Plant-Based Plastics Not Necessarily Greener Than Oil-Based Relatives, Researchers Find
Date: 29.10.2010
An analysis of plant and petroleum-derived plastics by University of Pittsburgh researchers suggests that biopolymers are not necessarily better for the environment than their petroleum-based relatives, according to a report in Environmental Science & Technology. The Pitt team found that while biopolymers are the more eco-friendly material, traditional plastics can be less environmentally taxing to produce.
Biopolymers trumped the other plastics for biodegradability, low toxicity, and use of renewable resources. Nonetheless, the farming and chemical processing needed to produce them can devour energy and dump fertilizers and pesticides into the environment, wrote lead author Michaelangelo Tabone.
Original Paper:
Michaelangelo D. Tabone, James J. Cregg, Eric J. Beckman, Amy E. Landis. Sustainability Metrics: Life Cycle Assessment and Green Design in Polymers. Environmental Science & Technology, 2010; : 100924123806089 DOI: 10.1021/es101640n
Zdroj:
http://www.news.pitt.edu/news/Landis_polymers_LCA
