2024, Vol. 6, Special Issue 6, Part C

Plastic accumulation in environment create many problems for wildlife, their habitat and as well as for human population. Plastic pollution became a highly evident problem in whole world. It is one of the top polluters of our environment. Plastic is essential for packaging of food, medicines etc, medical devices, daily products and infrastructure.

There is a need of an alternate of traditional plastic because it degrade in thousands of years and emits carbon in environment.

Use of natural polymers obtained from plants like starch, cellulose, chitosan, gelatin, alginates can be alternative to non-biodegradable petroleum based plastics. These plant based biopolymers or bioplastics used as traditional plastic, so it can be a good alternative of traditional plastic.

Human currently produces more than 350 million metric tons of plastic waste per year. It is estimated that global plastic waste generation is projected to triple by 2060 i.e. one billion metric tons. In India, per Capita plastic consumption of traditional plastic. Bioplastic tend to release less carbon emission and degrade sooner as compare to traditional plastic.

Biopolymer plastic can be made from natural resources such as coffee grounds starch, coconut shell and regular PP/PE. It is derived from non-renewable fossil fuels Biopolymer plastic is considered to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly.