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Vietnam’s experience with plastic recycling serves as a prime example of ineffectiveness in addressing the plastic pollution crisis, Reuters reports as plastic treaty talks continue in South Korea. Vietnam emerged as a major player in the USD 3.8 bn plastic waste trade after China bowed out in 2018, importing over 420k tons last year. Yet, the country is struggling to keep up with recycling, including its own plastic. Estimates suggest that one-third of imported plastic waste cannot be recycled partly due to difficulty treating it after mixing it with organic waste. The country is set to impose stricter rules for waste imports to limit the trade next year.
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REMEMBER- The UN is trying to tackle the problem: Plastic use could triple by 2060, and so is its waste, with half of that amount set to end up in landfills and less than a fifth being recycled. The UN talks hope to address the plastic waste crisis by agreeing on a combination of measures for waste reduction and management. Over the next few days, delegates from over 170 countries will be huddling to hammer down a final agreement from a 69-page draft agreement (pdf) that includes widely conflicting options.
Could bioplastics address the waste crisis? Bioplastics are emerging as a solution to the environmental impact of plastic waste, but a lot of hurdles need to be addressed for a maximized impact, the Financial Times reports. Derived from organic, renewable sources like corn, seaweed, and sugarcane, bioplastics are touted for their smaller carbon footprint and potential to biodegrade, reducing pollution. Start-ups like BioPak, Loliware, and Sparxell lead the charge, creating products like compostable takeaway packaging and biodegradable straws.
Not all bioplastics are nature-friendly: Many have molecules similar to fossil-fuel-based plastics and decompose into similar microplastics. Some contain the same toxic additives added to artificial plastic polymers, and many require industrial composting facilities, which are not widely accessible.
“Regulation vacuum”: The lack of clear definitions and regulations around terms like “bioplastic” and “bio-based” allows companies to make exaggerated claims about their products’ environmental benefits. Experts argue that the focus should be on creating truly beneficial materials for nature rather than just less harmful than conventional plastics.
And scaling up would be key: Despite their potential, bioplastics still represent a tiny fraction of the overall plastics market, with production expected to rise from 2.2 mn tons in 2022 to 7.4 mn tons by 2028.
