to microplastic pollution.

3. Recycling bioplastics isn’t a solution either. 

If added to a recycling bin, bioplastics can contaminate recycling processes due to chemical differences from traditional plastics. Recycling bioplastics, such as PLA, requires a separate waste stream from conventional plastics, which is not yet well-developed in the U.S. Contamination may cause whole bales of recyclable materials to be rejected and ultimately set to a landfill.

In March 2023, the White House released its Bold Goals for U.S. Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing report, outlining aspirations to replace more than 90% of today’s plastics with biomaterials in the next 20 years. For some NGOs, such as Greenpeace, this move by the Biden Administration missed the mark by pushing “false solutions” rather than focusing on the elimination of single-use products altogether. Other organizations, such as Plastic Pollution Coalition and Surfrider, have echoed this sentiment by calling for reusable and recyclable alternatives.

The second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee met earlier this year to develop an international, legally-binding agreement on plastic pollution. Looking ahead, delegates have committed to producing an initial draft of the Global Plastics Treaty in advance of the third session planned for November 2023 in order to stay on track for a final version by late 2024. As of now, bioplastics are yet to be addressed. 

So, what can we do about plastic pollution and the rise of false solutions, such as bioplastics? Choose truly sustainable alternatives. 

At Lot Sixteen, we do our best to choose reusables over single-use products. Where that isn’t possible, we try to choose materials that are better for the environment. Our kitchen is stocked with aluminum can beverages, because aluminum is infinitely recyclable and does not lose value when recycled. We know that bioplastics are not a silver bullet, and in order to keep taking steps in the right direction, we aim to cut through the noise to support products that offer real, circular solutions.